- Phasecraft (UK) secured $34million in funding to scale its hardware-agnostic quantum algorithms for real-world applications (e.g. materials, logistics) and deepen partnerships with the likes of IBM and Quantinuum.
- Quantinuum (backed by Honeywell) secured a $600million equity raise at a $10billion valuation to scale its full-stack quantum platform.
- IQM Quantum Computers (Finland) closed a €275million (~$320million) Series B, setting a new European quantum funding record, to push its roadmap from thousands to millions of qubits.
- PsiQuantum’s $1billion fundraise drew in the Qatar Investment Authority as a new backer, highlighting growing sovereign capital interest in quantum infrastructure.
- IonQ made a bold acquisition, Oxford Ionics for ~$1.075billion to advance its trapped-ion architecture and accelerate global scaling.
- Cisco announced a new software initiative to unify disparate quantum systems, enabling ‘quantum cloud’ interoperability across multiple hardware vendors.
- Quantum Computing Inc. is issuing a $500million private placement to fuel growth, commercial expansion, and acquisitions, even as its stock dipped ~16% post-announcement.
“Give people a tool and allow them to calculate things that they could never calculate on a classical computer, and with that…hopefully make the world a better place” Ben Bloom, CEO, Atom Computing.
For this edition of Qbit Curious, I sat down with Atom Computing’s CEO Ben Bloom. Headquartered in California and founded in 2018, Atom Computing specializes in developing large-scale, gate-based quantum computers utilizing arrays of optically-trapped neutral atoms. This revolutionary approach enables the creation of highly scalable quantum systems with long coherence times and all-to-all connectivity, essential for fault-tolerant quantum computation.
What inspired you to start Atom Computing, and what was the original vision for the company? Has that vision evolved over time?
Ben previously worked at another quantum company that focused on a different technology. During that time, he became deeply inspired by the progress being made with neutral atoms. What drove him was the desire to build a system with lasting impact – something that could genuinely help make the world a better place.
As Ben explains, “Quantum computing is this incredible intersection of technology and discovery – where the goal is to create a tool that allows people to understand the world in entirely new ways.”
While no one has fully solved the challenge yet, the progress is undeniable. Each generation of systems is more advanced than the last, bringing us steadily closer to that breakthrough.
The ultimate vision, as Ben puts it, is clear. “To give people a tool that enables them to calculate what’s currently impossible with classical computers – and, through that, help make the world a better place.”
Atom Computing focuses on neutral atom qubits, which makes this approach stand out compared to other technologies like superconducting or trapped ions.
As Ben states, “Neutral atoms offer a unique combination of strengths that really set them apart from other quantum computing approaches like superconducting qubits or trapped ions. They provide exceptional fidelities and programmability, which means they open up new possibilities – especially for near-term systems – while also delivering strong connectivity between qubits.”
One of the biggest advantages is how naturally they scale. Unlike other qubit types, neutral atoms don’t inherently interact with one another. They only interact when intentionally brought together, which gives tremendous control. And when it comes to adding more qubits, the progress is remarkably straightforward: we simply create additional spots of light to trap more atoms.
This combination of high performance, scalability, and control makes neutral atoms a powerful platform for building the next generation of quantum computers.”
The quantum computing space has big players and start-ups alike. Where do you see Atom Computing’s role in the broader industry, and what gaps are you uniquely positioned to fill?
In the past several months, Atom Computing has been stepping more visibly onto the commercial stage.
“We’ve published extensively and delivered a number of demonstrations – including work with Microsoft – that highlight what’s possible with logistical qubits,” Ben explains. “These milestones show not only that the technology works, but also how our systems can scale.”
We also recently announced our first commercial engagement with Denmark, which marks an important step in turning our research into real-world impact. Looking ahead, we’re focused on continuing to demonstrate logical qubits at larger scales and significantly increasing qubit counts – our goal is to achieve a tenfold jump.
This is where Atom Computing fits into the broader quantum landscape: proving our high-performance systems to be scalable, and bridging the gap between promising research and commercially viable quantum computing.”
What do you expect the next 5-10 years to look like for Atom Computing?
Whilst Atom Computing still view themselves as a small company, they’re seeing themselves experience a period of rapid growth, doubling in size and hiring across the board.
“Looking ahead over the next 5-10 years, the focus won’t just be on building bigger and better quantum computers,” says Ben. ” A key shift will be in how we serve our customers. It’s not enough to simply provide access to quantum systems – we want to make sure we’re truly helping solve their problems. This means going deeper into specific use cases and working closely with partners to create meaningful solutions.”
Over time, this will mark a fundamental evolution for Atom Computing: from being primarily a hardware-focused company to one that delivers a powerful combination of hardware and solutions.”
What do you see for the quantum industry in general for the next 5-10 years?
“Over the next 5-10 years, we can expect quantum computing systems to become increasingly mature as the commercial side of the industry continues to expand. The technology will move steadily from research labs into broader real-world use, with more companies exploring practical applications.”
At the same time, Ben sees the start-up landscape evolving. Rather than an influx of new companies trying to build entirely new quantum technologies from scratch, he predicts more start-ups focusing on the supply of critical components to existing platforms. In other words, the ecosystem will grow with more specialized suppliers stepping in to fill gaps and strengthen the overall industry.
This shift will help create a more robust supply chain and accelerate progress towards scalable, commercially viable quantum systems.
As a technical founder now leading a fast-growing company, what have been some of your biggest leadership lessons? Especially in balancing deep tech development with commercial demands?
For Ben, leadership at a fast-growing, deep-tech company is all about building a strong team and empowering them to make decisions and execute their ideas independently. A key lesson he’s learnt is that he cannot do everything himself – and as the company grows, every function becomes more complex, and requires full-time focus from dedicated people.
As he put it, “It’s all about finding the right team and giving them the responsibility and authority to get things done.”
Balancing deep technical development with commercial demands depends on trusting the team, providing the right resources, and creating an environment where people can take ownership and drive progress.
Would you like your company to feature in a future edition of Qbit Curious? Get in touch to discuss
