Australia quantum computer maker raises $18m

Breakthrough Victoria, a AUD 2bn (USD 1.4bn) state government investment fund, led the pre-Series A round with a AUD 8m commitment. It was joined by Main Sequence, Investible, MA Growth Ventures, Jelix Ventures, and Rampersand.

Breakthrough noted that its investment will help Quantum Brilliance work with several Victorian universities. This would build on the start-up’s existing programmes with La Trobe University and RMIT University to enhance the computational power of diamond-based quantum computers.

Breakthrough recently established a AUD 100m platform specifically for commercialising university technologies. Earlier this month, it also contributed to the AUD 100m first close of a fund managed by a joint venture of Tanarra Capital and the University of Melbourne called Tin Alley Ventures.

Quantum Brilliance was founded by diamond quantum scientists at Australian National University in 2019 with a view to using synthetic diamonds to enable quantum computers to operate at room temperature in environments ranging from data centres to portable devices to spacecraft. It claims to have developed the first portable quantum computer that operates at room temperature.

Quantum computing can handle exponentially larger data sets than classical computing at speed and is set to have significant applications in artificial intelligence (AI), financial modelling, cybersecurity, drug discovery, and autonomous driving. However, it typically requires extremely low temperatures to operate, making it difficult to roll out in small, inexpensive formats.

Quantum Brilliance believes the small form factor, ruggedised construction and low power consumption of its computers will enable users to solve more problems for more people. The offering also includes a software development kit that leverages high-performance emulators, allowing customers to develop and test quantum applications for future commercialisation.

The company said its technology has a clear path to mass production and is already being delivered for customers to operate on-site, including at Australia’s Pawsey Supercomputing Centre. There are also several partnerships with governments and organisations globally, notably a hybrid quantum-classical computing programme with US-based AI giant Nvidia.

“Our technology is following the successful path of classical computers, where integrated semiconductor chips allowed the jump from large fragile mainframes to laptops and smart phones. Our small form factor, room temperature, low power devices are forging the same path,” Andrew Horsley, co-founder of Quantum Brilliance, said in a statement.

Australia has emerged as a global leader in quantum computing, at least in terms of start-ups. As recently as last month, University of Sydney spinout Q-Ctrl raised a USD 27.4m round featuring Main Sequence and Hong Kong’s Horizons Ventures, among others. Main Sequence is also an investor in a quantum cybersecurity specialist QuintessenceLabs.

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• Topics
• Australasia
• Early-stage
• Technology
• Australia
• Main Sequence Ventures
• Rampersand
• deep-tech
• artificial intelligence