The Promise of Quantum Computing

We’re in the midst of a quiet technological arms race and the winner will define the future of global computing. Similar to the Space and Nuclear races of the twentieth century, countries across the globe are investing significant capital into quantum computing in pursuit of a singular outcome: an advanced quantum computing system designed to reliably outperform traditional computers in solving complex, real-world computing problems.

While the U.S. maintains leadership in quantum computing research, China is making great strides to catch up and take the lead. As of 2024, China has made $15.3 billion worth of public investments in related research, compared with $3.7 billion by the U.S. Several other countries around the world are allocating billions of dollars. These investment amounts are forecasted to increase significantly over the next decade. 

So, why do the world’s superpowers, and largest technology companies, care so much about unlocking this technology? When achieved, scaled quantum computing systems will have massive implications. Complex computational problems that would take the most powerful traditional computer years to solve could be solved within seconds with a quantum computing system. The implications of these capabilities are revolutionary. Quantum computing will accelerate discovery, for example, expediting materials development, breaking the encryption used to secure digital systems, enabling society-changing pharmaceutical breakthroughs, and facilitating the development of artificial intelligence.

The race for quantum computing dominance is more than just a technological pursuit — it's a matter of strategic importance for nations seeking to shape the future. Quantum computers represent the next frontier of innovation. For sovereigns, leadership of this revolution is not about staying competitive; it's about securing a position of global influence. The nations that invest in this technology will propel their societies forward, fostering breakthroughs that will ripple across economies and reshape the balance of global power. 

Eclipse’s Investment in Quantum Source

Today, the Eclipse team is excited to announce our investment in Quantum Source to accelerate the company’s mission of developing scalable quantum computers that solve practical computational problems. We are thrilled to lead the company’s $50M Series A, which includes participation from Standard Investments, Level VC, Canon Equity, and existing investors Pitango First, Grove Ventures, 10D, and Dell Technologies Capital.  

For several years, we have continually evaluated the landscape of organizations developing quantum computing systems. There are many approaches today to building quantum computing systems, and we believe that the photonic approach has emerged as the most promising option to overcome the many architectural hurdles that other approaches face. 

The breakthrough at the heart of Quantum Source’s approach stems from a fascinating insight in cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). By confining photons within high-quality resonators, they amplify their electrical field, allowing precise and deterministic interactions with atoms. This elegant method enables Quantum Source to generate single photons and create cluster states with remarkable efficiency, increasing output by nearly four orders of magnitude. The result? A scalable quantum system with a million qubits that can operate at room temperature, eliminating the need for complex cooling systems and dramatically simplifying the overall infrastructure. Ultimately, this translates into making quantum computing more performative and scalable, achieving a lower overall cost compared to other approaches being taken today. It’s a bold leap forward in making quantum computing more practical and accessible.

From our first interaction with the Quantum Source team in 2021, we were aligned with their focus on building a system that combines the scalability and modularity of silicon photonics with the entanglement efficiency and discrete measurability of matter-based systems. Over the past 3 years we have watched this team execute at an incredible level and objectively prove the architectural merits of this approach.  Today, we are excited to double down on our initial investment and empower the team to build the computing system that achieves the outcomes many have dreamed of for several decades. 

A World-Class Team

Problems of this magnitude require a special team — relentless, unbelievably smart, creative, and focused. The Quantum Source team possesses all of those characteristics and much more. I’m constantly in awe of this Israeli team's sheer grit and perseverance in solving hard problems and reaching new milestones. They embody a certain spirit and intellect that is inspiring.

The company was founded by three serial entrepreneurs with years of experience leading semiconductor companies and a Professor from the Weizmann Institute. Oded Melamed, Co-Founder and CEO of Quantum Source, was previously the Co-Founder and CEO of Altair Semiconductor, which Sony acquired. Gil Semo, Quantum Source’s Co-Founder and VP of R&D, was among the founding team of Anobit Technologies, which Apple acquired. Semo went on to become the Director of Platform Architecture at Apple in Israel. Dan Charash, Quantum Source’s Co-Founder and Chairman, was the Co-Founder and CEO of Provigent, which Broadcom acquired. And finally, Quantum Source’s fourth Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Professor Barak Dayan, was the head of the Quantum Optics lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science. As if the Co-Founders’ backgrounds weren’t impressive enough, the company employs 45 physicists and engineers, more than half of whom hold PhD degrees. 

With the team of experts Quantum Source has assembled from the semiconductor industry and quantum computing research community, coupled with its novel approach, the company will crack how to scale these systems to a point where they can be stable, reliable, and deliver a dramatic leap forward not only in terms of the level of work these computers are capable of, but also the impact across various mission-critical physical industries.

Congratulations, Oded, Gil, Dan, Professor Barak, and the entire Quantum Source team!

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