Website: [psiquantum.com](https://www.psiquantum.com) ### Introduction PsiQuantum, founded in 2016 by Jeremy O’Brien, Terry Rudolph, Peter Shadbolt, and Mark Thompson, is a quantum computing company headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company is focused on building the world's first commercially useful, fault-tolerant quantum computer to address some of humanity's most pressing challenges, such as advancements in drug discovery, materials science, and climate modeling. While specific employee counts are not publicly disclosed in recent sources, PsiQuantum has grown significantly, with operations spanning multiple countries, including facilities in the US, UK, and Australia. PsiQuantum remains a private company, with no public ticker symbol, and has attracted substantial investment and attention for its unique approach to quantum computing using photonic technology. The company’s mission, as stated on their official website, is to leverage quantum computing to solve complex problems that are beyond the reach of classical computers. Unlike many competitors focusing on smaller-scale quantum systems, PsiQuantum aims to achieve utility-scale quantum computing with millions of qubits, a goal that sets it apart in the rapidly evolving quantum industry. Their approach involves using existing semiconductor manufacturing processes to scale quantum systems, positioning them as a leader in the race to commercialize quantum technology. ### Key Products and Technology PsiQuantum is developing a single primary technology platform focused on photonic quantum computing, which differentiates it from other quantum computing approaches such as superconducting or trapped-ion systems. - **Name and Type**: Photonic Quantum Computer (Utility-Scale, Fault-Tolerant System) - **Technical Specifications**: PsiQuantum targets building systems with millions of qubits, a scale necessary for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Specific performance metrics like error rates or coherence times are not publicly detailed in recent sources, but the company emphasizes scalability and error correction as core design principles. - **Fuel Type or Energy Source**: Not applicable in the traditional sense, as quantum computers rely on electrical power and cooling systems rather than fuel. PsiQuantum’s systems are designed to integrate with existing semiconductor fabrication infrastructure, potentially reducing energy overhead compared to other quantum architectures. - **Key Differentiators**: PsiQuantum’s use of photonic quantum computing leverages light (photons) to encode and process quantum information, offering potential advantages in scalability and compatibility with existing silicon chip manufacturing. This approach avoids the need for exotic cooling systems required by superconducting qubits, potentially reducing costs and complexity. - **Development Stage**: The technology is in the advanced development phase, with PsiQuantum breaking ground on utility-scale quantum computing sites in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, USA, as of late 2025. While not yet operational for commercial use, these facilities mark a transition from R&D to infrastructure deployment. - **Target Customers**: Target markets include government agencies, aerospace and defense sectors, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial research entities requiring complex computational capabilities for simulations and optimization problems. ### Regulatory and Licensing Status As a quantum computing company, PsiQuantum does not fall under the direct purview of nuclear regulatory bodies like the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which oversees nuclear energy technologies. Instead, regulatory considerations for PsiQuantum relate to export controls, intellectual property, and cybersecurity standards due to the strategic importance of quantum computing for national security and economic competitiveness. There are no specific public disclosures regarding regulatory applications or hurdles as of the latest information available. - **Regulatory Milestones**: PsiQuantum has secured government backing in multiple regions, including partnerships with the Australian government and the state of Illinois in the US, indicating alignment with public policy goals for quantum technology development. No explicit regulatory barriers or licensing requirements have been reported. - **Estimated Timeline to First Commercial Deployment**: While exact timelines are not confirmed, PsiQuantum’s recent infrastructure developments suggest a target for operational utility-scale systems within the next 5-10 years, potentially by the early 2030s, based on their current trajectory and funding announcements. ### Team and Leadership PsiQuantum’s leadership team comprises experts in quantum physics and technology commercialization, reflecting the company’s technical and strategic ambitions. - **Jeremy O’Brien (CEO and Co-Founder)**: A leading physicist in quantum optics, O’Brien has authored numerous papers on quantum technologies and previously held academic positions at the University of Bristol and the University of Queensland. He drives PsiQuantum’s vision for scalable quantum systems. - **Terry Rudolph (Chief Architect and Co-Founder)**: Rudolph is a quantum information theorist with a focus on photonic quantum computing architectures. His expertise underpins the company’s technical approach. - **Peter Shadbolt (Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder)**: Shadbolt contributes to the strategic direction of PsiQuantum, leveraging his background in quantum technologies and business development. - **Mark Thompson (President and Co-Founder)**: Thompson, a physicist with extensive experience in integrated photonics, oversees key aspects of technology development and partnerships. Specific X handles for the leadership team are not verified or publicly available in the current data, so they are omitted. ### Funding and Financial Position PsiQuantum has emerged as one of the best-funded quantum computing startups, reflecting strong investor confidence in its approach. - **Total Funding Raised and Latest Round**: As of September 2025, PsiQuantum raised $1 billion in its Series E funding round, led by BlackRock, with participation from Temasek and Baillie Gifford, among others. This brings the total funding to over $1.5 billion since inception, according to reports from sources like [Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/content/0a16281f-6bb4-4e60-a6f0-3a9d6f8d764a). - **Key Institutional Investors or Strategic Backers**: Investors include BlackRock, NVIDIA (reportedly in talks for a stake as of May 2025), Temasek, and Baillie Gifford. Strategic support also comes from government entities in Australia and the US, as well as potential backing from [[Lockheed Martin]] through recent collaboration announcements. - **Revenue Status**: PsiQuantum remains pre-revenue, focusing on R&D and infrastructure development. No commercial contracts or revenue streams have been publicly disclosed as of the latest information. ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |---------------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Dec 17, 2025 | Partnership with [[Lockheed Martin]] | PsiQuantum and Lockheed Martin signed an MoU to advance quantum computing for aerospace and defense applications, focusing on utility-scale hardware development. (Source: Posts on X) | | Sep 30, 2025 | Groundbreaking in Chicago | PsiQuantum broke ground on a quantum computing facility at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) in Chicago, following a $1 billion funding round. ([Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/psiquantum-breaks-ground-chicago-quantum-site-after-1-billion-funding-2025-09-30/)) | | Sep 10, 2025 | $1 Billion Series E Funding Round | PsiQuantum raised $1 billion to build fault-tolerant quantum computers, with plans for sites in Brisbane and Chicago. ([PsiQuantum](https://www.psiquantum.com/news-import/psiquantum-1b-fundraise)) | | May 19, 2025 | NVIDIA Investment Talks | NVIDIA reportedly in advanced discussions to invest in PsiQuantum as part of a $750 million round led by BlackRock. ([The Quantum Insider](https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/19/nvidia-eyes-stake-in-psiquantum-signaling-a-strategic-shift-toward-quantum/)) | | Feb 19, 2025 | News on Partnerships | PsiQuantum announced updates on partnerships and technological advancements, though specifics were not detailed in public summaries. ([PsiQuantum News](https://www.psiquantum.com/news)) | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Lockheed Martin (Aerospace and Defense Collaboration)**: Announced in late 2025, this partnership focuses on developing quantum computing applications for aerospace and defense, including fluid dynamics and propulsion simulations. The strategic value lies in accessing high-performance computing for national security applications. (Source: Posts on X) - **State of Illinois and City of Chicago (Government Partnership)**: PsiQuantum is anchoring the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park with plans to build a utility-scale quantum computer in Chicago. This collaboration provides infrastructure support and positions PsiQuantum as a leader in US quantum innovation. ([PsiQuantum X Post](https://x.com/PsiQuantum/status/1816427127362793882)) - **Australian Government (Equity Stake and Infrastructure Support)**: The Australian government has taken an equity stake and committed significant funding (approximately $940 million AUD) to support PsiQuantum’s quantum computing site in Brisbane, enhancing national quantum capabilities. (Source: Posts on X) ### New Hampshire Relevance PsiQuantum’s technology, while not directly tied to traditional energy infrastructure like nuclear power at [[Seabrook Station]] or the ISO-NE grid, could have indirect relevance for [[New Hampshire]] through its potential applications in grid optimization and data center computing. Quantum computing could enable advanced simulations for energy distribution and efficiency, which are critical for a state like New Hampshire with growing energy demands and a focus on renewable integration. - **Proximity to Infrastructure**: While PsiQuantum’s current facilities are in Chicago and Brisbane, their focus on utility-scale systems could eventually support data centers or industrial applications in the Northeast US, including New Hampshire, where data center growth is tied to tech hubs in nearby Massachusetts. - **Technology Readiness**: PsiQuantum’s timeline for commercial deployment (likely early 2030s) may not align with immediate NH energy needs or legislative timelines under initiatives like HB 710, which focuses on advanced nuclear technologies. However, long-term deployment could support grid modernization. - **Alignment with NH Initiatives**: Quantum computing does not directly align with SMR provisions in NH [[Legislation|legislation]], but it could complement energy research and cybersecurity needs for grid infrastructure. - **Potential Applications**: Applications include optimizing power grid operations, enhancing cybersecurity for energy systems, and supporting data center computational loads in the region. - **NH Connections**: There are no direct connections or expressed interest in New Hampshire or the Northeast specifically, though their Chicago site indicates a broader US focus. ### Competitive Position PsiQuantum faces competition from other quantum computing leaders such as [[IBM]], [[[[Google Quantum AI]]]], and [[[[IonQ]]]], each pursuing different technological approaches. [[IBM]] and Google focus on superconducting qubits, achieving smaller-scale systems with near-term applications, whereas PsiQuantum’s photonic approach prioritizes scalability to millions of qubits, a longer-term but potentially transformative goal. IonQ, using trapped-ion technology, targets near-term commercial applications with systems already accessible via cloud platforms, contrasting with PsiQuantum’s pre-commercial status. PsiQuantum’s unique advantage lies in its compatibility with existing semiconductor manufacturing, potentially lowering production costs, but it carries higher risk due to the unproven nature of photonic quantum computing at utility scale. ### Closing Note PsiQuantum is at a pivotal stage of development, with significant funding and infrastructure projects positioning it as a potential leader in fault-tolerant quantum computing over the next decade. **Word Count**: Approximately 1300 words **RSS Feed** (Note: No specific RSS feed for press releases or news was identified on [psiquantum.com](https://www.psiquantum.com) or related sources after a thorough search of their official website and investor relations sections.) *Report generated December 24, 2025*