[ { "id": 700, "name": "Rigetti Computing", "slug": "rigetti-computing", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/d917bc9763d052f49ea938f71c94205dabf1ec83.png", "website": "http://rigetti.com", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "Rigetti Computing is building the world’s most powerful computers to help solve humanity’s most pressing and important problems. These systems will perform computations that today’s fastest supercomputers are incapable of — unlocking entirely new classes of problems and offering a direct path to solutions. We are scientists, engineers, builders, and visionaries. We believe quantum computing is going to significantly affect health care, how we treat disease, how we generate energy, and how we feed humanity. Rigetti is the only company deploying full-stack solutions for hybrid classical/quantum computing. Our 19-qubit quantum computer is available online through our Forest platform, and the first commercially useful applications are already under exploration.\r\n\r\nWe were founded in 2013 by Chad Rigetti, and are located Berkeley and Fremont, California.", "one_liner": "Quantum coherent supercomputing.", "team_size": 51, "industry": "Industrials", "subindustry": "Industrials -> Manufacturing and Robotics", "launched_at": 1398907961, "tags": [ "Quantum Computing" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": true, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2014", "status": "Public", "industries": [ "Industrials", "Manufacturing and Robotics" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada" ], "stage": "Growth", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/rigetti-computing", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2014/rigetti-computing.json", "year_founded": null, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/rigetti-computing", "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/d917bc9763d052f49ea938f71c94205dabf1ec83.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [ "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/6fa1e85d653ff16dfaf7d567f8d708d150f8d95e.png" ], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 41143, "full_name": "Chad Rigetti", "title": "Founder/CEO", "founder_bio": "I build quantum computers. Founder of Rigetti Computing (YC S14, NASDAQ: RGTI). ex-IBM. Yale Ph.D. ", "is_active": false, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-rigetti-9891562", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/ChadRigetti", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/9e4ac4daf1a3a94aea2e758ffff39833656fd3bf.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "id": 12047, "name": "AuroraQ", "slug": "auroraq", "former_names": [ "QSpice Labs", "Aurora Quantum Technologies (formerly known as QSpice Labs Inc.)" ], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/c0f914f812e0962dabcc71833c4702b43c190e31.png", "website": "http://auroraq.com", "all_locations": "Waterloo, ON, Canada", "long_description": "At AuroraQ, we are building the world’s first truly practical quantum computing system. This system integrates together different quantum components, each performing different functions with the data, including processing, communication, and memory. Integration of different specialized components that efficiently work together to complete the calculation is precisely how classical computers work. No other quantum hardware company has yet tackled the integration challenge. AuroraQ will be the Dell of quantum computing, sourcing components from our partners to build a better quantum computer. ", "one_liner": "Building the first practical, integrated quantum computer.", "team_size": 1, "industry": "Industrials", "subindustry": "Industrials -> Manufacturing and Robotics", "launched_at": 1541567035, "tags": [ "Quantum Computing" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2019", "status": "Inactive", "industries": [ "Industrials", "Manufacturing and Robotics" ], "regions": [ "Canada", "America / Canada" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/auroraq", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2019/auroraq.json", "year_founded": null, "city": "Waterloo", "country": "CA", "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/qspicelabs", "fb_url": "https://www.facebook.com/qspice.labs.5", "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/c0f914f812e0962dabcc71833c4702b43c190e31.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 287576, "full_name": "Raina Olsen", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": false, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/raina-olsen-74b13643/", "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/cbc84c7834a5e9aabe0f919d60bed552a384c159.jpg" }, { "user_id": 275618, "full_name": "Mohammadreza Rezaee", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": false, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammadreza-rezaee-01b469106/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/e9ac7142eb54d70a749b16b7aa19770039f298b3.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "id": 13616, "name": "Menten AI", "slug": "menten-ai", "former_names": [ "Menten Biotechnology Labs", "Inc." ], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/43efdb0c86614e744393f6e6d327d93e3d19486e.png", "website": "http://menten.ai", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "Menten AI designs protein drugs and enzymes using quantum computing and machine learning. Their technology leapfrogs current computational methods making it possible to design previously intractable proteins. The team created the first protein design algorithm for current and near-term quantum computers and created the world’s first protein designed on a quantum computer. They are now working on 3 new proteins, including a peptide to prevent the spread of viruses like Covid-19. They have 2 paid pilot projects with multinational chemical companies and 4 LOI’s with pharma and biotech companies.", "one_liner": "Menten AI designs peptide and protein therapeutics using quantum…", "team_size": 2, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Drug Discovery and Delivery", "launched_at": 1583944661, "tags": [ "AI-powered Drug Discovery", "Quantum Computing" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2020", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Drug Discovery and Delivery" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/menten-ai", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2020/menten-ai.json", "year_founded": null, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/menten-ai", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/menten_ai", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/menten-biotechnology-labs-inc", "github_url": "https://github.com/MentenAI", "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/43efdb0c86614e744393f6e6d327d93e3d19486e.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 400010, "full_name": "Tamas Gorbe", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "TechBio startup founder with hands-on operational and finance experience. Working at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and computer science.\nPassionate about investing and value creation in the Life Science ecosystem.\nOutside of work, I enjoy several different sports activities, such as scuba diving, surfing, MTB, wakeboarding, and have 10 years of triathlon experience.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamasgorbe/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/tamas_gorbe", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/6de8a246cdb3e568733a6b19a862edd034871b7b.jpg" }, { "user_id": 420216, "full_name": "Hans Melo", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansmelo/", "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/de9ac4bf8cc70fd0a0ebcbb9440426322b4cebd1.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "id": 29754, "name": "Conductor Quantum", "slug": "conductor-quantum", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/6f87b0dddb05a92646b51780f21648d12f3019bf.png", "website": "https://www.conductorquantum.com", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "Conductor Quantum is building quantum superintelligence: AI that operates quantum computers to make scientific discoveries beyond human reach.\r\n\r\nQuantum computers let us understand the world at its most fundamental level, the path to new drugs, new materials, and discoveries no human can reach alone. \r\n\r\nA quantum computer is the perfect simulator of nature: it encodes the logic of reality into a programmable machine, atom by atom, electron by electron. Give AI that simulator and you open the door to discovery.\r\n\r\nThe bottleneck is operating the hardware. Today, engineers spend days or weeks by hand to bring a chip to operating conditions for just two qubits. A qubit is the information-carrying unit of a quantum computer, the equivalent of a bit in a classical one, and a useful machine needs billions. \r\n\r\nRemoving the human from that loop is only half the problem. Every command an AI sends to a quantum computer must be optimised for the specific hardware it runs on.\r\n\r\nWe build the AI that operates quantum computers and tunes every machine it runs on. That is the path to quantum superintelligence.", "one_liner": "AI that operates quantum computers for scientific discovery", "team_size": 4, "industry": "Industrials", "subindustry": "Industrials", "launched_at": 1718219316, "tags": [ "Hard Tech", "Machine Learning", "Quantum Computing", "Semiconductors", "AI" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": true, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2024", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Industrials" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": [ { "question": "What is your long-term vision? If you truly succeed, what will be different about the world?", "answer": "Everyone will have access to a quantum computer from their desk." } ], "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2024/conductor-quantum.json", "year_founded": 2024, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/conductorquantum/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/conductorquant", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": "https://github.com/conductorquantum", "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/6f87b0dddb05a92646b51780f21648d12f3019bf.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": { "name": "Tom Blomfield", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/people/tom-blomfield" }, "founders": [ { "user_id": 1977732, "full_name": "Brandon Severin", "title": "Founder/CEO", "founder_bio": "Building quantum superintelligence.\n\nDuring my PhD at Oxford, I worked with 4 quantum institutions across the globe (IST Austria, Basel, UNSW, Diraq), developing AI for semiconductor quantum device control and published 4 papers on the topic including one in Nature. \n", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-severin/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/BrandonSeverin", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/87d24eacb09bbfa920e690defd179aa0cfe720b2.jpg" }, { "user_id": 947594, "full_name": "Joel Pendleton", "title": "Founder/CTO", "founder_bio": "Co-founder of Conductor Quantum, building software for quantum computers. I’ve worked at many deep tech startups and research labs, exploring various quantum computing technologies — from carbon nanotubes to superconducting transmon qubits. I left my PhD at Oxford to start Conductor Quantum.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelpendleton/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/joelpendleton", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/eec48af10146303ada5db62e00483a97d82d86a9.jpg" } ], "jobs": [ { "id": 76007, "title": "Quantum Engineer (Spin)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/mvfbgvb-quantum-engineer-spin", "location": "San Francisco, CA, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Engineering", "role_type": "Electrical", "salary_range": "$120K - $180K", "equity_range": "0.25% - 1.50%", "experience": "1+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "Python", "Design systems" ] }, { "id": 90538, "title": "Quantum Engineer (Superconducting)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/Gcnhe4e-quantum-engineer-superconducting", "location": "San Francisco, CA, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Engineering", "role_type": "Electrical", "salary_range": "$120K - $180K", "equity_range": "0.25% - 1.50%", "experience": "1+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "Python" ] }, { "id": 92445, "title": "AI Systems Engineer", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/bVWYarJ-ai-systems-engineer", "location": "San Francisco, CA, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Engineering", "role_type": "Full stack", "salary_range": "$120K - $180K", "equity_range": "0.25% - 1.50%", "experience": "Any (new grads ok)", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "Amazon Web Services (AWS)", "Microsoft Azure", "Google Cloud", "Python", "Redis", "Machine Learning", "Reinforcement learning (RL)", "Design systems", "Next.js", "FPGAs" ] }, { "id": 102431, "title": "Quantum Engineer (Neutral Atom)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/SjZPBMm-quantum-engineer-neutral-atom", "location": "San Francisco, CA, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Engineering", "role_type": "Electrical", "salary_range": "$120K - $180K", "equity_range": "0.25% - 1.50%", "experience": "1+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "Python" ] }, { "id": 102432, "title": "Quantum Engineer (Ion Trap)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/eV4F5ew-quantum-engineer-ion-trap", "location": "San Francisco, CA, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Engineering", "role_type": "Electrical", "salary_range": "$120K - $180K", "equity_range": "0.25% - 1.50%", "experience": "1+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "Python" ] }, { "id": 103103, "title": "Executive Assistant / Lab Operations Manager", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/1vOd00H-executive-assistant-lab-operations-manager", "location": "Albuquerque, NM, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Operations", "role_type": null, "salary_range": "$55K - $75K", "equity_range": "0.05% - 0.15%", "experience": "Any (new grads ok)", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "Python" ] }, { "id": 104396, "title": "AI Systems Engineer (NM)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/conductor-quantum/jobs/OjWoAtF-ai-systems-engineer-nm", "location": "Albuquerque, NM, US", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Engineering", "role_type": "Full stack", "salary_range": "$75K - $125K", "equity_range": "0.25% - 1.50%", "experience": "Any (new grads ok)", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [] } ], "news": [], "launches": [ { "id": 97009, "title": "Coda — Natural language quantum computing", "tagline": "Describe your problem and execute it on real quantum computers.", "body": "![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=97009&key=user_uploads/1977732/6b78d7ee-645f-420a-8e65-86a4e4da0982)\n\n**_TL;DR Quantum computing will not scale if every program is a hand-written circuit. The future is describing what you want a quantum computer to do and letting the system handle the rest._**\n\nHi - We are Brandon and Joel from Conductor Quantum.\n\nWe’re announcing Coda - our natural language interface for quantum computing.\n\nQuantum computers offer a new computing paradigm for simulating the world at the atomic level. This opens up new possibilities in chemistry, materials science, and drug discovery that push beyond what the largest classical supercomputers can handle.\n\n## Problem\n\nUsing quantum computers today requires deep domain expertise and low-level tooling.\n\n## Solution\n\n\n\nType your problem into a box, Coda builds the quantum circuit, verifies the code and runs it on current state-of-the-art quantum computers.\n\nIf you’re completely new to quantum, we’ve included a learn mode to get you started. One of the first quantum computers we’re offering on our platform is [Rigetti’s (S14)](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/rigetti-computing) 84-qubit quantum computer. We also support simulations up to 34 qubits supported by NVIDIA cu-Quantum.\n\n## Why?\n\nWe’re building Coda because we want everyone to be able to access a quantum computer from their desk, as soon as possible.\n\n## What we’ve achieved so far\n\n* Built the first API for low-level silicon quantum chip control.\n* Partnered with quantum chip maker SemiQon and ran our software across 64 of their quantum devices.\n* Shipped quantum control software for companies including Quobly and EeroQ.\n\n## What’s next?\n\n* End-to-end GPU + QPU orchestration, so classical and quantum computation work together in a single workflow.\n* Connecting Coda to our lower-level quantum control and tune-up software, closing the loop from high-level intent to device-level execution.\n* Pushing our control software to larger numbers of qubits as hardware scales.\n\n## Team\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=97009&key=user_uploads/1977732/fca09063-084c-4734-b9ec-0edde6ec9dd3)\n\n[Brandon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-severin/), CEO, Previously a postdoc at Oxford, with multiple Nature journal publications on silicon quantum computing. Developed early AI systems for automated qubit formation. PhD, Oxford.\n\n[Joel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelpendleton/), CTO, Built machine-learning–based control software for superconducting qubits at QuantrolOx, with prior roles at Quantum Motion and C12. MSc Physics, UCL. Left machine learning and quantum computing PhD at Oxford to start Conductor.\n\n[Raymond](https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-jow-190654145/), Founding Engineer, Former SpaceX guidance, navigation, and control software engineer whose code flew on 100+ Falcon 9 missions. Previously worked on robotics at NASA and quantum machine learning at Cornell. BS Physics and Computer Science, Harvard.\n\n## Asks\n\n* Join our team. We’re looking for hardcore full-stack quantum engineers who want to work across the entire stack - from device fabrication, fridge wiring to qubit operation. As well as engineers focused on quantum algorithms and applications.\n* Intros to companies based on hard science - think pharma, biotech, materials, chemistry, engineering who are interested in leveraging quantum computing in their workflows.\n* Email us at [founders@conductorquantum.com](mailto:founders@conductorquantum.com) \n* Try Coda here: [https://coda.conductorquantum.com/](https://coda.conductorquantum.com/login)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/PEf-coda-natural-language-quantum-computing", "votes": 10, "created_at": "2026-01-21T17:45:59.744Z" }, { "id": 83306, "title": "Conductor Quantum - Quantum computers on silicon chips using AI", "tagline": "Our AI software creates qubits 1000x faster than current methods.", "body": "**Tl;dr:**\n\n* [Conductor Quantum](https://www.conductorquantum.com) is using **AI software** to **create qubits** in **semiconductor chips** to **build quantum computers** at scale.\n* The two founders met during their **PhDs at Oxford**. They have experience at 5 quantum companies and institutions, plus 4 publications between them.\n* Conductor Quantum is launching **the first publicly available API** to **classify quantum transport features in semiconductors**.\n\n# **🧑‍🔬🧑‍💻The Team**\n\nHi - We are Brandon and Joel! We are building Conductor Quantum.\n\n![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdZn6_SJC2SQu80WOKYWfJsFE9MCQt2R9PXG6mXNMb3co5B6iBYNZ7ckJ8i8Mgd01fTALt1oZeeLzN19Lc68mTVIqnZZZeJjPQVt_I6ilRcz1m8J-WB-L3xn-zcN4Hci1MBDC6UggpvjN13o_5EMAk3hCWM?key=M7s5FyBBuze--OVSs9y0AQ)\n\nCEO, [Brandon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-severin/) – Brandon developed **_AI for Quantum Computing in Silicon_** during his **PhD** at **Oxford**. Over the past four years, Brandon has worked with four top quantum research institutions on **software for quantum device control** and has **four publications**, including one in **Nature**.\n\nCTO, [Joel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelpendleton/) – Joel has shipped software at **four deep tech companies** and has worked with a series of quantum devices ranging from **carbon nanotubes to superconducting circuits**. Joel studied **Physics at UCL** and **dropped out of his PhD** at **Oxford** to start Conductor Quantum.\n\nDuring Joel’s PhD at **Oxford**, he launched Feynman.ai— an AI science research assistant— with Brandon, which they bootstrapped to **300 signups within a month** of launch.\n\n# **😯 The Problem**\n\n* **Quantum computers** will **revolutionize drug discovery** and **material development** as we will, for the first time, be able to accurately **simulate nature at its most fundamental level**.\n* Leveraging the **trillion-dollar semiconductor** industry, silicon chips offer a **scalable architecture** for building quantum computers.\n\n→ Currently, quantum engineers **spend days, sometimes weeks,** manually configuring silicon chips to **create a single quantum bit (qubit)**, analogous to a bit in a classical computer.\n\n**→ We need millions, if not billions, of qubits** to make a **useful quantum computer.**\n\nAutomation software to create qubits at scale is vital to realize this goal.\n\n# **✅ Our Solution - AI software to create qubits**\n\n* We are building **leading AI software** that creates qubits by **learning and understanding the principles of quantum transport** in semiconductor chips.\n* Our AI software will **replace the human** in the loop, **unlocking rapid qubit generation** and **fabrication feedback iteration cycles**.\n* Automatic qubit creation and control are the foundation of **the first quantum operating system** on **semiconductor chips**.\n\n[Our AI Playground](https://youtu.be/FBeTFudh-Jc)\n\n# **🤝 How You Can Help**\n\n* Sign up for our [**waitlist**](https://www.conductorquantum.com) (Announcements soon!)\n* Quantum engineers who want to get back to building and save themselves 100s of hours per qubit created - Email us at [founders@conductorquantum.com](mailto:founders@conductorquantum.com)\n* We’d love intros to:\n * Chip designers/verifiers/manufacturers\n * Anyone who wants to **bring chip manufacturing back to the USA**", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/Lfe-conductor-quantum-quantum-computers-on-silicon-chips-using-ai", "votes": 100, "created_at": "2024-08-22T17:05:04.031Z" } ] } ]