NanoQT, a startup developing interconnects for quantum computing, raised $14 million in a Series A funding round.

Phoenix Venture Partners (PVP), a venture capital firm with a history of investing in photonics firms, led the round. Also among the investors were Brevan Howard’s macro venture fund, Waseda University Ventures, and Jafco Group Co.

NanoQT is attempting to build interconnection systems for quantum processing units (QPUs), the central hardware component of quantum computers. Its efforts see the startup working on a highly efficient optical link capable of translating quantum information (quibit signals) into photonic signals, then transmitting them with minimal loss. The firm contends this is essential for building scalable quantum computers.

“An interconnect engineered for QPUs is the missing link in today’s market and will soon be a major bottleneck to achieving scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing,” NanoQT CEO Masashi Hirose explained. “Our proprietary nanofiber-cavity interconnect is highly demanded not only for scaling up quantum computing but also for integrating QPUs with quantum communication capabilities.”

California-based NanoQT was founded in 2022 but has deep ties to Japan, having originated from Waseda University in Tokyo. The startup’s Series A round adds to the $20 million in grants from Japan and the U.S.

NanoQT plans to use the funds to expand its engineering and manufacturing capacity in College Park, Maryland, and Tokyo. The startup is also working to demo a distributed quantum computing system using its interconnect systems on standard fiber links.

The startup’s research comes amid growing efforts to build systems to connect disparate quantum computers.

CERN, the scientific research organization behind the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, is working with Single Quantum and Qunnect on a quantum network project.

Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia developed a method to integrate quantum technology into traditional networks using their Q-chip innovation. A similar effort saw University of British Columbia scientists create a “universal translator” for quantum computers, allowing units to communicate over a network with virtually no noise.

“We believe the company will deliver a disruptive impact in the quantum computing and networking field,” PVP Managing Partner Nobi Kambe noted on the latest investment. “NanoQT is the best positioned in the quantum field to disrupt interconnects.”