Quantum computing has often been touted as imminent, and now several companies are striving to make it a commercial reality. This technology aims to address complex problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers.
The challenges span various fields, including medicine, cybersecurity, materials science, and chemistry. However, practical issues need resolution first, such as developing chips that can reliably host many qubits—the fundamental units of information in quantum computing.
In this competitive tech landscape, major corporations like Google and Microsoft lead the charge, but startups are also crucial, particularly in addressing bottlenecks such as connectivity and error correction, which are essential for scaling quantum systems.
Some startups and smaller tech companies are tackling these chip challenges directly and deserve recognition alongside large industry efforts. While established projects often boast higher qubit counts, innovative designs and different approaches could yield promising results.
Companies to Watch in Quantum Chip Development
Akhetonics
Akhetonics, a German photonics startup, is developing an all-optical, general-purpose chip. This unconventional approach helped them secure €6 million in seed funding led by Matterwave Ventures in November 2024.
Alice & Bob
Alice & Bob, a French startup, raised $104 million in Series B funding in January 2025 to work on a "fault-tolerant" quantum computer. They focus on creating a full quantum computing system using cat qubits to reduce errors and simplify error correction.
Atom Computing
Atom Computing, based in the U.S., builds quantum computers using optically trapped neutral atoms. They announced a partnership with Microsoft at the Microsoft Ignite 2024 conference to launch a commercial quantum computer in 2025.
Amazon
Amazon joined the quantum chip race in early 2025 when AWS introduced Ocelot, developed with the California Institute of Technology. While this is Amazon’s first quantum chip, AWS had previously launched a quantum computing service in partnership with various companies.
D-Wave
D-Wave is a quantum computing company known for its Advantage2 prototype, which uses quantum annealing to solve complex optimization problems. The company, founded in 1999, is publicly listed on the NYSE.
EeroQ
Illinois-based EeroQ is focusing on helium for its quantum chip design, raising $7.25 million in seed funding in 2022 and committing $1.1 million towards expanding its Chicago headquarters in 2024.
Fujitsu & RIKEN
In April 2025, Fujitsu and RIKEN announced the development of a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer at their collaborative center, an advancement from the 64-qubit version in 2023.
Google introduced Willow, a new quantum computing chip, in December 2024. Willow offers a significant breakthrough in quantum error correction and suggests that quantum computation may occur in parallel universes.
IBM
IBM’s quantum developments include the Condor chip, which scales up to 1,121 qubits, and Heron, a 156-qubit processor with improved performance and reduced error rates.
Intel
Intel is working on quantum computers using silicon spin qubits, unveiling Tunnel Falls, a 12-qubit research chip, in June 2023.
IonQ
IonQ is a publicly listed U.S. company specializing in trapped-ion quantum computers, having acquired Canadian networking specialist Entangled Networks.
IQM
IQM, a Finnish startup, is developing superconducting quantum computers. It raised €128 million in Series A2 funding in 2022, with support from various investment programs.
Microsoft
Microsoft unveiled the Majorana quantum chip in February 2025, utilizing a topological core architecture. The company aims to build a quantum supercomputer within a decade.
Pasqal
Pasqal, a French startup using neutral atoms for quantum computing, raised €100 million in February 2023 for its full-stack approach.
PsiQuantum
PsiQuantum is working with photonics technology to build a 1 million-qubit machine. It announced the Omega photonic chipset, manufactured in New York, in February 2025.
Qilimanjaro
Qilimanjaro, a Spanish startup, develops QASICs and follows a full-stack approach, receiving €1.5 million in funding in 2024.
Quandela
Founded in 2017, Quandela focuses on photonic quantum computers, raising €50 million in Series B funding in November 2023.
Quantinuum
Quantinuum was formed in 2021 by merging Cambridge Quantum and Honeywell Quantum Solutions. It focuses on error correction and develops trapped-ion quantum computers.
QuantWare
QuantWare in the Netherlands is advancing with a proprietary 3D chip architecture, VIO. In March 2025, it raised €20 million in Series A funding.
QuEra
QuEra, based in Boston, uses neutral atoms for quantum computing. In 2025, it raised $230 million with Google leading the investment.
Rigetti Computing
Rigetti Computing, focused on superconducting technology, announced a strategic collaboration with Quanta Computer, investing over $100 million in quantum computing development.
SEEQC
SEEQC, a U.S. startup, partnered with Nvidia in 2023 to create a chip-to-chip link between quantum computers and GPUs. In 2025, it raised $30 million for further development.
SpinQ
SpinQ is a Chinese startup that develops quantum computers, some of which are portable and use nuclear magnetic resonance.
Xanadu
Xanadu, a Canadian startup, introduced the Aurora system in January 2025. It has raised $275 million, including a $100 million Series C at a $1 billion valuation.
