India Eyes Global Quantum Computer Push — And Qpiai Is Its Chosen Vehicle

QpiAI, an Indian startup that claims to merge AI and quantum computing for endeavor usage cases, has raised $32 cardinal successful a caller backing information co-led by nan Indian authorities arsenic nan institution intends to grow its beingness and create utility-scale quantum computers for markets astir nan world.

The Indian government’s $750 cardinal National Quantum Mission has co-led QpiAI’s all-equity Series A round, alongside Avataar Ventures, astatine a post-money valuation of $162 million.

The backing reflects India’s broader push to found itself arsenic a quantum computing power. Launched successful 2023, nan National Quantum Mission is an Indian authorities inaugural that views quantum computing arsenic some an economical opportunity and a nationalist information imperative. The programme intends to thief create intermediate-scale quantum computers pinch 50–1,000 beingness qubits wrong 8 years crossed platforms including superconducting and photonics. It besides targets nan improvement of satellite-based quantum communications, inter-city quantum distribution, multi-node quantum networks, magnetometers, and nan creation and synthesis of quantum materials, including superconductors, semiconductor structures, and topological materials for quantum instrumentality fabrication.

QpiAI is one of 8 startups selected by nan National Quantum Mission, each receiving an first assistance of up to $3.5 million. Among these companies, nan Bengaluru-headquartered startup, which has subsidiaries successful nan U.S. and Finland, says it has built India’s first full-stack quantum computer, called QpiAI-Indus, which it launched successful April pinch 25 superconducting qubits.

Founded successful 2019, QpiAI says it integrates quantum computing and AI to supply optimization capabilities successful areas specified arsenic manufacturing, industrial, transportation, finance, pharma, and materials. The startup says it has developed specialized software, on pinch its proprietary hardware, to support real-world quantum applications successful fields specified arsenic materials subject and supplier discovery.

“Quantum tin really make judge AI is robust,” said QpiAI laminitis and CEO Nagendra Nagaraja successful an interview.

The startup views simulation, supplier synthesis, and worldly find arsenic immoderate of nan cardinal usage cases wherever nan operation of AI and quantum could supply a competitory edge.

QpiAI’s full-Stack strategy intends astatine industries specified arsenic life sciences, automotive, and financeImage Credits:QpiAI

“Because nan creation abstraction of a quantum spot is very, very big, and to really get optimal qubits, which is important erstwhile we merge thousands of qubits to get logical qubits for correction correction, AI plays a bigger domiciled there,” Nagaraja told TechCrunch.

QpiAI plans to motorboat its 64-qubit quantum machine successful November, pinch readiness to customers expected by nan 2nd aliases 3rd 4th of adjacent year, Nagaraja said.

The institution is besides moving to commencement manufacturing its quantum hardware locally successful 2026. Currently, it assembles 80% of its machines in-house.

QpiAI employs a 100-person team, comprising 25 PhDs from world institutions aliases from Indian institutes. About 50 of its labor are based successful India. The institution says it has astir 20 customers successful India and nan U.S., including nan Indian government, which uses its infrastructure to trial algorithms.

According to nan company, QpiAI has been profitable astatine EBITDA level for nan past 3 years, pinch astir 60% gross margins and 20% to 30% nett margins, Nagaraja told TechCrunch.

With nan caller funding, QpiAI plans to participate caller markets including Singapore and nan Middle East. It besides intends to allocate costs for its section manufacturing plans and standard its operations to create a 100-logical qubit strategy by 2030.

In June of past year, QpiAI raised $6.5 cardinal successful a pre-Series A information led by Yournest and SVCL astatine a post-money valuation of astir $30 million.

Nagaraja told TechCrunch that QpiAI has a three- to four-year runway, moreover without accounting for its profitability. He besides said nan startup is considering an first nationalist offering successful either 2026 aliases 2027.

The National Quantum Mission’s support extends beyond QpiAI. The Indian government’s programme is besides backing startups specified arsenic QNuLabs (working connected quantum-safe networks), Dimira Technologies (cryogenic cables), Prenishq (diode-laser systems), and QuPrayog (optical atomic clocks). It has besides supported Quanastra (cryogenic systems and superconducting detectors), Pristine Diamonds (diamond-based sensing materials), and Quan2D Technologies (single-photon detectors for quantum communication).

“We scheme to proceed to support home-grown merchandise companies for illustration QpiAI to thief them grow into ample enterprises and position India arsenic world leaders successful quantum technologies,” said Ajai Chowdhry, president of India’s National Quantum Mission, successful a prepared statement.