Repost and adapted / 8 October 2026, San Francisco

Universal Quantum, the company building large-scale quantum computing systems for real-world use, today announced it secured over $100M in Series A funding. This is the largest Series A ever raised by a quantum firm headquartered in the UK. The capital will accelerate global expansion and the development and commercialisation of the company’s modular technology, advancing a path toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. The round was co-led by DCVC and Firgun Ventures, with participation from other existing and new strategic investors including Nauta Capital and The Venture Collective.

“Universal Quantum’s progress reflects our partners’ belief that we represent one of the most credible paths to quantum computing at scale,” said Dr. Sebastian Weidt, CEO and co-founder. “This round unites an extraordinary group of investors from the world’s most important pools of capital around a single mission: delivering utility-scale quantum computing.”

FoundersX Ventures, which first backed Universal Quantum at seed in 2021, welcomed the milestone. “From the beginning we saw a rare combination of world-leading science and a relentlessly practical engineering approach,” said Dr. Helen Liang, Founder and Managing Partner of FoundersX Ventures. “Their focus on trapped ions with standard semiconductor processes and modular integration using electric-field interconnects is exactly what is needed to move quantum computing from lab demo to large-scale computing. We are proud to have supported the team early and delighted to see this exceptional Series A accelerate their path to scale.” 

The new capital will drive continued development and commercialisation of Universal Quantum’s modular approach. The company leverages patented, world-record interconnect technology (UQConnect) and advanced integrated chips to build chiplet arrays and control systems. This reduces engineering risk and accelerates the path to larger-scale, error-corrected quantum computers. Funds will also support expansion in the United States, Japan, Singapore, and its German hub in Hamburg.​

Solving the problem of scale

Universal Quantum was founded on the belief that scale is the major challenge in quantum computing. Its systems link many small, advanced quantum chips to deliver the high-quality qubit counts needed for problems classical computers cannot solve. The architecture avoids reliance on photonic interconnects or large, costly laser and cooling infrastructure. Trapped-ion qubits—charged atoms held by electric fields—are connected via practical, manufacturable electric-field links. The systems operate at a relatively accessible ~70 K, simplifying thermal management compared with millikelvin approaches.

Analysts forecast the quantum technology market could reach $100 billion annually by 2035 and unlock up to $2.7 trillion of economic value in sectors including pharmaceuticals, finance, and automotive.

Technology leadership and commercial progress

As a University of Sussex spin-out founded on the 2017 practical blueprint for large-scale trapped-ion quantum computing, Universal Quantum has established itself as a leader in the UK’s quantum sector. The company has been selected for major Innovate UK support, including a £7.5 million Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund grant leading a consortium (with partners such as Rolls-Royce, Riverlane, Imperial College London, and the University of Sussex) to develop an error-corrected quantum computer for aerospace applications, plus additional multi-million-pound awards advancing cryogenic control and related technologies. These grants position Universal Quantum among the UK government’s chosen technology pioneers advancing national quantum capabilities.

Commercially, the company is delivering against a landmark $77 million (€67 million) contract with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Quantum Computing Initiative—the largest government quantum contract awarded to a UK firm—to build both a single-chip system with advanced electronic control and a multi-chip trapped-ion quantum computer. This work validates its modular chiplet architecture in a demanding public-sector deployment. Building on its first commercial ASIC chip for the iQPU and world-record UQConnect interconnect performance, Universal Quantum’s product roadmap focuses on progressive commercialisation of modular systems: delivering contracted multi-chip hardware, expanding networked modules, and advancing toward fault-tolerant, utility-scale machines suitable for real-world applications in drug discovery, materials science, climate modelling and beyond.

CEO Dr Sebastian Weidt has regularly shared the company’s vision and the broader importance of quantum computing through high-profile media appearances. He joined the BBC to discuss the UK–US Technology Accord and the need for both international collaboration and sovereign quantum capability. He has also been a leading voice on quantum computing in the UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee and industry forums, underscoring Universal Quantum’s growing leadership in the global quantum space.

Looking Ahead

“True quantum utility will be unlocked by companies that are relentlessly focused on the scalability of their machines,” said James Hardiman, General Partner at DCVC. “Universal Quantum’s modular architecture addresses the hardest challenges in scaling ion-trap systems. Quantum is a global race, and we are pleased to back a team with genuine standing across Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America.”

About Universal Quantum

Universal Quantum is building utility-scale quantum computers to help humanity confront its most demanding challenges—from drug discovery and battery design to climate modelling. Its modular trapped-ion architecture and enabling technologies are designed to reach the large numbers of high-quality qubits required for real-world tasks. Backed by leading sovereign, institutional and deep-tech investors, as well as commercial and government contracts, the company is at the forefront of making utility-scale quantum computing a reality.