Universal Quantum raises $100m in largest UK quantum Series A

Universal Quantum, a Sussex University-founded quantum company, has secured a record-breaking $100 million in its largest Series A funding round to date. This significant investment will fuel the company's expansion into Singapore, the United States, Japan, and Germany. Silicon Valley deep-tech investor DCVC and London-based early-stage quantum investor Firgun Ventures co-led the round, with support from EDBI, Artal, and IAG Capital.

Notable investor Roblox founder and CEO Dave Baszucki also participated. The two founders, Sebastian Weidt and Winfried Hensinger, published the first practical blueprint for large-scale trapped ion quantum computers in 2017, providing the foundation for Universal Quantum. The company develops next-generation quantum devices, linking advanced quantum chips to achieve high-quality qubit counts for solving problems that classical computers cannot.

CEO Sebastian Weidt expressed the firm's belief that they represent one of the most credible paths to quantum computing at scale, emphasizing the round's unification of top global investors. The funding will support product development and commercialization, as well as Universal Quantum's recent expansion into Singapore and additional investments in the US, Japan, and Germany.

Firgun Ventures' Zeynep Korutürk praised the founders, noting their pioneering role in the field and their European company's global position to define the future of industrial-scale quantum computing.