A lot has been written about quantum computers. The simpler cousin technology that is getting less attention is quantum sensing. Unlike quantum computing, quantum sensing is an advanced sensor technology that uses the smallest amounts of energy and matter to detect and measure tiny changes in time, gravity, temperature, pressure, rotation, acceleration, frequency, and magnetic and electric fields.
Quantum sensors are used to improve the accuracy of how we see, measure, navigate, explore, study, and interact with the world around us by sensing changes in motion and electric and magnetic fields. The analyzed data is collected at the atomic level by these sensors. One of the leading startups in this field is Q-CTRL, a Sydney-based quantum sensing startup whose software helps run quantum computers more accurately.
Today, Q-CTRL raised $27.4 million in Series B extension to double down on the development of its quantum technology, focusing on product engineering, sales, and marketing capacity. The startup will use a part of the capital infusion to grow its team from 80 to 120 this year across Berlin, Los Angeles and Sydney Berlin offices.
In the latest round, Salesforce Ventures has been a new investor with participation from previous investors and Alumni Ventures, ICM Allectus, Mindrock Capital, Bill Lightfoot a former partner at General Dynamics and John Eales, an Australian business leader and global rugby legend. The Series B extension comes nearly 14 months after the startup raised its $25 million Series B in November 2021. After its last fundraise, the startup said it has made major discoveries and demonstrations of its technology.
Quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, to encode information as 0 s, 1 s, or both at the same time, unlike conventional computers that store information using bits represented by 0 s or 1 s. Scientists believe that quantum computers could make some complex mathematical calculations millions of times faster than the fastest supercomputers today.
With a small quantum computer with about 16 quantum bits, or qubits, the chances of getting the right answer is one in a million, according to Michael Biercuk, CEO and Founder of Q-CTRL. We bump that up thousands of times to make it useful. Today s computers still use integrated circuits or semiconductors that are based on bits in the form of binary 1 s and 0 s. Integrated circuits are microchip wafers that contain millions of tiny resistors, capacitors and other components. The current microchips are beginning to reach their limits, especially given their power consumption, because of the computational demands from technologies like robotics and generative AI. A new type of chip is needed to meet these challenges and that is where quantum computer comes in.