US Air Force reservist raises $5M for UK quantum start-up TreQ

A US Air Force Reserve brigadier-general will this week unveil a $5m funding boost for her British-based quantum computing start-up.

Sky News understands that Mandy Birch, who is also an adviser to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre, has secured the capital for TreQ, a manufacturing company focused on building and operating open-architecture quantum computers.

Based at Milton Park, Oxfordshire, TreQ’s seed funding round is being led by Lavrock Ventures, a US-based venture firm focused on deep tech and national security.

It also includes participation from the UK-based Creator Fund and firstminute capital, both of which are focused on early-stage European deep-tech companies.

Silicon Valley-based Green Sands Equity also contributed to the round.

“Having served alongside the British military and worked here in quantum, I know the incredible talent in the UK’s tech and defence community,” Ms Birch said.

“The UK is rapidly commercialising quantum: this aligns with our vision and desire to combine strengths among allies to fully realise quantum computing’s potential.”

A quantum computer can carry out a single calculation that no conventional computer would be capable of within a reasonable time.

TreQ said it chose the UK as its base because of its status as a global quantum computing hub, and because of Ms Birch’s experience serving with British military personnel during counter-terrorism operations in Africa.

The company said its team had collectively built roughly a dozen quantum computers around the world.

It says its approach is distinct from single-technology, lab-based quantum computing, with its engineers building systems from a growing ecosystem of small and medium enterprises offering innovative components.

“The UK is establishing itself as a quantum world leader, and TreQ has a team of quantum experts from across UK universities,” said Henry Lane Fox, chairman of Creator Fund.

“It has the potential to be a catalyst for the first generation of quantum computers that address real world needs, built from this country’s innovation in this space.”