Chinese startup Taiyi Quantum has raised $44 million to develop a next-generation quantum computer.
Shanghai-based tech startup Taiyi Quantum has successfully closed a pre-seed funding round of 300 million yuan, equivalent to approximately $44 million. The lead investors are venture capital funds Gaorong Venture Capital and IDG Capital.
The company's founder and CEO is Liu Hongbin, who previously served as an architect for Azure Quantum at Microsoft. Under his leadership, Taiyi Quantum has focused on developing a quantum computer that uses neutral ytterbium atoms. In this architecture, individual atoms held in place by laser traps serve as qubits.
The choice of ytterbium is no coincidence: this element possesses unique spectroscopic properties that minimize the impact of external interference and enhance the coherence of quantum states. According to the team's estimates, this approach can provide higher computational stability compared to traditional superconducting qubits.
The raised funds will be directed toward completing the system prototype, scaling up the number of qubits, and attracting engineering talent. The quantum computing market, according to analyst forecasts, is expected to exceed $65 billion by 2030, and China is actively striving to take a leading position in it.
Expert commentary: The investment in Taiyi Quantum is not just another funding round, but a signal that the race for practical quantum supremacy is entering a new phase. Neutral atom technology is still less mature than superconductors, but its potential for scalability and error resilience makes it one of the most promising directions. If the team can demonstrate a working system with dozens of qubits within the next two years, it could fundamentally change the balance of power in the industry.