Oratomic Raises $300M to Build 20,000-Qubit Quantum Computer

U.S.-based startup Oratomic, founded by scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has closed a $300 million funding round. The capital will be used to develop a quantum computer that the company claims will be the first commercially viable solution in the field. The round was led by ARCH Venture Partners, Spark Capital, and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Bezos Expeditions, Index Ventures, General Catalyst, and other investors.

Unlike competitors, Oratomic is not pursuing intermediate noisy qubit systems (NISQ). Instead, the company is focused on building a full-scale quantum computer from the outset. Its founders assert that their laser-based 'optical tweezers' approach, which manipulates individual atoms, enables error correction with minimal qubit overhead—just 10,000 to 20,000 qubits, compared to millions required by others. This makes the technology more accessible and scalable.

According to Oratomic CEO Dolev Bluvshtein, scientists previously doubted the feasibility of a quantum computer in the near term. However, advancements in error correction have shifted perspectives. The company has already experimentally validated key components of its system, attracting investor interest. Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, called this project the largest early-stage investment in his fund's history.

Quantum computers promise to revolutionize industries reliant on complex calculations, such as drug discovery, logistics optimization, and cybersecurity. In recent years, interest in the technology has surged: several startups, including Infleqtion and Quantinuum, have gone public, while stocks of companies like Rigetti and IonQ have seen significant growth.