Atom Computing Explained

Atom Computing Inc.
Type:Private company
Industry:Quantum Computing
Hq Location City:Berkeley, California
Hq Location Country:United States

Atom Computing Inc. is a quantum computing company headquartered in Berkeley, California with a commercial operations facility in Boulder, Colorado.[1] The company develops quantum computers based on neutral atom technology.

History

Atom Computing was founded by Ben Bloom and Jonathan King in 2018[2] with $5M in seed funding.[3] [4]

Rob Hayes served as CEO in 2021.[5]

In 2021 the company secured $15M in Series A funding[6] [7] and announced a 100-qubit prototype system.[8]

By early 2022 the company secured $60M in Series B funding[9] [10] and expanded its activities by opening a commercial operations facility in Boulder, Colorado.[11]

In 2023 Atom Computing announced its second-generation quantum computer with over 1,000 qubits.[12] [13]

Microsoft and Atom Computing announced in late 2024 that they had been collaborating on a commercial quantum computer that has logical qubits by combining Microsoft's work on quantum error correction with Atom's over-1,000-qubit system.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Technology

Atom Computing's technology is based on neutral atoms, specifically alkaline earth(-like) metals such as strontium and ytterbium. By manipulating the atoms in a vacuum chamber with laser beams,[19] quantum information can be written into the nuclear spin of the atoms to perform gate operations and execute quantum circuits.

Along with several academic groups, Atom Computing has demonstrated how to use this technology to perform mid-circuit measurements on ancilla qubits, create arrays of over 1,000 qubits, and perform entangling gates.

In November 2024, Atom Computing, together with researchers from Microsoft, demonstrated the entanglement of 24 logical qubits and running a Bernstein–Vazirani algorithm with 28 logical qubits on Atom Computing's hardware.[14]

Recognition

In 2024 the Colorado Technology Association recognized Atom Computing as the "Emerging Tech Company of the Year" and Fast Company recognized the company as one of "The 10 most innovative computing companies in 2025".[20]

Atom Computing was selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to participate in Stage B of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), joining ten other leading companies in the quantum computing industry.[21] This selection follows Atom Computing’s successful completion of Stage A, which required participants to outline a path to developing utility-scale quantum computers. The QBI program seeks to assess whether a practical, industrially useful quantum computer can be realized by 2033.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Smith-Goodson . Paul . Atom Computing Announces Record-Breaking 1,225-Qubit Quantum Computer. 3 March 2025 . Forbes . 24 October 2023.
  2. News: Himes . John . Atom Computing's Quantum Tech and the Story Behind It. 3 March 2025 . Dynamic Tech Media. 7 November 2023.
  3. Chen . Sophia . Arrays of atoms emerge as dark horse candidate to power quantum computers . 3 March 2025 . Science. 26 September 2018.
  4. News: Swayne . Matt . TQD Exclusive: Interview with Atom Computing CEO, Ben Bloom. 3 March 2025 . The Quantum Insider. 4 December 2019.
  5. Web site: Parker . Jason . 2021-07-21 . A primer on quantum computing with Rob Hays, CEO of Atom Computing WRAL TechWire . 2025-12-16 . en-US.
  6. News: Smith-Goodson . Paul . Atom Computing: A Quantum Computing Startup That Believes It Can Ultimately Win The Qubit Race. 3 March 2025 . Forbes . 18 November 2021.
  7. News: Takahashi . Dean . Atom Computing raising $15M to create Phoenix quantum computing system. 3 March 2025 . VentureBeat. 21 July 2021.
  8. News: Parker . Jason . Quantum computing startup with executive office in Cary raises $15M, launches first-generation computer. 3 March 2025 . Forbes . 21 July 2021.
  9. News: Smith-Goodson . Paul . Atom Computing Plans To Build A Bigger And Better High-Tech Quantum Computer With Its Latest $60 Million Series B Funding. 3 March 2025 . Forbes . 25 January 2022.
  10. News: Russell . John . Quantum Watch: Neutral Atoms Draw Growing Attention as Promising Qubit Technology. 3 March 2025 . HPCwire . 25 January 2022.
  11. News: Lee. Jane . Atom Computing to invest $100 mln in Colorado for quantum computer center. 3 March 2025 . Reuters. 28 September 2022.
  12. News: Timmer . John . Atom Computing is the first to announce a 1,000+ qubit quantum computer. 3 March 2025 . Ars Technica . 24 October 2023.
  13. News: Wilkins. Alex. Record-breaking quantum computer has more than 1000 qubits. 3 March 2025 . New Scientist . 24 October 2023.
  14. News: Lardinois. Frederic. Microsoft and Atom Computing will launch a commercial quantum computer in 2025. 3 March 2025 . TechCrunch . 19 November 2024.
  15. News: Microsoft and Atom Computing Are Taking Orders for a Fault Tolerant Quantum Computer with 1K (Physical) / 50 (Logical) Qubits for Delivery Next Year. 3 March 2025 . Quantum Computing Report . 19 November 2024.
  16. News: Swayne. Matt. In Step Toward Scientific Advantage, Microsoft and Atom Computing Announce The Launch of a Quantum Machine with Record-Breaking Logical Qubits. 3 March 2025 . The Quantum Insider . 19 November 2024.
  17. News: Kelley. Alexandra. Microsoft and Atom Computing unveil 24-qubit quantum machine. 3 March 2025 . NextGov . 19 November 2024.
  18. News: Russell . John . Atom Computing, Microsoft Roll Out On-Premise System Supporting 50 Logical Qubits . 3 March 2025 . HPCwire . 20 January 2025.
  19. News: Hu. Charlotte. How neutral atoms could help power next-gen quantum computers. 3 March 2025 . Popular Science. 10 February 2023.
  20. News: The 10 most innovative computing companies of 2025 . 3 March 2025 . Fast Company. 18 March 2025.
  21. Web site: DARPA Selects 11 Participants for Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Stage B. 2025-11-07. HPCwire.

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