‘We want to deliver the next computing revolution’: Q-CTRL named Australia’s Most Innovative Startup

Quantum computing software startup Q-CTRL won the Most Innovative Startup award in the 2023 Startup Daily Best of Technology Awards, sponsored by Dell for Startups. This is why they stand out in one of the event’s most competitive categories.

Q-CTRL has pioneered the quantum infrastructure software segment and become a leading software company in the quantum sector.

It was that innovation that impressed the judges at our Startup Daily Best of Tech Awards, held at the Campus Ballroom in Sydney on 6 September.

Software developed by University of Sydney Professor Michael J Biercuk and his team, are designed to improve the utility and performance of quantum hardware by solving the problem of error correction and eliminating errors in computation. That application has accelerated the path to the first useful quantum computers and quantum sensors in fields such as sectors such as finance, pharmaceuticals, materials science and logistics, as well as defence.

Q-CTRL has also developed Black Opal, an educational technology platform that allows users to quickly learn about quantum computing.

Established in 2017, Q-CTRL is Australia’s first venture-backed quantum technology startup.

It has achieved a series of impressive achievements and traction over the past 18 months, raising more than $42 million in funding, including from Salesforce Ventures. Former Wallabies captain John Eales is also an investor.

The company has also docked an agreement to supply quantum sensor navigation technology for Australian Defense partners and AUKUS. Both Q-CRTL’s quantum sensing and quantum computing divisions have signed multiple multi-million dollar contracts with the public sector this year.

It also formed a partnership with hardware manufacturer Oxford Quantum Circuits and opened four new offices including its Sydney headquarters and further offices in the UK, Los Angeles and Berlin, with the team growing by 40%. in the past year increased to more than 100 people.

Founder and CEO Michael J Biercuk confessed to Startup Daily on awards night that he hasn’t taken a vacation in 11 years and wishes there were more hours in the day to achieve his goals.

“We want nothing more than to deliver the next computing revolution,” he said.

“If you look back, 30, 50, 70 years, how much the world has changed because of computers.

“We want to do the same with this completely new quantum technology. We want to make it all happen and do it from our headquarters in Sydney.”

Award presenter Will Hasko from Dell Technologies with Most Innovative Startup winner Michael J Biercuk from Q-CTRL. Image: Cec Busby

Professor Biercuk said he was grateful for the recognition by Startup Daily and the jury for the Most Innovative Startup category.

“As a young tech startup, everyone at Q-CTRL is working Actually It is unlikely to bring great commercial and strategic benefits to Australia and its allies,” he said.

“We have assembled the best team in the world, building on Australia’s exceptional history as a research powerhouse in quantum computing. It’s exciting that we’ve been able to build a business around our globally unique technology, which is recognized not only in quantum technology circles but also across the broader technology ecosystem .”‍

Q-CTRL has been an early member of the IBM Quantum Network startup program since 2018, and its performance management software now runs natively on IBM quantum computers.

Professor Biercuk said there are “more exciting things to come later this year” but for now he will “keep quiet for now”.

The The Most Innovative Startup Award recognizes a startup that is changing the world for the better with their bold ideas. The other finalists in Q-CTRL’s category are:

• Hysata. Hysata is accelerating the world’s transition from fossil fuels to green hydrogen by providing the world’s most efficient, simple and reliable electrolyzers. Hysata took home the Startup of the Year award.
• Thermal MGA. MGA Thermal is making 24/7 renewable energy a reality with a new form of energy storage for the grid and industrial use.

See the full list of 2023 Startup Daily Awards winners here.

This article is brought to you by Startup Daily with support from Dell Technologies.