Quanfluence raises $10 million to build photonic quantum computer

Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Quanfluence has raised $10 million to fund the development of its full-stack photonic quantum computer.

The funding round was led by Chiratae Ventures, with participation from Rainmatter by Zerodha and existing backer Pi Ventures. Pi Ventures previously led the startup’s $2 million seed round in December 2024.

Quanfluence plans to use the capital to design and build a complete quantum system. This involves combining its custom-designed photonic chips, control electronics, and operating software into a single, unified architecture.

The roadmap to 100 qubits

While many quantum computing systems rely on superconducting circuits that must be kept at temperatures colder than deep space, Quanfluence is taking a different route. It uses light waves, or photons, as the basic unit of quantum information. The company believes this photonic approach makes it easier to scale the technology without requiring massive, complex cooling systems.

Co-founder and chief executive Sujoy Chakravarty said the immediate priority is to launch a four-qubit quantum processor in the near term, with the aim of delivering early processors by 2027. The company's roadmap targets a larger, 100-qubit prototype by 2029.

The main hurdles now are less about proving the underlying quantum physics and more about hardware engineering. The team needs to package delicate optical components, scale up manufacturing, and manage the long production cycles associated with semiconductor fabrication.

To help meet these challenges, the company plans to expand its team. It currently employs 25 people and expects to grow to a 40-member team over the next year.

Commercialising quantum-inspired hardware

Building a universal quantum computer is a long-term goal, but Quanfluence has already begun bringing in revenue from an intermediate technology.

The startup has commercialised a "quantum-inspired" system known as an optical Ising machine. Instead of using qubits, this machine uses light waves to quickly solve highly complex optimisation problems, which involve finding the best solution from millions of possibilities. The system can process hundreds of interconnected variables at once. The company claims this makes it 100 times faster than conventional computing methods.

Quanfluence has already sold three of these machines and is running paid pilot programmes with between 10 and 15 corporate clients. It offers them either as physical hardware or through remote, cloud-based access on a pay-per-use model. This gives the business early commercial traction while the harder work of building a true quantum computer continues.

The deal comes at a time of growing interest in Indian deeptech. The Indian government's National Quantum Mission is currently trying to foster closer ties between researchers, startups, and public quantum hubs. Earlier this autumn, quantum cybersecurity firm QNu Labs raised roughly $21 million in a round co-led by the state-backed mission.