TreQ, a British-based quantum computing startup led by US Air Force Reserve Brigadier-General Mandy Birch, has secured a $5 million seed funding boost, as reported by Sky News. The funding announcement is set for this week and marks a significant step for the company as it advances its mission to build and operate open-architecture quantum computers.
According to Sky News, the funding round was led by Lavrock Ventures, a US-based deep-tech and national security-focused venture firm. The investment also saw participation from other notable investors, including UK-based Creator Fund and firstminute capital, both of which specialize in early-stage European deep-tech companies. Additionally, Green Sands Equity, a venture firm based in Silicon Valley, contributed to the round.
TreQ is headquartered at Milton Park in Oxfordshire, a location chosen for its reputation as a global hub for quantum computing and its proximity to the UK’s thriving tech and defense sectors. Mandy Birch, who also serves as an adviser to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre, highlighted her experience working with British military personnel as a key influence in her decision to base TreQ in the UK.
“Having served alongside the British military and worked here in quantum, I know the incredible talent in the UK’s tech and defence community,” Birch said, told Sky News. “The UK is rapidly commercialising quantum: this aligns with our vision and desire to combine strengths among allies to fully realise quantum computing’s potential.”
Quantum computing is a emerging field that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics—such as superposition and entanglement—to process information in ways that traditional computers cannot. While classical computers rely on bits as the smallest unit of information, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can represent multiple states simultaneously. This capability allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations much faster and more efficiently, offering potential applications in areas like cryptography, drug discovery and materials science.
TreQ aims to differentiate itself in the competitive quantum landscape through its focus on open-architecture quantum computers. Unlike companies that develop their systems around a single technology in a lab-based environment, TreQ collaborates with a network of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that contribute innovative components. This ecosystem approach, as mentioned in the Sky News article, allows the company’s engineers to integrate a diverse array of technologies into its systems, potentially accelerating development and increasing flexibility.
TreQ’s team boasts significant expertise in the field, having collectively built approximately a dozen quantum computers worldwide. This experience positions the startup to leverage its open-architecture model effectively, as it works to create versatile systems capable of scaling up as the quantum computing market matures.
TreQ’s funding news comes at a time when the UK is increasingly positioning itself as a leader in quantum technology. Birch’s dual role as a military leader and an adviser in the UK quantum community highlights her strategic focus on building transatlantic partnerships to advance the field. The collaboration with both US and UK investors signals a commitment to building a quantum ecosystem that combines strengths from both countries.
Sky News reports that with the new funding, TreQ plans to expand its operations and enhance its manufacturing capabilities. The startup aims to capitalize on the UK’s supportive infrastructure and talent pool as it scales its efforts to develop commercially viable quantum systems that can address complex challenges in national security, healthcare, and beyond.
“The UK is establishing itself as a quantum world leader, and TreQ has a team of quantum experts from across UK universities,” said Henry Lane Fox, chairman of Creator Fund, told SkyNews. “It has the potential to be a catalyst for the first generation of quantum computers that address real world needs, built from this country’s innovation in this space.”
