The newest launchpad for quantum breakthroughs ramps up activity as companies take up residence and collaborate to thrive

The Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI)—a CU Boulder-led hub for advancing quantum research, innovation and community engagement—has rapidly taken shape in a state-of-the-art facility at BioMed Realty’s Flatiron Park. COQI is ramping up operations as it welcomed its first companies, including inaugural tenant Quantum Rings, a rising leader in quantum software simulation.

Quantum Rings, which focuses on simulation tools and scalable quantum software frameworks, moved into COQI in July. The company had been based nearby the incubator and, when they heard about it, they immediately wanted to join. "Partnering with the Quantum Incubator is a transformative opportunity for an early-stage startup like ours, driving significant value and credibility," said Bob Wold, CEO of Quantum Rings. "The potential for growth and impact is immense."

"COQI offers far more than just office space," said Wold. "It positions innovative companies like Quantum Rings at the heart of quantum advancements, providing unparalleled access to next-generation hardware and industry-defining conversations."

In addition to the high-level conversations and connections, Wold values practical knowledge shared among colleagues at COQI. "It fosters collaboration on everything from strategic decisions, like determining equity for early hires, to practical matters, such as identifying trusted accountants."

More than that, said Wold, it can give industry outliers an inside track. "Given the complexities of the quantum innovation landscape, joining COQI has been exceptionally valuable, providing us with a strategic entry point into this dynamic ecosystem.'"

COQI’s inaugural tenant innovating at the “software frontier” sets the tone for a dynamic and impactful future at the incubator, according to Scott Sternberg, CUbit Quantum Initiative executive director and COQI project lead. “Quantum Rings moving in, and having others’ [tenancy] underway, is both a vote of confidence in the incubator’s mission and also creates a powerful foundation,” he said. 

Encouraging a flourishing quantum environment based on infrastructure, partnerships and access is essential to success, according to Wold. "Building a robust quantum ecosystem requires incubators to bridge the gap between university research and full-scale commercialization," said Wold. "COQI is fostering dynamic platforms where collaboration and innovation thrive."

Four pillars, one mission

COQI was launched last January with the goal of connecting Colorado’s world-class capabilities in quantum research to commercialization, and offering facilities for prototype testing, collaborative development and public engagement. The 13,000-square-foot facility is backed by bipartisan legislative support and spearheaded by CU Boulder, in partnership with Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines and the Elevate Quantum, a coalition of 120 organizations.

COQI is built around a mission to be “Human driven, quantum powered,” said Sternberg. That mission is supported by four pillars: two on the “human” side, including support services specialized for quantum development and community gathering places like the CUbit-sponsored Quantum Café and the Colorado Quantum Meeting Series, a regular forum for researchers, industry professionals and students to exchange ideas and build partnerships, hosted by Quantum Rings.

On the “quantum” side are university-inspired lab platforms and instrumentation suites that leverage CU Boulder’s deep expertise in areas like atomic clocks, quantum networking, quantum materials and more. “All of this is designed to provide a nexus and attract companies—whether they’re local or global,” said Sternberg. “These are assets you can only get in total in one place in the world—and that’s Boulder, Colorado.”

Momentum at the core

The incubator is fast becoming a fulcrum for an industry that promises to transform how societies communicate, compute and solve problems once thought unsolvable. COQI’s list of new and prospective tenants is varied and growing, said Sternberg. “The interest has been overwhelming. It’s a door that people have beaten a path to, wanting these conversations, wanting to understand what we’re really building here,” he said. “The real benefit is that we’re at the center of the conversation. This is part of our innovation strategy—creating a nexus for quantum conversation, quantum talent development and quantum business development.”

CU Boulder has already established itself as a powerhouse of discovery and talent, with four Nobel Prizes in physics and a steady stream of graduates who are sought after in quantum-related careers. By inviting companies into the deep tech space and giving them access to difficult-to-acquire instrumentation, the incubator fulfills another objective—turning fundamental discoveries into industry-shaping innovations by advancing quantum technologies from the lab to the marketplace. “Certainly we’re focused on spinning out companies from the university,” said Sternberg. “This is a logical landing point for a startup, a first bridge out of the university into the real world.”

About Quantum Rings

Quantum Rings, a proud Colorado-based leader in quantum circuit simulation, delivers innovative developer tools to empower developers, researchers, and enterprises to advance quantum software development. With a mission to make quantum computing accessible and practical, this Boulder-born company enables a broad audience to harness its transformative potential across industries through a groundbreaking platform that simulates hundreds of logical qubits and millions of gate operations on standard hardware. 

About the Colorado Quantum Incubator

The Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) was created through collaboration among partner universities and Elevate Quantum. Its purpose is to support quantum startups, provide access to advanced scientific equipment and serve as a testbed for quantum innovations. COQI aims to accelerate research into real-world applications, foster economic development, create quantum-related jobs and position Colorado as a global leader in quantum technology. 

Interested in being part of the quantum incubator? Reach out to cubit@colorado.edu.