summary comparing IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave, and PsiQuantum—covering key technology, funding, and commercialization details in table and bullet form.
Quick Overview
IonQ (IONQ) • Technology: Trapped-ion, universal gate-based. • Advantages: High-fidelity qubits, longer coherence times, fully connected architecture. • Status: Systems on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. • Funding: $300–500M in cash (late 2023), burn of $20–30M/quarter. • Runway: Several years at current burn rate. • Use Cases: Machine learning, optimization, chemistry, finance, cryptography.
Rigetti (RGTI) • Technology: Superconducting, universal gate-based. • Advantages: Familiar chip-fab methods, large ecosystem synergy (similar to IBM/Google). • Status: Systems on Rigetti Quantum Cloud, AWS Braket, Azure Quantum. • Funding: Under 100M in cash, $20–30M+/quarter burn. • Runway: Shorter, relies on periodic capital raises and cost controls. • Use Cases: General-purpose quantum algorithms (though behind IBM/Google in scale/fidelity).
D-Wave (QBTS) • Technology: Quantum annealing (main) + in-development gate-based. • Advantages: Thousands of qubits for optimization tasks; real commercial customers. • Status: Annealing systems on D-Wave Leap, AWS Braket; gate-based still in R&D. • Funding: Tens of millions in cash, frequent financing. • Runway: Modest; offset partly by annealing revenue. • Use Cases: Optimization (supply chain, logistics, scheduling).
PsiQuantum (Private) • Technology: Photonic (light-based), universal gate-based, aiming for fault tolerance. • Advantages: Photons can have lower noise; targeting a million+ qubits with error correction. • Status: No public system yet, working with GlobalFoundries for chip production. • Funding: 700M–11B+ in venture capital from top investors. • Runway: Significant, but extremely high R&D costs. • Use Cases: Any universal quantum algorithm, once system is operational (late 2020s target).
Comparison Table
Category IonQ (IONQ) Rigetti (RGTI) D-Wave (QBTS) PsiQuantum (Private) Tech Approach Trapped-ion (gate-based) Superconducting (gate-based) Quantum annealing + gate-based R&D Photonic (gate-based) Key Advantages High fidelity, long coherence, connectivity Familiar chip fabrication Best for large-scale optimization, real commercial annealing use Photons more robust to noise; aiming for fault tolerance Challenges Scaling qubit counts, maintaining fidelity Competes with IBM/Google; shorter coherence times Annealing is not universal; gate-based still early Very complex optical alignment, no public system yet Commercial Availability Yes (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) Yes (Rigetti Cloud, AWS, Azure) Yes for annealing (Leap, AWS), gate-based not yet Not yet (research-focused, planned late 2020s) Cash Position (approx.) $300–500M Under 100M Tens of millions (needs frequent funding) 700M–11B+ from VCs Cash Burn Rate $20–30M/quarter $20–30M+/quarter High, partly offset by annealing revenue Not public, likely sizable Runway Several years Shorter, depends on raises Limited, reliant on new financing Large war chest but huge R&D Use Cases Broad quantum algorithms (ML, chemistry) Broad quantum algorithms, smaller scale Optimization (logistics, scheduling), exploring universal gate-based Universal fault-tolerant quantum (once built)
Key Takeaways • IonQ: Strongest public balance sheet among quantum pure-plays. Already offering universal gate-based computers via the cloud. • Rigetti: Similar universal approach (superconducting) but with tighter finances and tough competition from IBM/Google. • D-Wave: Leading in quantum annealing for optimization, has real customers, but gate-based progress is early. • PsiQuantum: Privately funded “moonshot” aiming for a million-qubit, fault-tolerant photonic system. High potential and high risk.
All data are approximate as of late 2023. Always check official disclosures for the most current figures.
SFIO A lot in the works with this one, could be the start of something big as more ppl start waking up to SFIO. Small conglomerate with 100+ brick & mortar locations in NZ that have been turning regular quarterly profits last few years in the millions. Close to 30M annual revenue. Expanding to AU soon.
Do your DD and don’t miss out if you see the same opportunity with this company!