Universal Quantum Raises $100M Series A to Scale Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Systems

Universal Quantum is building quantum computers that can scale to millions of error-corrected qubits, with the goal of making the technology useful for real-world applications. The Haywards Heath, United Kingdom-based company develops systems designed to address the reliability and scaling challenges facing quantum computing.

The University of Sussex spinout has raised $100 million in Series A funding, which it describes as the largest Series A secured by a UK-headquartered quantum firm. DCVC and Firgun Ventures led the round, with participation from EDBI, Artal, Integral GlobalTech, Main Sequence, Hostplus, NGS Super, IAG Capital, EdenBase, Eigenstate Holdings, SiteGround Capital, Dave Baszucki, Nauta Capital, and The Venture Collective.

Founded in 2018 by Sebastian Weidt and Winfried Hensinger, Universal Quantum has raised more than $125 million to date. It is headquartered in Haywards Heath and operates across the United States, Germany, Japan, Denmark, and Australia.

The company will use the funding to expand in the United States and Japan and grow its German hub in Hamburg. It also plans to advance and commercialise its quantum computing technology, supporting product development, go-to-market activity, and hiring as it builds out its international operations.

Interested in this company?

Gliwice, Poland-based KP Labs develops hardware, firmware, and AI algorithms that process and analyse satellite data directly in orbit. By handling data before it reaches Earth, its systems support more targeted use of information collected in space. The company has secured €4.42 million in a Series Unknown funding round led by Momentum Capital Partners. KP Labs was founded by Krzysztof Pacan, Michał Zachara, and Grzegorz Łada. The investment will support the company’s next growth phase, including expanded research and development and a broader commercial product portfolio. It will also fund the establishment of serial hardware production, moving its specialised processing units toward larger-scale manufacturing. KP Labs works with the European Space Agency and NASA, as well as Airbus Defence and Space, OHB Hellas, and Thales Alenia Space. Its Intuition-1 satellite operated in orbit from 2023 to 2026, and the company is involved in the CAMILA Polish national space mission. Alongside product development, KP Labs plans to scale international sales and marketing activities.

Barcelona-based Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech is building complete quantum computers rather than supplying a single component. The company develops its own chips, software and algorithms, while integrating cryogenics and control electronics into working systems. The startup has secured €19.6 million in the first close of its Series A. Indra Group invested €10 million through IndraMind, with the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation contributing a further €9.6 million. Led by Dr. Marta P. Estarellas and Dr. Victor Canivell, Qilimanjaro was founded in Barcelona in 2019 as a spin-off of the Institute of High Energy Physics, Barcelona Supercomputing Center and the University of Barcelona. The company is developing the technology as a full-stack platform, spanning hardware and the software needed to operate it. Qilimanjaro will use the funding to scale and industrialise its quantum computers, advance next-generation chip development, and increase manufacturing and deployment capacity. It expects to complete the Series A in the fourth quarter of 2026, with Avançsa and other existing investors expected to participate.

London-based Augur is developing AI technology that turns fragmented sensor networks into a real-time intelligence layer for national security and public safety. Its platform is intended to help make sense of information gathered across multiple cameras and other sensors. The company is receiving an undisclosed investment from the Sovereign AI Fund. The funding round has not been publicly identified beyond its classification as a Series Unknown round, and Augur is led by Harry Mead, Imran Lone, and Stefan Kopieczek. Augur will use access to the Isambard-AI supercomputer for product development, specifically to train large and complex datasets collected from multiple cameras. That computing access will support work on the company’s core intelligence technology rather than a disclosed expansion or hiring plan. The investment follows a separate $15 million seed round that Augur raised in June, led by Plural. The new backing gives the London startup additional support as it develops its multi-camera data capabilities for security and public-safety applications.

Oxford, UK-based Salience Labs develops photonic chips and optical circuit switching technology that helps connect GPUs inside AI data centres. By moving data between processors through optical systems, the company is addressing a key infrastructure challenge as AI workloads demand faster, more efficient networking. The startup has raised $125 million in Series B funding led by Bullhound Capital. AMD Ventures, Intel Capital, SBI Group, Hudson River Trading, British Business Bank, Applied Ventures, Oxford Science Enterprises, Cambridge Innovation Capital, and Silicon Catalyst Ventures also participated. Salience Labs was founded by Vaysh Kewada and Johannes Feldmann. The round will fund deployment of its optical switching technology, expansion of high-volume manufacturing, and development of next-generation optical switches. Salience Labs has demonstrated a 64-port all-optical photonic switch and is developing 128-port and 256-port versions for larger-scale data centre connectivity. The company is working with Keysight Technologies and Tower Semiconductor to scale manufacturing. It will also grow its engineering team, expand into additional geographic markets, and establish a second West Coast location as it takes the products into wider deployment.

London-based Affinity Labs develops software products and brands with content creators, pairing their audiences with AI-powered technology to build and scale digital businesses. Founded by Edoardo Ricci, Ahmed Eltom, and Sunny Panchal, the company has launched four creator-led brands to date. Affinity Labs has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding led by Fuel Ventures. The round also includes Antler, Innovate UK, and angel investors connected to Google DeepMind, Meta, Playfair VC, Marcello Ascani, Devran Amaratunga Karaca, Christian Arnstedt, Ryan Nelson, and Quentin Jayat. The financing includes a £497,787 Innovate UK grant. Affinity Labs will use the funding to expand its portfolio, support the growth of existing products, and further develop the technology it uses to create AI-powered products with creators. The company also plans to strengthen its product, growth, and engineering teams. Affinity Labs expects to launch its first products with US creators in late 2026, extending its creator-led software model into a new market while continuing to build out its existing portfolio.

Warsaw-based Coding Giants provides technology education for children and teenagers, with courses covering coding, artificial intelligence, and mathematics. Its platform now serves more than 130,000 students across 13 markets in Europe and the Americas. The company has raised €6 million in debt financing from Orbit Capital. Coding Giants was founded by Radosław Kulesza, Dawid Leśniakiewicz, Piotr Pełka, and Sebastian Langa. The funding will support the company’s go-to-market expansion, with priority placed on strengthening its presence in the United States and Mexico. Coding Giants already operates an office in Mexico, giving it an established base as it develops those markets. Coding Giants also plans to pursue organic growth and acquisitions in Spain and other markets. The company generates approximately $15 million in annual recurring revenue, adding scale to its international expansion strategy as it continues building its education business across Europe and the Americas.