QpiAI, an Indian startup that claims to combine AI and quantum computing for enterprise use instances, has raised $32 million in a brand new funding spherical co-led by the Indian authorities as the corporate goals to increase its presence and develop utility-scale quantum computer systems for markets all over the world.
The Indian authorities’s $750 million Nationwide Quantum Mission has co-led QpiAI’s all-equity Collection A spherical, alongside Avataar Ventures, at a post-money valuation of $162 million.
The funding displays India’s broader push to ascertain itself as a quantum computing energy. Launched in 2023, the Nationwide Quantum Mission is an Indian authorities initiative that views quantum computing as each an financial alternative and a nationwide safety crucial. This system goals to assist develop intermediate-scale quantum computer systems with 50–1,000 bodily qubits inside 8 years throughout platforms together with superconducting and photonics. It additionally targets the event of satellite-based quantum communications, inter-city quantum distribution, multi-node quantum networks, magnetometers, and the design and synthesis of quantum supplies, together with superconductors, semiconductor constructions, and topological supplies for quantum gadget fabrication.
QpiAI is one among eight startups chosen by the Nationwide Quantum Mission, every receiving an preliminary grant of as much as $3.5 million. Amongst these corporations, the Bengaluru-headquartered startup, which has subsidiaries within the U.S. and Finland, says it has constructed India’s first full-stack quantum pc, known as QpiAI-Indus, which it launched in April with 25 superconducting qubits.
Based in 2019, QpiAI says it integrates quantum computing and AI to offer optimization capabilities in areas corresponding to manufacturing, industrial, transportation, finance, pharma, and supplies. The startup says it has developed specialised software program, together with its proprietary {hardware}, to help real-world quantum functions in fields corresponding to supplies science and drug discovery.
“Quantum can actually be sure that AI is powerful,” stated QpiAI founder and CEO Nagendra Nagaraja in an interview.
The startup views simulation, drug synthesis, and materials discovery as a number of the key use instances the place the mixture of AI and quantum might present a aggressive edge.
Techcrunch occasion
San Francisco
|
October 27-29, 2025
“As a result of the design area of a quantum chip could be very, very huge, and to truly get optimum qubits, which is necessary after we combine hundreds of qubits to get logical qubits for error correction, AI performs an even bigger position there,” Nagaraja informed TechCrunch.
QpiAI plans to launch its 64-qubit quantum pc in November, with availability to clients anticipated by the second or third quarter of subsequent 12 months, Nagaraja stated.
The corporate can be working to start out manufacturing its quantum {hardware} regionally in 2026. Presently, it assembles 80% of its machines in-house.
QpiAI employs a 100-person group, comprising 25 PhDs from worldwide establishments or from Indian institutes. About 50 of its workers are primarily based in India. The corporate says it has round 20 clients in India and the U.S., together with the Indian authorities, which makes use of its infrastructure to check algorithms.
In line with the corporate, QpiAI has been worthwhile at EBITDA degree for the previous three years, with roughly 60% gross margins and 20% to 30% web margins, Nagaraja informed TechCrunch.
With the recent funding, QpiAI plans to enter new markets together with Singapore and the Center East. It additionally goals to allocate funds for its native manufacturing plans and scale its operations to develop a 100-logical qubit system by 2030.
In June of final 12 months, QpiAI raised $6.5 million in a pre-Collection A spherical led by Yournest and SVCL at a post-money valuation of round $30 million.
Nagaraja informed TechCrunch that QpiAI has a three- to four-year runway, even with out accounting for its profitability. He additionally stated the startup is contemplating an preliminary public providing in both 2026 or 2027.
The Nationwide Quantum Mission’s help extends past QpiAI. The Indian authorities’s program can be backing startups corresponding to QNuLabs (engaged on quantum-safe networks), Dimira Applied sciences (cryogenic cables), Prenishq (diode-laser methods), and QuPrayog (optical atomic clocks). It has additionally supported Quanastra (cryogenic methods and superconducting detectors), Pristine Diamonds (diamond-based sensing supplies), and Quan2D Applied sciences (single-photon detectors for quantum communication).
“We plan to proceed to help home-grown product corporations like QpiAI to assist them increase into giant enterprises and place India as world leaders in quantum applied sciences,” stated Ajai Chowdhry, chairman of India’s Nationwide Quantum Mission, in a ready assertion.
