Alice & Bob Hired 100 Employees in Seven Months This Year

Alice & Bob has been recognized as one of France’s most promising scale-ups, selected for the French Tech Next40 program for the second consecutive year. The quantum computing firm demonstrated rapid growth by hiring 100 employees in seven months, from September to April, bringing its total workforce to over 250 people across its Paris and Boston locations. Representing more than 33 nationalities, the company’s international team is supported by a portfolio of over 70 patent families, with approximately a quarter already granted or allowed, indicating significant investment in its core technology. “We are building a quantum computing company from France,” said Chloé Poisbeau, COO of Alice & Bob, adding that the recognition “highlights the strength of our technology and our team and reflects the progress we are making towards delivering fault-tolerant quantum computing.”

Alice & Bob Selected for French Tech Next40 Program

Alice & Bob’s continued inclusion in the French Tech Next40 program underscores the rapid growth of the quantum computing firm, a status achieved despite the specialized nature of its work and the challenges of scaling a deep-tech enterprise. The company demonstrated substantial growth by onboarding 100 employees in a seven-month period, from September to April, a pace indicative of both demand for skilled quantum engineers and Alice & Bob’s ability to attract them. This expansion brings the total workforce to over 250 individuals distributed between its Paris headquarters and Boston office, with employees representing 33 nationalities; this diverse talent pool is crucial for innovation in a globally competitive field.

Selection for the Next40 program provides access to a network of support designed to accelerate growth, with the French Tech Mission committing to over 250 follow-up actions monthly focused on areas like financial planning and international expansion. This proactive approach to patenting is vital, given the intense competition and the long development timelines inherent in quantum technologies. The company’s leadership views this recognition as validation of its strategic direction.

Cat Qubits Reduce Hardware Needs for Quantum Computing

Alice & Bob’s advancements in quantum computing hardware are centered on a unique qubit technology that can significantly reduce the physical infrastructure required for scalable systems. Unlike many quantum computing approaches reliant on superconducting transmon qubits, the company specializes in “cat qubits,” a technology originating from the work of its founders, and recently demonstrated a substantial reduction in hardware demands. Specifically, the firm reports its cat architecture can decrease the necessary components for a functional, large-scale quantum computer by up to 200 times when contrasted with alternative methodologies. This efficiency stems from the inherent properties of cat qubits, allowing for more complex quantum operations with fewer physical resources, a critical factor as the field moves toward practical applications. The rapid expansion of Alice & Bob, with the addition of 100 employees between September and April, underscores the growing confidence in this approach and the demand for specialized quantum expertise. A diverse workforce of over 250 individuals, representing 33 nationalities across its Paris and Boston locations, further fuels this development, highlighting the company’s ability to attract international talent.