Photonic Inc., a leader in distributed quantum computing and communications technologies, today announced a significant shakeup to its Board of Directors following a recent $180 million CAD investment. The Vancouver-based company has appointed Alex van Someren as Executive Chair, alongside four new directors: Don Mattrick, Nathan Medlock, and Ashton Scordo, joining existing leaders including Founder Dr. Stephanie Simmons and CEO Dr. Hermann Hauser. “These appointments add significant depth across technology, investment, sustainability, and global business leadership,” said Paul Terry, CEO of Photonic. Van Someren, who previously invested in Photonic in 2021, believes the company is poised to “be the category winner in delivering fully scalable quantum computing,” signaling ambitious plans for the future of data-center scale quantum technology.
Photonic Inc. Secures $180 Million CAD Investment Round
**A recent $180 million CAD infusion positions Photonic Inc. This capital injection, equivalent to $130 million USD, follows earlier funding bringing the total raised to nearly USD $300 million, signaling strong continued investor confidence in the company’s trajectory. Four new directors have joined Photonic’s leadership, bringing expertise from diverse fields. Alex van Someren, a computing entrepreneur and former Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security, returns to the board as Executive Chair, having previously invested in Photonic in 2021. Don Mattrick, formerly of Zynga and Microsoft, will serve as Vice Chair, while Nathan Medlock of Planet First Partners, the lead investor in this round, and Ashton Scordo from British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), which held $295 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, also join the board.
New Board Appointments: Expertise in Tech and Investment
The new appointments bring a wealth of experience in both technology and finance, crucial for scaling Photonic’s ambitious vision. Van Someren expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted to expand my commitment to Photonic, Inc.” He believes Photonic’s approach—combining silicon spin qubits with photonic interconnects—positions the company as a potential “category winner” in scalable quantum computing.
Entanglement First™ Architecture & Silicon Spin Qubit Technology
Photonic Inc. is aggressively pursuing a novel approach to quantum computing, centered around its Entanglement First™ architecture and silicon spin qubit technology. Unlike many quantum efforts reliant on exotic materials or complex cryogenic systems, Photonic leverages standard silicon wafer fabrication techniques, promising a pathway to scalability and integration with existing infrastructure. This method utilizes optically linked silicon spin qubits, a design choice intended to deliver powerful computation alongside efficient error correction. The company’s focus on distributed quantum computing is a key differentiator, aiming to overcome limitations inherent in single, monolithic quantum processors.
According to Alex van Someren, Executive Chair, “The unique fundamental proposition of combining spin qubits manufactured using standard silicon wafer fabrication techniques with easily switchable telecoms wavelength photonic interconnects suggests that Photonic, Inc. Photonic’s team of over 150 experts is actively developing this technology, backed by nearly USD $300 million in funding to date, demonstrating continued investor confidence. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the efficacy of their solution at scale, tackling challenges in fields ranging from materials science to climate change.
The unique fundamental proposition of combining spin qubits manufactured using standard silicon wafer fabrication techniques with easily switchable telecoms wavelength photonic interconnects suggests that Photonic, Inc. will be the category winner in delivering fully scalable quantum computing.
Alex van Someren, Executive Chair
