Niklas Zennström to help PsiQuantum scale quantum computers

Niklas Zennström, co-founder of Skype and founder of Atomico, has joined the PsiQuantum Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience in scaling technology companies to the quantum computing field. Zennström succeeds Siraj Khaliq, marking a change in board representation following Atomico’s initial 2019 partnership with PsiQuantum.

“PsiQuantum is taking on one of the most ambitious and important technology challenges of our time,” Zennström said, as the company rapidly builds its leadership team with recent appointments including Chief Executive Officer Victor Peng. PsiQuantum intends to pair technological breakthroughs with large-scale infrastructure in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Zennström’s Appointment Reflects Atomico’s Long-Standing PsiQuantum Partnership

This move signals a deepening commitment from Atomico, the venture capital firm Zennström founded in 2006, to PsiQuantum’s ambitious goal of building a fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer. Atomico initially partnered with PsiQuantum in 2019, and Zennström’s subsequent appointment to the board demonstrates a sustained belief in the company’s technological approach and commercial potential. The transition on the board sees Zennström succeed Siraj Khaliq, a change that underscores the evolving relationship between PsiQuantum and Atomico over the past several years.

“Atomico has partnered with the company for years and watched this team build technologies beyond the current standard,” said Zennström. “It is thrilling to see them now execute and scale.” This long-term investment strategy is further evidenced by a recent bolstering of PsiQuantum’s leadership team; in July, Victor Peng was permanently appointed Chief Executive Officer following his interim role since February, alongside the additions of Rob Soderbery and Sriram Sitaraman to executive positions.

This rapid expansion of leadership coincides directly with Zennström’s arrival, suggesting a coordinated effort to accelerate the company’s progress. PsiQuantum’s strategy centers on leveraging existing semiconductor manufacturing processes to scale its silicon photonics platform, a departure from many other quantum computing approaches.

This focus on manufacturability is critical for achieving the scale necessary to solve commercially valuable problems in fields like chemistry, materials science, and energy. Prof. Jeremy O’Brien, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of PsiQuantum, emphasized this commitment to impact, stating, “PsiQuantum has always been singularly focused on the positive impact and value that utility-scale quantum computing will unlock.” We are delighted to have Niklas bring his deep experience to our board. Zennström’s experience in building and scaling a global technology business is expected to be invaluable as PsiQuantum moves from research and development toward commercial deployment.

This commitment to pairing technological breakthroughs with large-scale infrastructure reflects a broader strategy to deliver the first commercially useful quantum computers in partnership with governments and industry. Victor Peng highlighted Zennström’s qualifications, noting, “Niklas has a proven track record of turning an ambitious technology vision into a successful business at scale.” He further added, “Atomico has been a committed partner to PsiQuantum for years, and Niklas brings a rare combination of founder experience, global perspective, and conviction in deep technology.” This appointment, therefore, is not merely a change in board representation, but a reinforcement of a long-term partnership poised to drive the development of practical quantum computing.