Today, we cover the Canadian start-up Xanadu, so we are starting the first of this series with the company at the end of the alphabet. Still, as of right now, over one hundred companies are pursuing Quantum Computing or Quantum Technology in some capacity.
That name: Xanadu
We love the evocative name. It might not be the first time you have heard the name Xanadu. But have you ever wondered what it means? Xanadu is an idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty. Coleridge’s modification is in the poem “Kubla Khan” (1797) of Xandu (17th-century spelling).
To build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere
Xanadu Mission statement
Canada’s Most Well-Known Quantum Company: Xanadu
Started by Christian Weedbrook, the company aims to be a “light-based” or photonic quantum computing company with a mission to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.
What are Xanadu working on?
Xanadu has developed a photonic computing platform (hardware) that integrates with existing technology stacks. They use light properties to create quantum states compared to other competing technologies, such as Ion traps. Of course, each technology comes with its merits and drawbacks. Still, one advantage of the photonic approach is that it may lead to room temperature devices, in contrast to the expensive cooling facilities that are typically needed.
Not stopping at the Hardware, Xanadu has developed its groundbreaking PennyLane software. Someone must love the Beatles, in a nod to the 1967 hit called Penny Lane. Penny Lane is a cross-platform Python library for quantum machine learning (QML), enabling hybrid quantum-classical computations. PennyLane is undoubtedly gaining ground and popularity amongst researchers and developers.
Coupled with their focus on algorithms (again somewhat focused on Machine Learning), it is no wonder Xanadu is turning out to be a seriously VC-funded Quantum Company because it has attracted luminary researchers such as Maria Schuld (who is one of the early researchers into Quantum Machine Learning).
In a nutshell, PennyLane lakes PyTorch and TensorFlow, allowing this to be quantum-ready.
They also actively support the community with their Hackathon events QHACK, attended by noted Quantum Researchers such as Seth Lloyd.
