Yaqumo Inc., a Tokyo-based startup developing scalable neutral-atom quantum computers, has secured a Seed Extension Round from Quantonation II FPCI, marking the venture capital fund’s first investment in a Japanese company. The $350 million quantum-focused fund selected Yaqumo after a global search for promising deep-tech startups, recognizing the company’s technological capabilities and potential. This funding will accelerate Yaqumo’s research and development, expand its team, and drive commercialization efforts, strengthening its position within the growing quantum ecosystem. Kazuhiro Nakashoji, CEO of Yaqumo, said the investment is a strong validation of the company’s technology and potential, and demonstrates that Japan’s quantum industry is gaining global attention.

Quantonation’s $350M Portfolio Includes Yaqumo for Seed Extension

Quantonation’s investment in Yaqumo expands its $350 million portfolio to include a Japanese quantum computing startup; the firm has previously backed 38 deep-tech companies across ten countries in the US, Europe, and Asia since its founding in 2018. This Seed Extension Round funding will allow Yaqumo, headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, to bolster research and development of its scalable neutral-atom quantum computers, a technology the company believes is crucial for effective quantum error correction and, ultimately, practical fault-tolerant quantum computing. The investment utilizes a J-KISS convertible equity instrument, a streamlined financing method for the Japanese startup ecosystem that avoids immediate valuation determination. Olivier Tonneau, Partner at Quantonation, emphasized the firm’s confidence in the company’s business potential and Japan’s quantum science foundation, stating that Yaqumo’s team and vision are compelling for making quantum technology practical. The company, established on April 1, 2025, focuses on hardware-software co-design to achieve fast clock rates, a key element in its approach to scalable quantum computing.

Yaqumo’s Cold Atom Technology Supports Scalable Quantum Hardware

Unlike many quantum computing efforts focused on superconducting qubits or trapped ions, Yaqumo develops neutral atom, or “cold atom,” technology, a method gaining traction for its potential to overcome limitations in qubit connectivity and scalability. This hardware-software co-design prioritizes fast clock rates, a critical factor in making quantum error correction more effective and achieving practical, fault-tolerant quantum computing. Quantonation’s selection of Yaqumo, following an extensive global search for promising quantum startups, underscores the growing recognition of Japan’s contributions to the field; the firm has deployed over $350 million in assets under management, investing in more than 38 quantum deep-tech startups across ten countries.