London VC Firm, Firgun Ventures, Backs SQC

11 June 2026 – Firgun Ventures, a London-based, global quantum-focused venture capital firm specializing in early growth-stage quantum technology, today announced its first Australian investment. Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), a global silicon modality leader, widely viewed as one of the most scalable approaches to quantum computing, joins the portfolio. SQC's existing investors include Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), who earlier today announced its additional AUD $40 million investment in the company.

SQC is the only company in the world capable of manufacturing quantum chips with atomic (0.13 nanometer) precision while delivering quantum-enhanced AI products to enterprises and governments today. As a full-stack company with in-house QPU manufacturing, SQC can design, produce and test new quantum chips in under one week: an execution speed that provides the company with a critical advantage in the global race to commercial-scale quantum computing.

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Zeynep Koruturk, co-founder of Firgun Ventures, said:

“Scaling quantum systems is key to unlocking technologies that will solve some of the world’s most complex challenges. Firgun is proud to support SQC, a company at the forefront of silicon-based quantum computing with world-class semiconductor manufacturing capability, which we believe provides a clear pathway to fault-tolerant, commercial-scale systems.”

Michelle Simmons, founder and CEO of SQC, added:‍

‍“SQC was built with an absolute commitment to materials purity and precision engineering, precisely what is required to deliver commercial scale quantum computing. Firgun's investment accelerates our world-leading manufacturing capability and the continued deployment of our commercial products, Watermelon™ and Quantum Twins™, already in the hands of customers today.”

SQC was founded in 2017 by Simmons, the globally recognised pioneer of atomic electronics, and is chaired by Simon Segars, the former CEO of Arm Holdings. SQC employs over 100 people across Australia, Europe and the US, and is one of the 11 companies that have successfully advanced to stage B of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative.

Firgun Ventures’ investment, made via a SAFE note, adds SQC to its portfolio of quantum technology companies. Prior investments of Firgun Ventures include Photonic Inc (Canada), Quantum Elements (USA), and Quantum Motion (UK) and Oxford Quantum Circuits (UK).

About Firgun Ventures

Firgun Ventures is a $250 million London-based quantum fund, and the market’s first VC specialising in early growth-stage quantum technology investment. Founded by Dr Kris Naudts, former Academic Psychiatrist-Neuroscientist and Founder of Culture Trip, and Zeynep Koruturk, former Executive at Goldman Sachs’ and Co-Founder of Goldman’s Tech Initiative, Firgun combines academic, operational and financial expertise with a deep-held belief in the world changing potential of quantum. As angel investors in what was then Cambridge Quantum Computing (now called Quantinuum), Naudts and Koruturk have already played a key role in its spectacular growth into the world’s most valuable, private quantum company (listed last week at a $17bn valuation). With an expert team and world-class advisory council hailing from institutions including Cambridge and Oxford University, MIT, Google, the European Investment Bank and the Wellcome Trust, Firgun provides top tier, quantum-specific due diligence, in addition to the entrepreneurial and investment credentials of its two co-founders.  

Dr Kris Naudts also hosts Time to Talk Quantum (TTQ) a new podcast series exploring quantum’s real-world impact across AI, healthcare, finance, defence, and the arts. For more information, visit www.firgun.vc

About Silicon Quantum Computing

Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC) is at the forefront ofglobal efforts to deliver a commercial-scale quantum system in 2033. Backed by 25 years of technological leadership, SQC holds a singular advantage: exclusive capability to manufacture silicon chips with atomic precision, enabling quantum machine learning chips and quantum computing systems with world-leading algorithmic fidelity. With in-house QPU manufacturing, SQC iterates new chips weekly while delivering quantum machine learning and simulation systems to customers today. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

For more information, contact press@sqc.com.au