EO reported on July 2 that Nakai Quantum (纳开量子), a Chinese quantum-computing startup focused on ultracold-atom and neutral-atom technologies, has completed a seed funding round worth tens of millions of yuan. The round was led by GL Ventures (高瓴创投), with participation from Inno Angel Fund (英诺天使基金), Longstone Capital (长石资本), and Feitu Capital (飞图资本).
The company said the proceeds will be used to accelerate the development of next-generation neutral-atom quantum computers, expand the ecosystem surrounding ultracold-atom quantum simulation systems, and support deliveries to benchmark customers.
Founded in April 2026, Nakai Quantum is one of China’s first startups dedicated to both ultracold-atom quantum simulation and neutral-atom universal quantum computing. The company’s name is derived from the nanokelvin (nK) unit on the absolute temperature scale, reflecting its focus on extreme atomic cooling technologies.
Nakai Quantum was founded by Fan Yaoyuan (樊耀塬), who serves as CEO and holds a PhD from Peking University (北京大学). He previously led the development of China’s first ultracold-atom interferometric gyroscope and co-developed the country’s first ultracold-atom Bloch oscillation gravimeter.
The company’s core team originates from the Cold Atom and Precision Measurement Group at Peking University’s Institute of Quantum Electronics. With more than two decades of experience in ultracold atomic physics, the team has developed technologies capable of cooling multiple atomic species—including rubidium, potassium, cesium, lithium, ytterbium, and strontium—to temperatures ranging from millikelvin (mK) to nanokelvin (nK). The company has also built a product portfolio covering complete quantum-computing systems, cold-atom experimental platforms, key subsystems, and precision control electronics.
Quantum computing is widely viewed as one of the most promising next-generation computing technologies. According to industry estimates cited by the company, the global quantum-computing market is expected to reach approximately USD 6.6 billion in 2025 and grow to more than USD 179.5 billion by 2030.
Among the three leading quantum-computing approaches—superconducting circuits, trapped ions, and neutral atoms—neutral atoms are increasingly regarded as a promising pathway toward large-scale universal quantum computing. Leveraging the natural indistinguishability of atoms and the scalability of optical-lattice architectures, neutral-atom systems can theoretically scale from hundreds to tens of thousands of qubits.
However, the technology faces two major challenges: gate fidelity and continuous operating time. Nakai Quantum aims to address both by cooling atoms to temperatures below 10 nanokelvin, significantly reducing thermal motion and improving operational fidelity. According to the company, this capability remains rare within China’s quantum-computing industry.
Competition in the global neutral-atom sector is intensifying. In the United States, QuEra has attracted investment from Google (谷歌) and introduced programmable neutral-atom quantum-computing systems, while Atom Computing has received backing from Microsoft (微软). In Europe, France-based Pasqal has outlined an ambitious roadmap for scalable neutral-atom quantum computing.
China’s domestic market is also evolving rapidly. China Science Original (中科酷原) launched the country’s first commercial neutral-atom quantum computer, Hanyuan-1 (汉原1号), in 2024, followed by the release of Hanyuan-2 (汉原2号), described as the world’s first dual-core neutral-atom quantum computer, in May 2026. Meanwhile, on the superconducting route, Origin Quantum (本源量子) has deployed its 180-qubit quantum computer, Benyuan Wukong-180 (本源悟空-180).
Nakai Quantum believes its competitive advantage lies in its expertise in ultracold-atom technologies. The company claims to be among the few teams in China capable of engineering multiple atomic species to the nanokelvin temperature range, a capability considered critical for achieving higher fidelity and enabling advanced quantum-simulation applications. Combined with its optical-lattice technologies, the company aims to establish a strong technological moat.
On the commercialization front, Nakai Quantum is pursuing a dual-track strategy focused on near-term deployment of specialized quantum-simulation systems and longer-term development of universal quantum computers. The company has already delivered quantum-simulation platforms, cold-atom educational systems, and magneto-optical trap (MOT) systems to research institutions across China and has secured orders worth tens of millions of yuan.
Looking ahead, Nakai Quantum plans to focus on improving continuous operation and high-fidelity gate performance in pursuit of practical universal quantum computing. The company aims to launch a next-generation product between late 2026 and early 2027 and is exploring applications in materials discovery, pharmaceutical research, and semiconductor simulation as it seeks to expand from research-oriented customers into industrial markets.