Insider Brief:
- QAI Ventures launches its first North American quantum accelerator in Calgary in partnership with Quantum City, strengthening Canada’s role as a global quantum innovation hub and bridging European and North American markets.
- The accelerator provides startups with market access, funding, and infrastructure to scale internationally, encouraging cross-border collaboration and commercialization opportunities in deep-tech.
- Calgary was chosen for its strong research funding, thriving startup ecosystem, and Canada’s $360M National Quantum Strategy, positioning it as an ideal launchpad for quantum innovation.
- The accelerator kicks off on March 10 at the qHub with five pioneering startups in quantum computing, imaging, and sensing, including a University of Calgary spin-off.
PRESS RELEASE — QAI Ventures, a Swiss ecosystem builder and VC, is expanding into North America with the launch of its first quantum technology accelerator in Calgary. In partnership with Quantum City, an initiative by the University of Calgary, this expansion strengthens Canada’s role as a global quantum innovation hub while bridging the European and North American markets. The Accelerator program kicks off with an opening event at the qHub in Calgary on March 10th, 3:30 PM.
QAI Ventures and Quantum City share a vision of quantum technologies as a key driver for innovation, economic transformation and sustainable growth. By launching in Calgary, QAI Ventures expands its reach into North America’s deep-tech market, providing startups with access to an even broader network of investors, corporate partners, research institutions, and customers.
“Calgary is rapidly emerging as a global hub for quantum innovation, and the start of QAI Ventures’ first North American accelerator in partnership with Quantum City marks a pivotal step in building the ecosystem.” — Dr. Megan Lee, Managing Director, Quantum City.
The QAI Ventures accelerator will serve as a bridge between Europe and North America, helping startups navigate new market opportunities and scale globally. European startups looking to enter North America will benefit from local insights, funding opportunities, and access to cutting-edge quantum infrastructure, while North American startups gain a gateway into the European market. “The expansion to Canada strengthens ou global network, creating a bridge between European and North American quantum ecosystems. By fostering cross-border collaboration, we help startups scale internationally, unlocking new market opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic,” says Alexandra Beckstein, CEO QAI Ventures.
Quantum City in Calgary: A Strategic Hub for Innovation
QAI Ventures has chosen Calgary as its North American base for its strong research funding, innovation- driven economy, and thriving startup ecosystem. Canada’s $360 million National Quantum Strategy positions it as a global quantum leader, with Calgary securing over $500 million in venture capital in 2023. This makes Calgary the ideal launchpad for scaling and commercializing quantum technologies. “Calgary is rapidly emerging as a global hub for quantum innovation, and the start of QAI Ventures’ first North American accelerator in partnership with Quantum City marks a pivotal step in building the ecosystem. B connecting European and North American expertise, we are creating opportunities for startups to scale, commercialize, and create quantum solutions. This partnership reinforces Quantum City’s commitment to making Alberta a leader in the quantum economy,” says Dr. Megan Lee, Managing Director, Quantum City.
Opening Event March 10: Welcoming First Cohort of Quantum Startups
The official launch event on March 10 will bring on stage the first startup cohort featuring five pioneering startups pushing the boundaries of quantum computing, imaging, and sensing. One of these startups is a direct spin-off from the University of Calgary, highlighting the strong academic-business collaboration at the core of this initiative.
- Qubic – Developing advanced microwave-sensing technology with quantum amplifiers for
security applications.
- SynthBits Inc. – Building quantum microscopes to revolutionize medicine, diagnostics, and
research.
- Bosonic – Advancing quantum computing with proprietary trapped ion architecture, enabling
ultra-fast, high-fidelity operations.
- Super Quantique Karma – Pioneering industrial quantum computing with its Super Quantum
Station, an accessible HPC Quantum Computing Lab-as-a-Service.
- QuantaSense – Combining quantum and AI to develop the next generation of imaging and
sensing technologies.
QAI Ventures and Quantum City invite the press to attend the opening event at the qHub, University of
Calgary, on March 10 at 3:30 PM. Register here.
Media inquiries
Carla Tureski
University of Calgary
[email protected]
Mira Dechant
QAI Ventures
[email protected]
41 782188318
About QAI Ventures
QAI Ventures is an ecosystem builder with offices in Switzerland and Canada, connecting startups, corporates and academia worldwide to drive innovation, economic transformation, and sustainable growth. Specializing in early-stage companies in Quantum, AI, and Advanced Computing, QAI Ventures supports startups through VC funding and tailored growth programs from the lab to commercialization and IPO. With accelerators in Basel and Calgary, QAI Ventures provides entrepreneurs with premium access to cutting-edge technology, expert mentorship, and strategic market entry into Europe and North America.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 37,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. UCalgary is the top start-up creator among Canadian universities over the past five years. Start something today at the University of Calgary.
SOURCE: QAI Ventures
