Insider Brief
- IonQ has agreed to acquire Seed Innovations to expand its software and AI capabilities and strengthen its enterprise-grade, full-stack quantum platform, with the transaction expected to close on January 30, 2026.
- Seed Innovations’ team will join IonQ’s Quantum Infrastructure business, applying expertise in machine learning, advanced software architecture, DevOps, and cloud migration to help manage and scale complex quantum workloads.
- The acquisition reinforces IonQ’s broader strategy to integrate quantum computing with networking, sensing, and security while building AI-driven software layers for government and commercial customers.
PRESS RELEASE — IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum platform company, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Seed Innovations, a Colorado-based software and technology R&D firm focused on delivering technology solutions and process improvements that address complex challenges facing government and commercial customers. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Seed Innovations team will join IonQ’s Quantum Infrastructure business and Seed Innovations founder Marlu Oswald will report to Frank Backes, President, IonQ Quantum Infrastructure.
At IonQ, Seed will deploy its expertise in machine learning (ML), advanced software architecture, and cloud migration to accelerate IonQ’s work in developing enterprise grade, AI-driven software layers that will be essential for managing and scaling complex quantum workloads.
Founded in 2013, Seed Innovations has established itself as a provider of full-lifecycle software development, legacy system upgrades, and R&D for the Department of War (DoW), the Intelligence Community, and the commercial sector.
“This acquisition expands IonQ’s software capabilities as we build the world’s only enterprise grade, full-stack quantum platform,” said Frank Backes, president Quantum Infrastructure, IonQ. “Seed Innovations’ expertise in machine learning and automated scaling architecture will be instrumental in optimizing performance across our quantum applications.”
Seed Innovations will focus on unlocking significant performance improvements for IonQ including:
- AI-Optimized Quantum Performance: Leveraging Seed’s deep ML and advanced algorithm expertise to help analyze system data, predict behaviors, and drive continuous improvement.
- Enterprise-Scale Automation: Implementing Seed’s proven DevOps and automated scaling architectures to support IonQ’s scaling goals.
- Seamless Cloud Integration: Utilizing Seed’s extensive experience in cloud migration and microservices to enhance IonQ’s availability across all major cloud providers.
The acquisition reflects IonQ’s commitment to building an enterprise quality, full-stack platform that includes quantum compute, quantum networking, quantum sensing, and quantum security. Seed Innovations joins a growing portfolio of strategic quantum acquisitions, including Skyloom, Vector Atomic, Capella Space, Oxford Ionics, ID Quantique, Lightsynq, and Qubitekk, as well as the recently announced agreement to acquire U.S. Semiconductor manufacturer SkyWater Technology.
IonQ expects this transaction to close on January 30, 2026.
