Insider Brief
- The Company Lab has launched CO.LAB Q, a 12-month commercialization studio for quantum startups and research teams, with applications open ahead of its November 2026 start.
- The program will provide participating companies with access to quantum infrastructure, technical expertise, industry and public-sector customers, pilot opportunities and capital pathways.
- CO.LAB Q will focus on quantum computing, networking, cybersecurity, sensing, enabling hardware and applications across energy, mobility, logistics and defense.
Press release – The Company Lab (CO.LAB) today announced CO.LAB Q, a 12-month quantum commercialization studio designed to help promising startups and research teams turn advanced technologies into scalable, market-ready companies. Applications are now open, and the program begins in November 2026.
Built around the Tennessee Valley’s concentration of industry expertise and real-world challenges in energy, mobility and defense, CO.LAB Q uses those regional strengths as a launchpad for quantum commercialization across sectors.
The studio combines individualized commercialization support with access to quantum infrastructure, technical expertise, industry and public-sector customers, pilot opportunities and capital pathways. Founding partnerships with Quantinuum and Davidson Technologies add specialized computing resources, technical guidance and direct insight into commercial and national-security applications. As the quantum network partner EPB Quantum will provide participating companies access to its quantum network, expanding opportunities to explore emerging applications and advance communications efforts.
“Quantum startups require specialized care because the path from scientific breakthrough to commercial success is unusually complex. They need access to advanced infrastructure, technical experts, customers with consequential problems, partners willing to test solutions and investors who understand deep technology. CO.LAB Q brings those critical pieces together so companies can move from promising science to commercial proof—and from commercial proof to scale,” said Tasia Malakasis, CEO of The Company Lab.
Built for the Commercialization Gap
CO.LAB Q is built for the difficult middle of the commercialization journey: the point at which a technical breakthrough must become a clearly defined customer problem, a validated use case, a credible pilot and an investable growth strategy.
Rather than moving every participant through the same curriculum, CO.LAB will create an individualized roadmap based on each company’s technology, market readiness and commercial goals.
Depending on the company, support may include:
- Validating the highest-value customer problems and use cases
- Connecting with technical experts, research institutions and specialized quantum infrastructure
- Designing pilots and proofs of concept with industry or public-sector partners
- Building investment readiness through market evidence, investor connections and a credible scale strategy
Companies will advance by producing commercial evidence—not simply by completing a calendar—so resources can be concentrated on the risks and milestones that matter most to each team.
Middle Tennessee Electric, CO.LAB Q’s Founding Utility Partner, will bring real-world utility expertise and help startups identify and validate quantum applications that can strengthen grid reliability, resilience and efficiency.
A Nationally Distinct Environment for Quantum Commercialization
Chattanooga offers an unusually concentrated environment for moving quantum innovation toward market, anchored by EPB Quantum CenterSM, the first commercial quantum computing and networking hub in the U.S. with the country’s most advanced smart grid.
The regional ecosystem also brings together one of the country’s most advanced smart grids; Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); Oak Ridge National Laboratory; the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Vanderbilt University; the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative; IonQ; and companies across energy, mobility and logistics, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and national security.
CO.LAB’s 2026 memorandum of understanding with ORNL further strengthens pathways for entrepreneurs to access technologies, researchers and specialized facilities.
CO.LAB Q is designed to pursue the strongest commercialization opportunities wherever they emerge. The studio is recruiting teams working across quantum computing and algorithms; networking and communications; cybersecurity and encryption; sensing and imaging; enabling hardware, tooling and control systems; and applications in energy, mobility, logistics, and defense.
Founding Partners Expand Access and Market Pathways
As CO.LAB Q’s Founding Compute Partner, Quantinuum will give participating startups access to its high-performance trapped-ion quantum computers, Nexus cloud platform, Guppy quantum programming language, simulation tools and technical expertise. Together, these resources will allow founders to build, test and validate commercially relevant applications on an integrated quantum technology platform.
“Accelerating quantum computing requires more than powerful technology—it requires an ecosystem that connects innovators to real-world problems. As the Founding Compute Partner of CO.LAB Q, Quantinuum is pleased to give participating startups access to our full-stack platform, helping them build, test and advance commercially relevant quantum applications. Tennessee and Chattanooga’s combination of infrastructure, industry partnerships and entrepreneurial support makes it a compelling environment for the next generation of quantum companies.” said Larry Stack, Chief Commercial Officer of Quantinuum.
As Founding Defense Track Sponsor, Davidson Technologies will provide access to its quantum laboratory and help shape the studio’s defense track.
Davidson will mentor companies on national-security mission needs, customer requirements, acquisition and contracting, cybersecurity, data rights and pilot pathways—including DIU, SBIR/STTR, teaming and the Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program.
“Quantum advancement will matter to the war-fighter when it is tied to real mission needs and demonstrated in practice. Partnering with CO.LAB Q gives us a practical pathway to identify promising companies, provide access to advanced quantum capabilities and help founders understand how to work with the defense community. Together, we can shorten the distance between promising science and field-relevant solutions that strengthen decision advantage, readiness and national security,” said Nathan Klose, vice president of Davidson Labs.
As CO.LAB Q’s Founding Academic Partner, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will connect participating companies with quantum faculty and students with applied research expertise and specialized facilities to help translate promising technologies into commercially viable solutions.
“Quantum innovation advances fastest when academic expertise and entrepreneurial ambition work side by side. As CO.LAB Q’s founding academic partner, UTC will connect participating startups with talented quantum students and faculty expertise, helping translate emerging research into real-world applications. This partnership creates meaningful opportunities for our students and faculty while strengthening Chattanooga’s position as a place where quantum technologies can move from discovery to commercialization.” — Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Regional Leaders Voice Support
“The next generation of economic growth will be shaped by communities that are prepared to support innovation from discovery through commercialization. CO.LAB Q is working to bring together the resources, expertise and partnerships needed to help quantum companies succeed and reinforces Chattanooga’s role as a place where new technologies can become market-ready solutions,” said Bob Corker, former U.S. senator and former mayor of Chattanooga.
“The latest example of Chattanooga’s thriving innovation ecosystem is CO.LAB Q’s Commercialization Studio. By matching quantum startups with the world-class infrastructure, technical expertise and real-world opportunities to test and scale solutions, the accelerator program will help create skilled jobs and new investment in Chattanooga,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply at thecompanylab.org/quantum.
