OIST-born quantum computer startup Qubitcore raises a total of 1.53 billion yen in seed round
Qubitcore, a quantum computer startup originating from OIST, has successfully raised 1.53 billion yen in a seed round led by SBI Investment. This funding will accelerate the research, development, and commercialization of fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers (FTQC).
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 15:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 15:40 (8 min after Collected)
Qubitcore Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and CEO: Ryuta Watanuki; hereinafter “Qubitcore”) announced that it has completed a seed round totaling 1.53 billion yen through a third-party allotment of shares, with SBI Investment Co., Ltd. as the lead investor, and a total of 12 companies including independent VCs, financial investors, and corporate VCs participating. This round follows a pre-seed round conducted in January 2025, with Lifetime Ventures LLC as the lead investor.
Based on the research achievements of the unit led by Associate Professor Yuki Takahashi of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), the funds raised will be used to strongly promote the research and development and commercialization of quantum optical connection interfaces using micro-optical resonators and distributed quantum computing architectures for the realization of fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers (FTQC [1]). We aim to contribute to the development of the economy, industry, and national security in the quantum era.
▶ Key Points of This Funding Round
- Raised a total of 1.53 billion yen in a seed round with SBI Investment as the lead investor.
- In addition to new investors including Abies Ventures and Nissei Capital, existing investor Lifetime Ventures also made additional investments.
- Achieved an industry-wide investor composition of 12 companies, including independent VCs, financial investors (including group VCs from the three mega-banks), and corporate VCs originating from construction/real estate, manufacturing, and IT services.
- Funds will be allocated to (1) accelerating R&D of distributed ion-trap quantum computing architecture with multiple optical connections using micro-optical resonators, (2) cultivating joint research and demonstration partners, and (3) strengthening recruitment and organizational structure.
Overview of Funding
Amount raised: Approximately 1.53 billion yen
Round: Seed Round
Method: Third-party allotment of shares through the issuance of preferred stock
Use of funds: Acceleration of research and development, cultivation of joint research and demonstration partners, strengthening of recruitment and organizational structure.
Participating Investors (honorifics omitted)
SBI Investment Co., Ltd. (Lead Investor)
Abies Ventures Co., Ltd.
Nissei Capital Co., Ltd.
Lifetime Ventures LLC
Dual Bridge Capital Co., Ltd.
Daiwa House Ventures Co., Ltd.
Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd.
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Blue Lab Co., Ltd.
SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
Ryukyu Bank Co., Ltd.
Canal Ventures Co., Ltd.
■ Background and Purpose of Funding
Quantum computers require long-term research and development investment until social implementation, but as practical application progresses, they will bring significant cross-industry impact in fields such as drug discovery, materials, finance, logistics, and manufacturing.
Therefore, in addition to deepening research and development, it is extremely important to start early with “collaboration with potential future customers and partners” and “ecosystem formation envisioning social implementation.”
In this seed round, we welcomed SBI Investment Co., Ltd. as the lead investor, and a total of 12 companies participated: Abies Ventures Co., Ltd., Nissei Capital Co., Ltd., Lifetime Ventures LLC (additional investment from an existing investor), Dual Bridge Capital Co., Ltd., Daiwa House Ventures Co., Ltd., Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd., Blue Lab Co., Ltd., SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd., Ryukyu Bank Co., Ltd., and Canal Ventures Co., Ltd.
The participation from diverse areas such as independent VCs, financial investors, and corporate VCs originating from construction/real estate, manufacturing, and IT services is seen as a broad expression of expectation for our development roadmap and social implementation strategy in the quantum field, which requires long-term R&D investment.
The funds raised in this round will be primarily allocated to the following three points:
- Accelerating R&D of distributed ion-trap quantum computing architecture with multiple optical connections using micro-optical resonators.
- Cultivating partners that will lead to future joint research, demonstration, and business collaboration.
- Strengthening recruitment and organizational structure, including researchers, engineers, and business professionals.
■ Qubitcore's Business
Qubitcore aims to realize “Fault-Tolerant General-Purpose Quantum Computers (FTQC)” that address challenges requiring vast computational resources with conventional computers, such as new drug development, design of new materials and energy materials, higher precision climate simulations, and high-speed and power-efficient AI model learning.
Central to this is a quantum optical connection interface that integrates micro-optical resonators, enabling highly efficient interaction between qubits and photons. Based on this technology, the company will first
Based on the research achievements of the unit led by Associate Professor Yuki Takahashi of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), the funds raised will be used to strongly promote the research and development and commercialization of quantum optical connection interfaces using micro-optical resonators and distributed quantum computing architectures for the realization of fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers (FTQC [1]). We aim to contribute to the development of the economy, industry, and national security in the quantum era.
▶ Key Points of This Funding Round
- Raised a total of 1.53 billion yen in a seed round with SBI Investment as the lead investor.
- In addition to new investors including Abies Ventures and Nissei Capital, existing investor Lifetime Ventures also made additional investments.
- Achieved an industry-wide investor composition of 12 companies, including independent VCs, financial investors (including group VCs from the three mega-banks), and corporate VCs originating from construction/real estate, manufacturing, and IT services.
- Funds will be allocated to (1) accelerating R&D of distributed ion-trap quantum computing architecture with multiple optical connections using micro-optical resonators, (2) cultivating joint research and demonstration partners, and (3) strengthening recruitment and organizational structure.
Overview of Funding
Amount raised: Approximately 1.53 billion yen
Round: Seed Round
Method: Third-party allotment of shares through the issuance of preferred stock
Use of funds: Acceleration of research and development, cultivation of joint research and demonstration partners, strengthening of recruitment and organizational structure.
Participating Investors (honorifics omitted)
SBI Investment Co., Ltd. (Lead Investor)
Abies Ventures Co., Ltd.
Nissei Capital Co., Ltd.
Lifetime Ventures LLC
Dual Bridge Capital Co., Ltd.
Daiwa House Ventures Co., Ltd.
Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd.
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Blue Lab Co., Ltd.
SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
Ryukyu Bank Co., Ltd.
Canal Ventures Co., Ltd.
■ Background and Purpose of Funding
Quantum computers require long-term research and development investment until social implementation, but as practical application progresses, they will bring significant cross-industry impact in fields such as drug discovery, materials, finance, logistics, and manufacturing.
Therefore, in addition to deepening research and development, it is extremely important to start early with “collaboration with potential future customers and partners” and “ecosystem formation envisioning social implementation.”
In this seed round, we welcomed SBI Investment Co., Ltd. as the lead investor, and a total of 12 companies participated: Abies Ventures Co., Ltd., Nissei Capital Co., Ltd., Lifetime Ventures LLC (additional investment from an existing investor), Dual Bridge Capital Co., Ltd., Daiwa House Ventures Co., Ltd., Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd., Blue Lab Co., Ltd., SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd., Ryukyu Bank Co., Ltd., and Canal Ventures Co., Ltd.
The participation from diverse areas such as independent VCs, financial investors, and corporate VCs originating from construction/real estate, manufacturing, and IT services is seen as a broad expression of expectation for our development roadmap and social implementation strategy in the quantum field, which requires long-term R&D investment.
The funds raised in this round will be primarily allocated to the following three points:
- Accelerating R&D of distributed ion-trap quantum computing architecture with multiple optical connections using micro-optical resonators.
- Cultivating partners that will lead to future joint research, demonstration, and business collaboration.
- Strengthening recruitment and organizational structure, including researchers, engineers, and business professionals.
■ Qubitcore's Business
Qubitcore aims to realize “Fault-Tolerant General-Purpose Quantum Computers (FTQC)” that address challenges requiring vast computational resources with conventional computers, such as new drug development, design of new materials and energy materials, higher precision climate simulations, and high-speed and power-efficient AI model learning.
Central to this is a quantum optical connection interface that integrates micro-optical resonators, enabling highly efficient interaction between qubits and photons. Based on this technology, the company will first