British Startup Secures $160 Million to Build Quantum Computers Using Standard Silicon

2026-05-08 hardware

London, Friday 8 May 2026
Backed by a $160 million investment, Quantum Motion is leveraging standard silicon technology to build scalable quantum computers, promising a remarkable 1,000-fold reduction in energy consumption.

A Monumental Leap for Silicon Spin Qubits

Announced on 6 May 2026 and confirmed the following day, Quantum Motion closed a $160 million Series C financing round [1][2][3]. The investment was co-led by the European Union-backed technology growth fund Kembara and venture firm DCVC [2][3]. Notably, this marks the inaugural investment for Kembara [2][5]. The round also garnered support from Firgun Ventures, which allocated capital from its $250 million quantum-focused fund to make its first European investment, alongside the British Business Bank [1][2]. Returning backers, including Oxford Science Enterprises, Bosch Ventures, and Porsche Automobil Holding SE, also participated, solidifying Quantum Motion’s position as the most well-funded quantum computing entity in the United Kingdom [3][4].

Strategic European Backing and Market Growth

The financial dynamics of this funding round underscore growing institutional confidence in silicon-based quantum hardware. The British Business Bank provided a substantial £40 million anchor investment in the Series C round [6]. This represents an impressive 700 per cent increase over the £5 million it previously injected during the company’s 2023 Series B round [6]. Prior to this latest capital injection, Quantum Motion had already secured over £62 million in equity and grant funding [1]. This influx of capital arrives at a critical juncture; the global quantum computing market, valued at approximately $1.5 billion in 2025, is projected to surge to $18 billion by 2034 [6]. This anticipated growth trajectory reflects a compound annual growth rate exceeding 31 per cent [alert! ‘Projections for 2034 rely on long-term market forecasts which are inherently subject to technological and economic volatility’] [6].

Global Expansion and Commercial Milestones

Quantum Motion, founded in 2017 by Professor John Morton of University College London and Professor Simon Benjamin of the University of Oxford, has rapidly transitioned from academic theory to commercial deployment [1][6]. In September 2025, the company achieved a significant milestone by deploying the world’s first full-stack quantum computer built on standard silicon chips at the UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) [1][3][4]. Furthermore, late 2025 saw the firm selected as one of 11 companies to advance to Stage B of the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking Initiative [1][3].

Sources & Ecosystem Partners

Quantum computing Venture capital