Bengaluru-based quantum computing startup Quanfluence has reportedly raised $10 million in a funding round led by Chiratae Ventures, with participation from Rainmatter by Zerodha and existing investor Pi Ventures. The fresh capital will support the company’s efforts to develop photonic quantum computing hardware, expand manufacturing capabilities and work towards scalable quantum processors.
Incubated at IIT Madras, Quanfluence is developing a full-stack photonic quantum computing platform that integrates specialised optical chips, control electronics and software. The company is targeting its first quantum processors by 2027, followed by larger and scalable quantum computers by 2029. These timelines are company targets and are not confirmed product launch dates.
Building a Full-Stack Photonic Quantum Platform
Unlike quantum computing approaches based on superconducting circuits or trapped ions, photonic quantum computing uses photons, or particles of light, to process quantum information.
Quanfluence plans to use the new funding to strengthen its full-stack architecture, bringing together photonic chips, electronic control systems and software into an integrated computing platform. The company is also working on manufacturing scale-up, component integration and hardware delivery capabilities as it moves from laboratory prototypes towards larger computing systems.
Early Commercial Traction Through Optical Computing
While its longer-term focus is universal quantum computing, Quanfluence is already pursuing commercial applications through optical computing.
The startup has developed an optical Ising machine designed for optimisation problems involving multiple interconnected variables. Such applications can include resource allocation, scheduling and logistics. The system is designed to process hundreds of interconnected variables simultaneously.
An optical Ising machine, however, is different from a universal quantum computer. It is a specialised computing system designed for particular optimisation problems, whereas universal quantum computers are intended to support a broader range of quantum algorithms.
Quanfluence has reportedly sold around three optical Ising machines and is running paid pilot programmes with 10 to 15 corporate customers. Its commercial model includes direct hardware sales as well as remote, usage-based access to its computing systems. Detailed revenue figures, customer identities and independently assessed performance benchmarks have not been disclosed.
Developing Photonic Integrated Circuits
Founded in 2021 by Sujoy Chakravarty, Ravi Mehta, Biman Chattopadhyay, Aditi Vaidya, Anil Prabhakar and Sandeep Goyal, Quanfluence is building its technology around photonic integrated circuits and associated electronics.
The company has reported developments including the design and fabrication of multiple photonic and electronic integrated circuits, improvements in low-loss chip-to-fibre coupling and demonstrations involving the generation of quantum states of light.
The company’s challenge now extends beyond developing individual components to integrating them into reliable systems capable of handling increasingly complex computations. Quanfluence is also building manufacturing and delivery capabilities that could support the transition from prototypes to larger computing systems.
The startup currently has around 25 employees and reportedly plans to increase its workforce to approximately 40 over the next year.
Funding History and Investor Interest
The latest investment follows a $2 million seed funding round announced in December 2024. The earlier funding was aimed at accelerating quantum computer development and expanding Quanfluence’s near-term products.
The two reported rounds total $12 million, although the company’s complete funding history and the precise structure of the latest investment have not been independently established.
The participation of Chiratae Ventures, Rainmatter and Pi Ventures highlights investor interest in specialised computing technologies that require significant research and development before reaching commercial maturity. For Quanfluence, its optical computing products provide an early commercial route while the company continues developing a more versatile quantum computing architecture.
India’s Quantum Technology Push
Quanfluence’s latest funding comes as India continues to build its domestic quantum technology ecosystem. The National Quantum Mission provides a policy framework supporting research and technology development across areas including quantum computing, communication, sensing and materials.
The country has also seen growing private investment across different segments of quantum technology. The source notes that quantum cybersecurity company QNu Labs raised ₹200 crore in a Series A1 round in September 2026, led by the National Quantum Mission and Speciale Invest.
For Quanfluence, the immediate focus remains on developing specialised optical computing systems while strengthening the hardware and components required for future quantum processors. Its longer-term progress will depend on reliable performance, successful hardware integration and the ability to scale beyond early prototypes.
By: Arushi Agarwal
