Silicon Catalyst Announces Ecosystem Expansion for Quantum with 6 New In-Kind Partners to Support Startups
Developing Solutions for Quantum Computing, Communications and Sensing
Silicon Valley, California - December 9, 2025 - Silicon Catalyst, the only accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry, announces the addition of new In-Kind Partners (IKPs) to support Portfolio Companies developing innovative solutions based on Quantum technology. The expansion of the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem for quantum is being led by James Lougheed, Managing Partner, Strategic Initiatives.
Silicon Catalyst IKPs provide technical and business support to the Portfolio Companies in the Silicon Catalyst accelerator, enabling them to tap into the products and services available to enhance the growth of their companies. The IKP ecosystem for quantum includes a comprehensive support infrastructure for the design, prototyping, testing and product release for early-stage quantum companies to develop and introduce their transformative innovations to the market.
James Lougheed brings a proven track record as a seasoned semiconductor executive with over 30 years of international experience in the global Semiconductor and electronics industry having lived and worked in Australia, Singapore, China and the US. James most recently ran the largest business unit at MaxLinear as VP & GM of the High-Performance Analog & Accelerator group and prior to that was Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing at Exar Corporation.
“Quantum is shaping up to be one of the largest technology shifts of the next decade outside AI. McKinsey forecasts nearly $100B in quantum revenue by 2035, with over $2T in broader economic value created. Although there is a lot of overlap of tools and supply chain needs for spin-qubit quantum technologies, there are other specific quantum requirements and other modalities that we want to support,” stated James Lougheed. “That scale and these special requirements are why we launched this new quantum vertical. We’re assembling a world-class ecosystem to support new startups across quantum computing, communications, and sensing applications. By pairing this new vertical ecosystem with Silicon Catalyst’s existing proven model of bringing partners, advisors, and investors together, we’re giving quantum startups the support they need to commercialize faster and build what comes next. Given the robust and burgeoning Quantum ecosystem emerging in Australia, Silicon Catalyst has launched ChipStart AU which is an excellent complement to Queensland’s growing deep-tech ecosystem, providing critical pathways for semiconductor and quantum startups to scale,” added Mr. Lougheed.
Quantum IKP support for Silicon Catalyst Portfolio Companies
The Silicon Catalyst Quantum Ecosystem of In-Kind Partners will include vendors and service providers supporting the full stack of software and hardware tools, enabling our quantum Portfolio Companies to build out their corporate vision to achieve business success. The Silicon Catalyst Quantum IKP members include:
IQMP – Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. IQMP is a first-of-its-kind campus built for quantum technology scale-up and related quantum and advanced microelectronics research and development.
Nanoacademic - Nanoacademic builds atomistic and quantum modeling tools to predict the properties of next generation materials and devices. Our software is being used by researchers to obtain the best modeling data and reduce R&D costs for a broad range of applications.
Quantum Brilliance - Quantum Brilliance is a global leader in diamond-based quantum technology, specializing in the design, fabrication and manufacturing of small, ruggedized diamond quantum devices, operating at room temperature. With operations in Australia and Germany, QB’s mission is to enable the mass deployment of quantum technology, facilitating its integration into everyday devices and high-performance computing systems.
SDT - SDT is pioneering new possibilities at the forefront of quantum technology commercialization across quantum computing, quantum cloud, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. By integrating quantum technology with digital transformation, SDT is accelerating the adoption of quantum solutions in industrial settings.
sureCore – sureCore is the Low Power leader that empowers the IC design community to meet their aggressive power budgets through a portfolio of innovative, ultra-low power memory design services and standard products.
Zero Point Cryo – Zero Point Cryo is building premium, customizable dilution refrigerators and cryogenic equipment made in North America, designed to meet the demanding needs of the quantum and low-temperature research industries.
Silicon Catalyst at the Quantum-to-Business Conference
Silicon Catalyst will be participating in the Q2B Silicon Valley conference, taking place December 9-11 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, exhibiting at booth E2. Additionally, Silicon Catalyst is sponsoring the “Quantum Technologies: Innovation and Investment”, panel discussion, in the Industry Case Studies track on December 9, from 11:05 to 11:45 am. Peter Olcott, Principal at First Spark Ventures, will be moderating a great panel which includes Silicon Catalyst Partner Dr. Raul Camposano, along with representatives from IBM and Deloitte.
Silicon Catalyst Partners will be attending the conference at booth E2 in the Exhibition Area and look forward to meeting with quantum startups and investors. Individuals looking to join the Silicon Catalyst Advisor Network for quantum are also encouraged to stop by the booth to learn more. Send an email to quantum@sicatalyst.com to arrange meeting times.
Silicon Catalyst Application Deadline – January 12, 2026
Silicon Catalyst is now accepting applications to the 24-month accelerator program. The deadline for applications is January 12, 2026. Application details can be found at siliconcatalyst.com/application