World Quantum Day takes place on April 14, and as quantum fans everywhere are quick to point out, the significance of the date (4.14) is that it honors the Planck constant, a fundamental unit in quantum mechanics. As a way of continuing the celebration throughout the week, quantum computing pioneer Infleqtion will play host to a quantum-focused event on Thursday, April 16.
“Next Level: The Intersection of Quantum, Capital, Supply Chains and Open Source" will convene engineers, supply chain experts, security professionals, and investors to explore the critical building blocks needed to scale quantum from research to real-world impact.
Infleqtion went public on the NYSE on February 17 following the completion of its business combination with Churchill Capital Corp X. By doing so, Infleqtion became the first Colorado-based, quantum-focused company – as well as the first neutral-atom quantum company anywhere – to go public.
The company's product portfolio spans quantum computers, quantum optical clocks, RF receivers, and inertial sensors. This full-stack approach combines high-performance hardware with Infleqtion's proprietary Superstaq quantum computing software platform. Its systems are currently in use by the U.S. Department of War, NASA, and the U.K. government, and they are found in multiple collaborations with NVIDIA.
Max Perez, vice president of strategic initiatives at Infleqtion, will be a featured speaker at the "Next Level" event. In a statement, Perez said, “As the quantum industry enters a new phase of maturity, collaboration across the ecosystem – from hardware and software to capital formation and supply chains – is essential.” Elaborating on his company's role, he explained that “Infleqtion is helping drive that shift, leveraging its full-stack approach and growing global footprint to bring together stakeholders across Colorado’s quantum ecosystem.”
Additional speakers will include Iris Bahar, department head and professor of computer science at Colorado School of Mines; Alexandra Robinson, director of AI systems and platforms at Slalom; Russ Fein, CEO and board member of Vescent; Sristy Agrawal, co-founder of Mesa Quantum; Rock Lambros, director of AI security and governance at Zenity; and Zach Newman, co-founder of Octave Photonics, among others.
Henry Wright and Alexandra Renée Poelstra have organized the event as the second of what they envision as three quantum-focused events in the Denver area over the course of a year. The first of these, last December's "NextGen Quantum-AI Infrastructure” was designed to link local momentum in quantum to wider national currents.
As described in a previous Colorado AI News article discussing that event and the greater story of the rise of Colorado as an international quantum computing hub, Wright's broader message is that the state has a chance to shape the field not only through invention, but through coordination. In fact, he and Poelstra readily talk about the importance of community, connectivity, and the conversations essential to creating the relationships.
Wright envisions these quantum summits as the "micro-execution venture layer," places designed as "Special Ops" units of the ecosystem. Rather than managing broad communities, he says, "we encourage high-signal relationships. We're proactively pairing scientists and builders with operators and capital flows in both the public and private markets."
Ultimately, Wright and Poelstra are supporting the startup pipeline that turns research and talent into durable companies: "As the quantum industry enters a new phase of maturity, collaboration across the ecosystem, from hardware and software to capital formation and supply chains, is essential."
The event will be hosted at Infleqtion headquarters in Louisville. The firm has positioned itself at the center of this shift needed to scale quantum from research to real-world impact. Infleqtion is leveraging its full-stack approach and growing global footprint to help unify stakeholders across the quantum value chain.
Jonathan Will, director of strategic partnerships for GadellNet, will host the session. Will notes the strong momentum of quantum in Colorado, "where the density of talent, institutions, resources, collaboration, investment, ecosystem partners, and especially events like these, make Colorado a top quantum hub."
Will indicated his appreciation for the fact that Wright has intentionally curated speakers, panels, and partners that showcase multiple perspectives and expertise across industries with the overriding goal of tackling real-life challenges. "It is this type of confluence – a 360-degree view of the industry, and the intersection of supporting technologies and resources – that's where the discussion gets remarkably interesting."
GadellNet, a certified B Corporation, supports the businesses, associations, and non-profits around the Colorado quantum ecosystem and supply chain, and is the lead sponsor of this event. Other sponsors and partners include Boulder Associates, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Savills, and Startup Grind Denver.
Registration for the "Next Level" event on April 16 is available at the Startup Grind website.
