co.lab

Name

co.lab

Legal name

CO.LAB

Website

https://playcolab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CO.LAB is a Chattanooga-based nonprofit startup accelerator running the Quantum Activation Series, a statewide Tennessee initiative that educates researchers, students, industry players, investors, and startups on quantum technology and talent opportunities, anchored by EPB's quantum network and sponsored by IonQ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Education & Certification Programs (HDAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Quantum Workshops, Bootcamps & Events Providers (HDAGALAM)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator
• Quantum technology education
• Entrepreneurship programs
• Nonprofit accelerator
• Ecosystem development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Nonprofit Operations: As a nonprofit startup accelerator, CO.LAB operates as a grant-funded and sponsored educational organization. Revenue appears to come from sponsorships (e.g., IonQ as lead sponsor) and potentially government or foundation grants rather than commercial product revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

CO.LAB is a Chattanooga-based nonprofit startup accelerator that delivers the Quantum Activation Series, a three-part statewide educational initiative in Tennessee focused on quantum technology IP, talent development, and ecosystem connections. The program is anchored by EPB's quantum infrastructure (the first commercially available quantum network in the US) and an IonQ quantum computer, and convenes researchers, students, startups, industry players, and investors through structured events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quantum Activation Series

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of Tennessee at ChattanoogacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts the first event of the Quantum Activation Series on March 12. As an academic partner, the university provides venue access and connects CO.LAB with the student and researcher community for quantum technology education.
• EPB (Electric Power Board)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026EPB provides the foundational quantum infrastructure for CO.LAB's Quantum Activation Series. This includes the first commercially available quantum network in the US (built in 2022) and an IonQ quantum computer. EPB serves as the infrastructure anchor enabling hands-on quantum technology access for Tennessee researchers, students, and startups.
• IonQcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026IonQ serves as the lead sponsor of the Quantum Activation Series and provides the quantum computer (purchased by EPB) that anchors the initiative. IonQ's involvement provides access to their quantum computing technology and expertise for participants in the educational program.
• Other University and Industry PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional university and industry partners participate in the Quantum Activation Series, though specific names were not disclosed. These partners contribute to the statewide reach and diverse stakeholder engagement of the initiative.

Scale indicators1 record

Direct peers

• Strangeworks: Strangeworks is a quantum computing ecosystem platform that runs developer relations, community programs, and educational initiatives around quantum hardware access. Like CO.LAB, it convenes developers, researchers, and industry around quantum computing and serves as a community gateway for emerging quantum talent and startups.
• Creative Destruction Lab: Creative Destruction Lab is a deep-tech seed-stage accelerator that operates a dedicated quantum computing stream connecting founders, scientists, and investors. Like CO.LAB's Quantum Activation Series, it convenes multi-stakeholder groups around quantum technology commercialization and talent development.
• QunaSys: QunaSys is a quantum software and algorithms company with a strong educational and workforce development mission, including industry-academia training programs and quantum chemistry education. Like CO.LAB, it combines industry partnerships with educational programming to grow the quantum talent and startup pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• IBM Quantum: IBM Quantum operates one of the world's largest quantum education ecosystems through Qiskit, including university partnerships, developer advocacy, and training programs. It addresses the same quantum education and community-building needs as CO.LAB but at a much larger global scale and as part of IBM's broader commercial platform.

Emerging players

• Classiq: Classiq is a quantum software platform that emphasizes education and accessibility, offering training resources, workshops, and academic partnerships to onboard new quantum developers. It overlaps with CO.LAB's mission to expand the quantum talent base, though its primary business is commercial software rather than accelerator programming.
• Q-CTRL: Q-CTRL provides quantum control infrastructure software and offers significant educational content for quantum researchers and practitioners, including tutorials, workshops, and academic collaborations. Like CO.LAB, it focuses on closing the quantum talent and knowledge gap, but as part of a commercial software business.
• Quantum Open Source Foundation: The Quantum Open Source Foundation is a community-driven nonprofit that supports quantum software education, mentorship, and developer onboarding through open projects and training programs. It is comparable to CO.LAB as a nonprofit, community-oriented quantum education organization, though it operates globally rather than regionally.

Regional players

• QuantumBasel: QuantumBasel is a European quantum hub based in Switzerland that runs educational programming, industry partnerships, and startup support around quantum technology access. It mirrors CO.LAB's role as a regional quantum ecosystem builder anchored by infrastructure partners, but operates in a different geography (Switzerland/Europe).
• Pasqal: Pasqal is a neutral-atom quantum hardware company with significant European-focused educational programming, including university partnerships and workforce training initiatives. It serves a similar function to IonQ within CO.LAB's program as a quantum hardware provider with an education-focused ecosystem strategy.
• Multiverse Computing: Multiverse Computing is a Spain-based quantum software company that runs educational and talent-development programs in collaboration with European universities and industry partners. Like CO.LAB, it bridges quantum industry and academia, though it operates primarily in the European market.

Market position

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/playcolab
• Facebookfacebook.com/playcolab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3581210

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments29 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about co.lab