Open Quantum Design
Open Quantum Design is a Canadian non-profit building the world's first open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer, serving researchers, universities, quantum startups, and developers through tiered community membership, free API access, and custom build services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersWaterloo, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Open Quantum Design does
Open Quantum Design (OQD) is a Canadian federally incorporated non-profit organization building what it describes as the world's first open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer, founded in 2024 by University of Waterloo faculty members Drs. Crystal Senko (Canada Research Chair in Trapped Ion Quantum Computing, IQC), K. Rajibul Islam (PI, QITI Lab), and Roger Melko (Perimeter Institute Quantum Intelligence Lab founder), together with CEO Greg Dick. The full-stack platform spans hardware (Bloodstone, a segmented-blade-trap processor targeting 30-50 qubits on 171Yb+; Beryl, a 16-qubit Phoenix-Trap-based processor on 133Ba+/137Ba+/138Ba+), real-time control via ARTIQ/Sinara/DAX, and software at digital, analog, and atomic abstraction layers with classical emulator backends (PennyLane, Qiskit, QuTiP, QuantumOptics.jl, TrICal, QuantumIon.jl). All hardware designs, software code, and APIs are released under Apache 2.0 on GitHub.
The organization monetizes through a tiered annual community-participation membership (community access fees), bespoke Quantum Computer Build Services for organizations that want custom trapped-ion systems for training and use-case iteration, and a free self-serve API for quantum circuit execution. Strategic partners include founding partners Xanadu, University of Waterloo, Unitary Foundation, and Haiqu, alongside ecosystem partners Nord Quantique, Western Digital, QuScript, PennyLane, QuTiP, CERN, LightFlow Technology, and YiyaniQ. Operations are concentrated in Waterloo, Canada, with global reach mediated through open-source distribution.
OQD serves three primary segments: research institutions and universities seeking open trapped-ion platforms, quantum startups and technology companies needing capital-light access to quantum infrastructure, and software developers and researchers programming in familiar frameworks such as PennyLane and Catalyst. Its core problems solved are the high capital and IP barriers to trapped-ion experimentation, fragmented quantum standards and benchmarks, and limited workforce familiarity with end-to-end quantum stack engineering.
Open Quantum Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Quantum Design
- Legal name
- OPEN QUANTUM DESIGN ENTERPRISE INC.
- Website
- https://openquantumdesign.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Open Quantum Design is a Canadian non-profit building the world's first open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer, serving researchers, universities, quantum startups, and developers through tiered community membership, free API access, and custom build services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open Quantum Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantum Computing Systems
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Computer Related Services (541519)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Quantum Open-Source Ecosystems, Package Managers & Interoperability Standards (HDAGACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Quantum Development Frameworks & Libraries (HDAGACAB), Quantum Hardware Abstraction Layers & Backend Interfaces (HDAGACAH), Quantum Cloud Infrastructure & QPU Hosting (HDAGAIAA), Quantum Compilation Toolkits (Frontend SDK Layer) (HDAGACAF), Quantum Circuit Design, Visualization & Workflow Tools (HDAGACAD)
Keywords
Where Open Quantum Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waterloo
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Open Quantum Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Community Access Fees: Organizations join the OQD open-source community through tiered access to areas and components of most interest, with community access fees contributing to ongoing development. This is the primary revenue stream for this non-profit organization.
- Quantum Computer Building Services: OQD can build organizations a quantum computer to accelerate training, use-case iteration, and workforce development. This enables faster experimentation and real-world quantum application prototyping.
- Free Quantum API Access: Free access to quantum computers through a single API, enabling users to run quantum circuits on Quantum Processing Units. This serves as a lead generation and community building mechanism rather than direct revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Tiered community access with varying levels of access to quantum computing stack components |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Open Quantum Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Quantum Design develops an open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer published under Apache 2.0 license, including hardware (Bloodstone Yb-171 and Beryl Ba processors), real-time control via Sinara/ARTIQ/DAX, and software layers spanning digital, analog, and atomic programming interfaces. Customers access the system through a free API, tiered community participation, or custom build services for on-premise quantum computers, with all hardware designs, control software, and emulation backends openly available on GitHub.
Product overview
Open Quantum Design (OQD) is a Canadian non-profit organization offering the world's first open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer. The platform comprises the core quantum computing system with multiple modules: OQD Core (programming interfaces at digital/analog/atomic layers), Analog Emulator (classical simulation backends using QuTiP), OQD Cloud (Docker-based remote simulation servers), Compiler Infrastructure (compiler analysis and transformation passes), and Dataschema (HDF5 data storage). The hardware layer includes Bloodstone (30-50 qubit Yb-171 processor) and Beryl (16 qubit Ba processor) using Sinara/ARTIQ/DAX real-time control. OQD also provides a Quantum Computer Build Service and Community Participant Program for organizations wanting hands-on access or collaborative development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Open Quantum Design Quantum Computer Canada's open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer spanning hardware (laser-cooled trapped ions, vacuum chambers, optical elements) through real-time control (ARTIQ/Sinara FPGAs) to software interfaces (digital, analog, atomic). Features all-to-all qubit connectivity, high-fidelity operations, and native mid-circuit measurement support, with all components openly accessible under Apache 2.0 license. Targeted at academic researchers, quantum startups, and technology companies seeking practical access to a full-stack quantum platform.
- Quantum Computer Build Service Custom quantum computer build service for organizations seeking dedicated on-premise quantum infrastructure. Designed to accelerate training, use-case iteration, workforce development, and enable faster experimentation, deeper hands-on learning, and validation of quantum applications in real-world scenarios while cultivating in-house expertise.
- Community Participant Program Tiered access program allowing organizations to join OQD's open-source quantum computing community. Participants gain visibility into the entire full-stack quantum computer, contribute to technical priorities, access top global talent, help set standards and benchmarks, develop workforce quantum expertise, and raise their brand profile across quantum markets. Community access fees on annual billing cycle contribute to ongoing development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eliminates trial and error phase for global researchers by providing tested, advanced starting points for building stable, scalable quantum processors
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Quantum Design
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Open Quantum Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability5 records
Feature10 records
Open Quantum Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Western DigitalcoreWestern Digital joined OQD's open-source Error Correction Working Group along with QuScript to advance quantum error correction on OQD's full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer. WD contributes its decades of expertise in error correction and large-scale data reliability from hard disk drive storage systems to develop protocols for managing noise and signal integrity in quantum systems. The collaboration aims to establish open protocols for error correction that could become shared standards across quantum platforms globally.
- QuScriptcoreQuScript partnered with OQD and Western Digital in the open-source Error Correction Working Group to advance quantum error correction technology for fault-tolerant quantum computing. The partnership leverages expertise in hardware, software, and large-scale data reliability to demonstrate error correction on OQD's open-source trapped-ion quantum computer.
- Nord QuantiquecoreNord Quantique joined Open Quantum Design as a community partner to advance quantum technologies. The partnership focuses on collaborative quantum computing development within the OQD open-source ecosystem.
- XanaduflagshipXanadu, a leading photonic quantum computing company, is one of four founding partners of OQD along with University of Waterloo, Unitary Foundation, and Haiqu. Xanadu partnered with OQD and Haiqu on a $4.1 million open-source quantum project to accelerate Canadian innovation. OQD has also integrated PennyLane programs compiling through the Catalyst compiler directly to OQD's trapped-ion hardware control signals.
- University of WaterlooflagshipUniversity of Waterloo's Faculty of Science and Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) co-founded OQD. The organization collaborates with Waterloo researchers who developed the trapped-ion quantum computing technology at IQC and the Perimeter Institute's Quantum Intelligence Lab.
- Unitary FoundationflagshipUnitary Foundation is one of four founding partners of OQD. The foundation supports open-source quantum technology development and participates in steering OQD activities with full access to the technology stack.
- HaiquflagshipHaiqu is one of four founding partners of OQD and partnered on the $4.1 million open-source quantum project with Xanadu. Haiqu participates in steering OQD activities with full access to the technology stack.
- CERNminorCERN is listed as a community partner engaged with OQD's open-source quantum computing ecosystem.
- YiyaniQminorYiyaniQ is listed as a community partner in OQD's ecosystem.
- PennyLanecoreXanadu and OQD integrated their open-source technologies to create a fully open-source quantum computing stack. PennyLane programs now compile through the Catalyst compiler directly to OQD's trapped-ion hardware control signals, demonstrating compilation from abstract quantum gates down to physical laser pulse instructions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Open Quantum Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Google Quantum AI: Google Quantum AI develops superconducting quantum processors (Sycamore, Willow) and Cirq open-source framework. Comparable as a broad incumbent that uses open-source developer ecosystems and publishes research-grade hardware roadmaps that shape industry expectations OQD must match.
- Xanadu: Xanadu is a founding partner of OQD and a leading photonic quantum hardware company. While OQD is trapped-ion, both compete in the broader quantum computing platform space and are deeply integrated via PennyLane/Catalyst compilation. Xanadu is both collaborator and adjacent quantum platform peer.
- Rigetti Computing: Rigetti builds superconducting quantum computers with Quil/pyQuil open-source tools and offers a quantum cloud service. Comparable as a publicly traded full-stack quantum hardware+software peer targeting developer/research customers with cloud access, similar in GTM to OQD's free API model.
- IBM Quantum: IBM Quantum operates the largest fleet of superconducting quantum computers and Qiskit software stack, serving the same research and enterprise audience OQD targets. While IBM uses a different modality, IBM's open-source Qiskit and hardware-as-a-service model directly compete for developer mind share against OQD's open trapped-ion stack.
Direct peers
- IonQ: IonQ is a publicly traded trapped-ion quantum computing company targeting similar ion species and gate-fidelity advantages as OQD. Both pursue all-to-all connectivity and high-fidelity operations, though IonQ is commercial/cloud-delivered while OQD is open-source. Most directly comparable on hardware modality and approach.
- Quantinuum: Quantinuum (Honeywell/Cambridge Quantum merger) operates H-Series trapped-ion quantum computers with all-to-all connectivity and high gate fidelity, mirroring OQD's core technical positioning. Quantinuum is the most advanced commercial trapped-ion peer; OQD's open-source stack competes conceptually with Quantinuum's H-series architecture and software ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Atom Computing: Atom Computing builds neutral-atom quantum computers and was the first to claim a 1,000+ qubit system. Comparable as a peer pursuing alternative qubit modalities and competing with OQD on the long-term trapped-ion vs. neutral-atom scaling question.
- Q-CTRL: Q-CTRL develops quantum control infrastructure software that runs across multiple hardware modalities, including error suppression and optimization. Comparable as a quantum software peer that competes for developer mind share and overlaps with OQD's working groups on error correction and AI for quantum.
- Haiqu: Haiqu is a founding partner of OQD and a quantum hardware startup focused on enabling utility-scale quantum computing via software/hardware integration. Comparable as a partner and emerging peer in the open-source quantum software stack space.
- QuEra Computing: QuEra is an emerging neutral-atom quantum computing company that recently demonstrated 256+ qubit processors and offers Aquila via AWS Braket. Comparable as a rising peer whose neutral-atom modality competes with trapped-ion on scaling potential and developer accessibility.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open Quantum Design social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Quantum Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Quantum Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Open Quantum Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Quantum Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Quantum Design
What does Open Quantum Design do?
Open Quantum Design develops an open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer published under Apache 2.0 license, including hardware (Bloodstone Yb-171 and Beryl Ba processors), real-time control via Sinara/ARTIQ/DAX, and software layers spanning digital, analog, and atomic programming interfaces. Customers access the system through a free API, tiered community participation, or custom build services for on-premise quantum computers, with all hardware designs, control software, and emulation backends openly available on GitHub.
Is Open Quantum Design a public or private company?
Open Quantum Design is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open Quantum Design founded?
Open Quantum Design was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Open Quantum Design based?
Open Quantum Design is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Open Quantum Design make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Community Access Fees are the primary driver. The others are quantum Computer Building Services and free Quantum API Access.
Who are Open Quantum Design's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Google Quantum AI, Xanadu, Rigetti Computing and IBM Quantum. Direct peers are IonQ and Quantinuum. Emerging players are Atom Computing, Q-CTRL, Haiqu and QuEra Computing.
Does Open Quantum Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open Quantum Design.
What industry is Open Quantum Design in?
Open Quantum Design's product category is Quantum Computing Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGACAO, Quantum Open-Source Ecosystems, Package Managers & Interoperability Standards, with a secondary code of HDAGACAB, Quantum Development Frameworks & Libraries. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.