Colorado Quantum Incubator

What Colorado Quantum Incubator does

Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) is a nonprofit quantum-technology incubator based in Boulder, Colorado, operating from a 13,000-square-foot facility at 5555 Central Ave. The organization provides purpose-built quantum lab infrastructure (Class 4 laser-safe rooms, 60-amp overhead power, vibration-isolated optical tables, shared equipment library), open-access testbeds, shared workspaces, and founder support services to early-stage companies developing quantum computing, sensing, networking, and timing technologies. COQI was founded in 2024 through a consortium of the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and Elevate Quantum, and serves as the operational vehicle for Colorado's federal Tech Hub designation.

COQI's product surface spans four lines: Lab Platforms (purpose-built labs with shared equipment), Testbeds (validation and benchmarking infrastructure, including the nation's first open-access quantum timing testbed built with Xairos Systems at BioMed Realty's Flatiron Park), Community (collaborative workspaces and curated events), and Support Services (advisor and investor introductions). The forthcoming PICACTs facility, funded by a $500,000 OEDIT grant, adds photonic integrated circuit assembly and testing as a new infrastructure vertical. Underlying technology includes photonic integrated circuit packaging and characterization systems, quantum timing validation platforms leveraging Xairos' Quantum Time Transfer technology (entangled photons over fiber and free-space optical links), and shared quantum-grade physical infrastructure.

COQI's revenue model is hybrid but early-stage: recurring lab membership and workspace subscriptions, usage-based testbed access fees, and contact-based enterprise pricing. To date, the organization's capital base has been overwhelmingly grant-driven — a $22 million state tax credit tied to the federal Tech Hub designation and a $500,000 Collaborative Infrastructure Grant — rather than commercial revenue. Customer segments include quantum startups (5+ named members including Atom Computing, OEwaves, Quantum Rings, Flari Tech, and Resilient), enterprise and research users of the testbed, and government agencies (10+ U.S. and international agencies, including the U.S. Space Force's SpaceWERX). A partnership with Stout Street Capital and its LEVCAP program further embeds venture-capital-backed teams into COQI's R&D environment, coupling facility access to capital deployment.

Name

Colorado Quantum Incubator

Legal name

Colorado Quantum Incubator, Inc.

Website

https://quantumincubator.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) is a Boulder-based nonprofit that provides purpose-built quantum labs, open-access testbeds, and founder support services to early-stage quantum computing, sensing, networking, and timing startups, operating from a 13,000-square-foot facility backed by Colorado universities and Elevate Quantum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Technology Incubator Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Community, Developer Relations & Ecosystem Programs (HDAGALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Program Management & Transformation Services (HDAGALAH), Managed Quantum Services & Enterprise Support (HDAGAIAI), Quantum Workshops, Bootcamps & Events Providers (HDAGALAM)

Keywords

• Quantum technology incubation
• Lab space rental
• Technology validation services
• Startup incubator services
• Quantum testbed access

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Lab Space Memberships: Purpose-built quantum lab spaces and flexible lab offerings available for rent to quantum startups and researchers. Includes access to specialized equipment, vibration-isolated optical tables, and shared tools.
2. Testbed Access Fees: Open-access testbed facilities for quantum timing validation available to companies, research institutions, and government agencies for testing and demonstrating precision timing technologies.
3. Community Workspace Rentals: Shared workspace access including desks and dedicated offices for founders, providing collaborative environments for quantum innovators.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) is a nonprofit startup incubator that provides purpose-built quantum lab space, specialized lab platforms, and community programming to early-stage quantum technology companies. It operates a 13,000-square-foot facility in Boulder offering rentable quantum labs, shared equipment, workspace, and validation testbeds to help quantum startups transition from lab research to market-ready products.

Product overview

The Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) operates as a quantum technology startup incubator offering a platform-plus-services architecture. The core infrastructure consists of purpose-built Lab Platforms providing 12,500-square-foot lab space with specialized quantum equipment (vibration isolation, optical tables, Class 4 laser safety), paired with Testbeds for validation and benchmarking. These are complemented by Community programming (shared workspaces, curated events) and Support Services connecting founders to advisors and investors. The flagship offering is the Open-Access Quantum Timing Testbed, the nation's first commercially available third-party validation facility for quantum timing technologies, developed in partnership with Xairos Systems, Stout Street Capital, and BioMed Realty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lab Platforms Purpose-built quantum labs with Class 4 laser safety measures, 60-amp overhead power service, powered industrial lab benches, vibration-isolated floated optical tables, and a shared equipment library, enabling early-stage quantum development projects.
• Open-Access Quantum Timing Testbed Nation's first open-access, commercially available third-party validation testbed for quantum timing technologies, enabling startups, researchers, enterprises, and government organizations to validate next-generation quantum timing technologies using Xairos Systems' Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) technology, transmitting entangled photons across fiber and free-space optical links.
• Photonic Integrated Circuits Assembly Characterization and Test Facility (PICACTs) Open-access facility for the assembly, characterization, and testing of photonic integrated circuits, designed to eliminate packaging and testing bottlenecks in Colorado's quantum industry and reduce regional dependency on external supply chains.
• Community Workspace Rentals Collaborative workspaces and offices for founders, providing shared environments including desks and dedicated offices, alongside curated events for quantum innovators.
• Support Services Targeted programs connecting founders to advisors, investors, and support services to turn lab-born discoveries into viable companies, supporting the lab-to-market journey.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminates packaging and testing bottlenecks in Colorado's quantum industry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Colorado BouldercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Founding academic partner in the Colorado Quantum Incubator. CU Boulder collaborates with CSU, Colorado School of Mines, and Elevate Quantum to establish the 13,000-square-foot facility for quantum startups.
• Xairos SystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 22 April 2026Technology partner providing Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) technology for the open-access quantum timing testbed. Xairos uses the facility for live demonstrations of enterprise-grade synchronization, transmitting entangled photons across fiber and free-space optical links.
• BioMed RealtycoreOthers · 22 April 2026Real estate partner providing the Flatiron Park location for the quantum timing testbed facility. Provides purpose-built infrastructure essential for frontier technology testing that cannot develop in conventional office environments.
• Colorado State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Founding academic partner in the Colorado Quantum Incubator initiative, contributing to the collaborative quantum ecosystem in Colorado.
• Colorado School of MinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Founding academic partner contributing research expertise and student talent to the Colorado Quantum Incubator ecosystem.
• Elevate QuantumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Key state-level partner in establishing the Colorado Quantum Incubator, part of Colorado's quantum ecosystem development efforts.
• Finland (Government & Business Delegation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022International partnership reinforced by 2022 Memorandum of Understanding between Colorado and Finland. Includes Finnish laser company Vexlum's US headquarters in Broomfield and four research partnerships working with Finland's LUMI supercomputer.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Strangeworks: Quantum computing software platform providing developer tools, access to quantum hardware, and ecosystem services. Comparable to COQI as a quantum infrastructure/enablement layer for startups and researchers, though focused on software rather than physical labs.
• Multiverse Computing: Quantum and quantum-inspired software company focused on financial, materials, and industrial applications. Comparable as a deep-tech quantum startup that could use COQI-style infrastructure services, though based in Spain/Canada.
• Classiq Technologies: Quantum software company providing a high-level development platform for quantum algorithms. Comparable as a developer-enablement layer in the quantum ecosystem, though software-focused versus COQI's physical infrastructure model.
• Q-CTRL: Quantum control infrastructure software company providing error suppression and optimization tools that improve quantum hardware performance. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure provider in the quantum ecosystem, though software-only.
• Quantum Computing Inc. U.S.-listed quantum technology company focused on quantum optics, sensing, and computing. Comparable as a quantum hardware player that would benefit from validation testbeds like COQI's, though primarily a vendor rather than a community/incubator.

Direct peers

• Chicago Quantum Exchange: Academic-led quantum consortium and ecosystem hub anchored by the University of Chicago, Argonne, Fermilab, and Northwestern. Directly comparable to COQI as a multi-institutional quantum incubator/community platform with shared lab infrastructure and government partnerships.
• QED-C (Quantum Economic Development Consortium): Industry-government consortium managed by SRI International that coordinates U.S. quantum industry growth, workforce, and standards — directly comparable to COQI's mission of cultivating a quantum community and providing infrastructure/services to quantum startups.
• Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta): Boulder-headquartered quantum technology company developing quantum sensing, networking, and computing platforms based on neutral-atom and cold-atom technology. Comparable as a Boulder-based quantum ecosystem member and potential COQI ecosystem partner/tenant.

Regional players

• UK Quantum Coast / PsiQuantum ecosystem: UK-based quantum hub anchored by PsiQuantum and university partners, comparable to COQI as a geographically concentrated quantum cluster combining academic, venture, and government support. Relevant as a regional peer and potential international collaboration partner.

Broad incumbents

• IBM Quantum: Large incumbent quantum computing business offering quantum hardware, cloud access, and a global developer ecosystem. Comparable as a broader quantum infrastructure and ecosystem provider, though operating at vastly greater scale than COQI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-quantum-incubator

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado Quantum Incubator