Most of the world's best-known quantum computers operate inside refrigerators colder than outer space. Most quantum computer needs to be cooled to a temperature colder than outer space, to function. The machine sits inside a chandelier-like cryogenic refrigerator, chilled to the edge of absolute zero, the coldest point physically possible in the universe.
Based in Bengaluru, Quanfluence, founded by three former semiconductor engineers, is developing photonic quantum computing technology designed to operate at room temperature by using light instead of superconducting electrical circuits. While the technology is still evolving globally and no single quantum computing architecture has emerged as the industry standard, researchers increasingly view photonics as one of several promising approaches for building scalable quantum computers.
A second startup after a successful exit
The founders of Quanfluence are Sujoy Chakravarty, Ravi Mehta and Biman Chattopadhyay, who spent more than a decade working together at Texas Instruments, building expertise in semiconductor and chip design.
In 2012, they left the company to establish Silicon and Beyond, a startup specialising in high-speed semiconductor intellectual property (IP). The company developed chip design technologies before being acquired by Synopsys, one of the world's largest electronic design automation firms, in 2018.
Rather than starting another semiconductor venture immediately after the acquisition, the founders reportedly spent several months studying different quantum computing technologies to determine whether there was an opportunity to build commercially relevant hardware from India.
Why they chose this approach
Rather than moving quickly into a new venture, the trio spent nearly six months studying every major quantum computing approach available, according to TOI.
They looked at superconducting quantum computers which require cooling to temperatures close to absolute zero and demand cryogenic infrastructure. They studied ion-trap systems. They examined photonics.
They chose photonics. Unlike superconducting systems, photonic quantum computers use laser light as their computational medium and operate at room temperature. Unlike superconducting systems, photonic quantum hardware does not necessarily require cryogenic cooling, making it an attractive area of research for scientists seeking more practical and scalable quantum computing platforms. Researchers have identified integrated photonic technologies as one of the promising directions for future quantum hardware, although significant technical challenges remain before large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers become commercially viable.
The team behind the technology
The founders later expanded the company by bringing in researchers specialising in quantum science.
Professor Anil Prabhakar of IIT Madras joined as a co-founder, contributing research related to Optical Ising Machines, while Professor Sandeep Goyal of IISER Mohali became part of the founding team with expertise in quantum information theory.
Former Arista Networks executive Aditi Vaidya joined as Chief Product Officer.
The combination brought together expertise in semiconductor engineering, quantum physics, photonics and enterprise technology.
What Quanfluence has built so far
According to Quanfluence and information reported by The Times of India , the company is developing a photonic quantum computing platform based on an Optical Ising Machine.
Instead of encoding information using individual photons, the company says its architecture utilises the electric field generated by groups of photons, an approach it believes can improve stability and scalability.
Why the temperature question is the whole story
The difference between minus 273 degrees Celsius and room temperature is not a minor technical footnote. It determines what can realistically be built, deployed, and scaled in a country like India.
Superconducting quantum computers require massive refrigeration systems, specialised helium supplies, and infrastructure that only a handful of institutions globally can support. A room-temperature photonic system needs none of that. It can sit in a data centre, be accessed over the cloud, and scaled without cryogenic hardware.
(With TOI inputs)
