The Story of Phasecraft: Building the Future of Quantum Computing

Sometimes the most transformative companies begin with skepticism. In a recent episode of Category Visionaries, Phasecraft co-founder Ashley Montanaro revealed that his journey into quantum computing started with disbelief: “I didn’t really believe that it was true. I thought, okay, this must be wrong. I can’t believe that you could do all these amazing things with quantum mechanics.”

From Software Engineer to Quantum Pioneer

Before diving into quantum computing, Ashley’s career looked quite different. “I used to be writing software for smartphones before they were called smartphones, actually. So it’s back in the distant past,” he recalls. This practical software engineering background would later prove valuable in bridging the gap between theoretical quantum mechanics and real-world applications.

As Ashley delved deeper into quantum computing research, his initial skepticism transformed into conviction. He pursued a PhD at the University of Bristol, followed by positions at Cambridge and eventually returning to Bristol as a faculty member in Mathematics. But the real turning point came when the field began showing signs of commercial viability.

The Leap from Academia to Startup

The decision to found Phasecraft came at a crucial moment when “quantum computing was getting to this really exciting stage when it was really leaving academia and becoming actually a sort of really interesting commercial and industrial sort of pursuit,” Ashley explains. This transition represented more than just a technology shift – it signaled an opportunity to transform theoretical breakthroughs into practical applications.

The early days of Phasecraft involved careful consideration of whether to pursue their vision within academia or industry. The team, including co-founders Toby Kubert and John Morton, ultimately decided that a startup environment would allow them to progress faster and more effectively than traditional academic channels.

Building the Foundation

With pre-seed funding from UCL Technology Fund and Parkwalk, Phasecraft began assembling their team. Their approach to talent acquisition was strategic, leveraging their academic connections while building commercial capabilities. They started by “working with some PhD students at Bristol and at UCL in London and also managed to convince the fantastic postdocs to join us full time.”

This hybrid approach to team building proved crucial in an industry where technical talent is scarce. As Ashley notes, in quantum computing, there are only “numbers in the hundreds, let’s say, have been like worldwide who have the right expertise.”

Deep Technical Partnerships

Rather than pursuing multiple surface-level relationships, Phasecraft focused on developing meaningful technical partnerships. Their collaboration with Johnson Matthey exemplifies this approach, focusing on “very intense R&D partnership” where they work directly with scientists and engineers on problems like battery technology and catalysts for clean energy.

The Road Ahead

Looking toward the future, Phasecraft’s vision is both ambitious and focused. “Three to five years time,” Ashley explains, “is a really nice timeframe for us to think about, because by that point, we expect that we’ll have achieved quantum advantage. So we expect that we will be using quantum computers to have solved genuinely important problems from elsewhere in science and engineering.”

This timeline reflects their commitment to delivering practical value while acknowledging the complex nature of deep tech development. For Ashley and the Phasecraft team, the future isn’t just about advancing quantum computing technology – it’s about solving real-world problems that could transform industries from energy to materials science.

The journey from academic skeptic to quantum computing innovator captures the essence of deep tech entrepreneurship: the ability to recognize transformative potential, build the right team, and maintain focus on practical applications while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As quantum computing continues its evolution from research labs to commercial applications, Phasecraft’s story offers valuable insights for founders working to commercialize complex technologies.