RhymeQ Secures $2.2 Million to Simplify Quantum Software Development

Insider Brief

• RhymeQ raised $2.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop software designed to let Python developers program quantum computers.
• Its Rhyme compiler translates conventional code for multiple quantum processors and NVIDIA CUDA-Q, supporting both quantum simulators and hardware.
• The funding will support engineering hires, enterprise platform development, hardware partnerships and expansion of its developer community.

RhymeQ, a startup making quantum computers accessible to software developers across the world, has raised a $2.2 million pre-seed round led by Ground State Ventures, with participation from Vanagon Ventures, Plug and Play, and Freiraum Ventures.

Quantum computers promise to solve significant problems and expand the reach of supercomputing and AI, for instance in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, finance, or manufacturing. However, coding for a quantum computer currently requires a PhD in quantum physics. Relatively few people globally are currently capable of that. 

RhymeQ has developed Rhyme, a new abstraction layer that allows every developer with basic Python skills to code for quantum. The actual coding is familiar and conventional, while the company’s compilers handle the translation for quantum computers. What’s more, it’s compatible across multiple quantum processors, with no hardware lock-in.