Nvidia considers investing in photonic quantum startup PsiQuantum

Nvidia is reportedly in advanced discussions about taking a stake in PsiQuantum, a Silicon Valley start-up building large-scale photonic quantum computers. According to The Information, negotiations have progressed well, but both sides declined to comment, so the size, structure, and timing of any deal remain unconfirmed.

This possible investment follows a March report that PsiQuantum is seeking at least $750 million at a pre-money valuation near $6 billion, with BlackRock already on board. Nvidia’s backing would not only boost the start-up’s funds but also plug it into the GPU maker’s expanding quantum-software ecosystem.

The move also marks a shift in Nvidia’s tone. In late 2024, CEO Jensen Huang opened a Boston quantum-research lab with Harvard and MIT, even after telling analysts that practical quantum machines were still two decades off. These parallel efforts suggest Nvidia is hedging against that timeline.

PsiQuantum’s approach differs from rivals that rely on superconducting or trapped-ion hardware. The company fabricates photonic qubits with conventional semiconductor processes, an angle that could simplify mass production. It is already collaborating with federal and state authorities to build two demonstration systems—one in Brisbane, Australia, and another in Chicago, Illinois.

Even if a deal closes, it would not immediately produce a commercially useful quantum computer; PsiQuantum still has no product on the market, and the technology remains experimental. Nevertheless, Nvidia’s interest underscores the strategic value major chipmakers now place on quantum computing as a possible successor or complement to classical AI accelerators. All details remain provisional until the companies release an official statement.