Duality is excited to announce applications for Cohort 3 open January 9, 2023. Duality, the first-of-its-kind business accelerator for quantum startups, has supported 11 startups across two cohorts with mentorship, training, networking opportunities, and funding & investment since its inception in 2021.
As part of the 12-month accelerator program, startups receive resources including $50,000 in funding, office and lab space in Chicago, access to state-of-the-art facilities, entrepreneurial training from faculty at the top-ranked Booth School of Business, and an introduction to Chicago’s quantum ecosystem for mentorship and business connections.
Duality’s founding network is comprised of key institutions such as the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Argonne National Laboratory, and P33. Additionally, major corporate partners include Amazon Web Services; Caruso Ventures; Lathrop GPM; McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd; McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP; Silicon Valley Bank; and Toptica Photonics.
“We are taking part in an invaluable network, [receiving] industry insights and [participating in] relevant presentations held by some experienced individuals from both the tech side and also from the business perspective. All this is having a direct, positive impact on our internal as well as external growth journey,” noted Zaid Saeed, CEO of SCALINQ, a Cohort 2 company, regarding the benefits being a part of Duality’s network.
Through mentorship within this network, as well as workshop events and training, Duality uniquely bridges the scientific and business aspects of quantum innovation. “The importance of accelerators like Duality is to be able to truly support the educational transition of a scientist-founder to becoming an entrepreneur,” said Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect and Duality mentor.
Duality’s first two cohorts are filled with success stories, from Super.tech’s acquisition by ColdQuanta earlier this year to qBraid’s first place finish in the 2022 Quantum World Congress startup pitch competition. And Duality is supporting quantum entrepreneurship in exciting ways: “Duality has helped to accelerate our growth exponentially,” said qBraid software engineer Ricky Young, reflecting on the company’s success in partnership with Duality.
Eligible startups are encouraged to apply to Cohort 3 by March 31 through Duality’s website. Additionally, there will be an information session on January 17 for entrepreneurs looking to learn more about Duality and participate in Q&A with the Duality team. For more information and to register for the info session, click here.