SEEQC (Scalable Energy Efficient Quantum Computing) with John Levy

Background: 

All classical computers today are binary and run on transistors, tiny switches that process data as 0s and 1s. They’re fast but are limited in handling complex, real-world systems, especially those that are NP hard or classically intractable.

Quantum computers take a different approach: they mimic how nature works using the principles of quantum mechanics. This allows them to simulate molecules, materials, and risk systems far more accurately. They are especially powerful in fields like medicine (drug discovery), clean energy (materials design, fusion modeling), and finance (portfolio optimization, risk analysis). 

Deep Roots in Superconductors

SEEQC was spun out of HYPRES in 2019. HYPRES is a company that’s been developing superconducting electronics for decades, mostly for the U.S. government. Over time and based on superconducting supercomputing development during the IARPA C3 program, they realized their core tech could be useful for not only high-speed classical computing but also quantum systems.

What Enables SEEQC’s Chip to Work and Scale?

1. Superconducting Materials:
SEEQC’s chips use superconducting Josephson junctions that have zero electrical resistance at cryogenic temperatures,. This allows for fast signal transmission, low energy loss, and with the materials mature and well-studied, allows more reliable fabrication at scale. Energy comparisons between required operations with room temperature electronics for “normal” superconducting quantum computers enable SEEQC’s chips to work at 1 billion times more energy efficient basis with industry standards.

2. Integrated Digital and Quantum Layers:
SEEQC’s platform is unique because it integrates both the quantum processor and the classical control electronics packaged as a multi-chip-module. on a single cryogenic chip. This means that there is no need to send signals back and forth between room temperaturehot and cryogenically cold systems (a common bottleneck in other architectures).  SEEQC’s systems are digital and do not require analogue operations.

3. Cryogenic Operation (Below ~4K):
By operating everything at extremely low temperatures (using dilution refrigerators), SEEQC maintains quantum coherence (keeping qubits stable and usable) and supports low-power, high-speed classical logic at the same time at 10-20 milliKelvin.

4. SFQ Logic (Single Flux Quantum):
Instead of relying on analog signals or complicated conversions, SEEQC uses digital logic (SFQ) to control the quantum system with much less power and greater precision.  For example, typical quantum computers use analogue microwave pulses to control and readout qubits compared to SEEQC that uses digital pulses.  Because SEEQC’s signals are digital, it has overcome the issue of crosstalk, one of the largest sources of noise in a quantum computer.

This combination means SEEQC’s platform is not only more compact and power-efficient, but also well-positioned to scale. SEEQC isn’t just making better quantum chips, they’re trying to build the architecture that quantum computing needs to be useful in the real world.

Classical + Quantum: Built to Coexist

Classical computers are great at straightforward tasks like calculating 2 + 3 = 5 or managing spreadsheets. They’re fast, dependable, and perfect for well-defined problems.

Quantum computers are built for a different purpose: they model how nature behaves. This makes them ideal for tackling complex, uncertain problems like simulating molecules for new medicines or optimizing energy grids.

The future isn’t classical or quantum, it’s both.
SEEQC’s approach allows classical and quantum systems to work in tandem. The classical side handles control and logic. The quantum side explores complex patterns and possibilities. By putting them together at the hardware level, SEEQC makes these systems faster, more efficient, and ready for real-world use.

Also, SEEQC’s digital chips can be connected directly to other digital chips, especially NVIDIA’s GPUs, to create the computing infrastructure for quantum AI and AI assisted quantum computing for qubit calibration and real time error correction.

Vision: Become the processor leader for the next computing era

Founder Advice from John Levy

Focus on your long-term vision and how it can move the world. If you can clearly communicate that to investors, you’ll find people who are willing to back you, even in deep tech and hardware.

Glossary

Analog Signals: Continuous signals (like a wave) used in traditional electronics, as opposed to digital signals which are binary (on/off).

Classical Computer: The standard kind of computer that processes information as 0s and 1s using transistors.

Cryogenic Temperatures: Extremely low temperatures, often below -270°C (or around 4 Kelvin), used to reduce energy loss and maintain quantum states.

Crosstalk: Unwanted interference between signals, like two radio stations overlapping, which can cause errors in computing systems.

Dilution Refrigerator: A special cooling system used to reach cryogenic temperatures (close to absolute zero) to keep quantum systems stable.

Digital Logic: A way of processing information using binary states (0s and 1s), making systems more reliable and scalable.

Josephson Junction: A type of electronic component made from superconducting materials that can carry current with zero resistance, crucial for quantum circuits.

Multi-Chip Module: A package that combines several chips (both quantum and classical) into one unit to improve performance and reduce communication delays.

NP-Hard / Classically Intractable: Problems that are so complex that even the fastest traditional computers can’t solve them efficiently (e.g., optimizing large portfolios or simulating molecules).

Quantum Coherence: The delicate state where quantum bits (qubits) can exist in multiple states at once; necessary for quantum computation to work correctly.

Quantum Computer: A new type of computer that uses quantum mechanics to solve complex problems much faster than classical computers can.

Quantum Mechanics: A branch of physics that explains how particles behave at the atomic and subatomic levels; it underpins how quantum computers operate.

Qubit: The basic unit of quantum information, similar to a bit in classical computing, but it can exist in multiple states at once.

SFQ Logic (Single Flux Quantum): A low-energy, ultra-fast digital signaling technique used in superconducting electronics, ideal for controlling quantum systems with precision.

Superconducting Materials: Materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance when cooled to very low temperatures, enabling fast, energy-efficient computing.

Transistor: A tiny electronic switch used in classical computers to process data.