In 2026, the race for quantum computing supremacy continues, but a new startup argues businesses shouldn't wait for the finish line. QuTwo, founded by former Silo AI CEO Peter Sarlin, is building tools today for a quantum-powered tomorrow. The company is backed by Sarlin's family office and has already secured major design partnerships worth tens of millions of euros.

QuTwo's approach is pragmatic. Instead of betting on when fault-tolerant quantum hardware will arrive, it is developing an orchestration layer called QuTwo OS. This system allows enterprises to run workloads across classical and quantum processors, preparing them for a hybrid future. Early customers include European fashion giant Zalando, where teams are co-developing 'lifestyle agents'—AI tools designed to proactively suggest products and experiences.

"We're building for the quantum world, but QuTwo is an AI company," Sarlin stated, emphasizing a focus on shifting AI workloads from classical to quantum systems. The team, which includes over 30 quantum and AI scientists, blends deep expertise from both fields. It features quantum hardware veterans like IQM co-founder Kuan Yen Tan alongside enterprise AI specialists like Sarlin's former co-founder Kaj-Mikael Björk.

The company is also exploring 'quantum-inspired' computing, which uses classical hardware to simulate quantum behavior, offering near-term benefits. Beyond Zalando, QuTwo has launched a joint research initiative with Finnish financial services leader OP Pohjola, indicating a broad target market. Sarlin's vision is clear: let companies focus on their business problems while QuTwo OS handles the complex routing between today's computers and tomorrow's quantum machines.

Source: TechCrunch