Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Ashley Montanaro, CEO & Co-Founder of Phasecraft, a quantum software company that has raised over $22 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- Transition from Academia to Quantum Computing: Ashley shares his journey from writing software for pre-smartphone era devices to being captivated by the potential of quantum computing, leading to a PhD and eventually co-founding Phasecraft.
- Quantum Computing Simplified: He provides a simplified explanation of quantum computing, highlighting its fundamental differences from classical computing and its potential to solve complex problems that are currently beyond our reach.
- Early Days at Phasecraft: The initial focus was on determining whether to pursue quantum computing advancements within academia or through a startup. Choosing the latter, Phasecraft was founded to accelerate development and commercialization.
- The Challenge of Transitioning to Industry: Ashley discusses the learning curve of moving from academia to starting a business, emphasizing the unexpected relevance of academic skills in entrepreneurship and the importance of understanding venture funding.
- Partnerships for Quantum Advancement: He highlights the importance of partnerships with companies like Johnson Matthey to achieve quantum advantage by solving real-world problems, emphasizing hands-on collaboration with experts in the field.
- Advice for Aspiring Quantum Entrepreneurs: Ashley advises on the importance of careful investor selection, realistic promises about the technology's capabilities, and the crucial early hiring to ensure alignment with the company's ethos.