Photon Queue raises oversubscribed seed round to scale quantum memory systems. July 21, 2026 Press play to listen to this content Company is delivering free-space quantum memory technology to Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Maryland to address a critical bottleneck to scaling quantum networks. CHAMPAIGN, Ill., July 21, 2026 - Photon Queue, a quantum technology company building high-efficiency quantum memories for next-generation quantum computing systems, today announced the close of its oversubscribed seed funding round of $4 million, led by Playground Global. The seed round builds on Photon Queue's early customer traction, including contracts with Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Maryland that validate demand from leading institutions at the forefront of quantum computing and photonic systems research. The funding will accelerate Photon Queue's product development, manufacturing capabilities and customer deployments as the company scales to meet demand from quantum computing companies, national laboratories and research institutions. Quantum computing depends on photons arriving at exactly the right place and time. As systems scale, quantum platforms will need to network many smaller processors together, creating a universal bottleneck: synchronizing single photons across complex quantum systems. Quantum memories solve that problem by storing photons until they are needed. Photon Queue's devices store photons directly in free-space optical loops using proprietary high-reflectivity mirror systems and optical switches. Unlike other approaches that require cryogenics, vacuum systems or complex transduction processes, Photon Queue's devices operate at room temperature using standard power, while delivering ultra-high efficiency and world-leading bandwidth. "Useful quantum computing will require photons to move through networks with extraordinary precision, efficiency and timing. That is the problem Photon Queue was founded to solve," said Nathan Arnold, co-founder and CEO of Photon Queue. "In less than two years, we have taken technology from the lab to deployed commercial hardware with leading national lab and university customers. Our work with Sandia and the University of Maryland is a major validation point that quantum memory is becoming essential infrastructure for the next era of computing." Photon Queue's devices are designed to be compatible with virtually any wavelength, making them broadly applicable across photonic, trapped ion, neutral atom and other quantum computing architectures. The company has deployed its first commercial quantum memory device at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Maryland. "Quantum computing is hitting a scale problem that better qubits alone cannot solve. The industry needs new infrastructure to move, store and synchronize photons with far greater efficiency," said Marissa Ramirez de Chanlatte, Investor at Playground Global. "Photon Queue has built an elegant solution, turning breakthrough quantum optics into commercial hardware, with early customer traction. We believe they are a foundational company that will define the quantum memory category." "Quantum memories are a critical enabling technology for distributed quantum systems, and performance, efficiency and ease of integration are essential," said Saikat Guha, Clark Distinguished Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park and director of the NSF Center for Quantum Networks. "Photon Queue's room-temperature, free-space approach is compelling because it stores photons directly without the complexity of cryogenics, vacuum systems or transduction. We look forward to working with the Photon Queue team as they continue developing practical quantum memory hardware for our research in quantum networking, sensing, and communication" Founded in 2024 as a spinout from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Photon Queue is led by co-founders Nathan Arnold, CEO and Kelsey Ortiz, CTO. The founding team brings deep expertise in quantum optics, photonic systems and hardware commercialization. Photon Queue is a graduate of the Duality Quantum Accelerator, a corporate partner of the Chicago Quantum Exchange and the winner of the Q2B Startup Pitch Competition. CEO Nathan Arnold is also a fellow at Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy entrepreneurship program. Photon Queue also recently announced $500,000 in funding from the New Mexico Economic Development Department and Roadrunner Venture Studios to support its expansion in New Mexico and deepen its work with the region's national laboratory and quantum technology ecosystem. About Photon Queue Photon Queue is the world's leading developer of free-space quantum memory devices. Founded in 2024 as a spinout from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the company builds high-performance quantum memories that store photons using linear optics at room temperature - delivering ultra-high efficiency and world-leading bandwidth with no cryogenics, vacuum systems or complex transduction required. Photon Queue's technology serves quantum computing, communications and metrology applications. The company is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Learn more at photonqueue.com. Oratomic, a quantum computing startup that emerged from stealth just four months ago, has raised... 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Photon Queue wins $500,000 grant to establish quantum technology presence in New Mexico. Insider Brief * Photon Queue received $500,000 in funding to establish quantum technology operations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including assembly and testing capabilities for quantum memory devices. * The company is developing room-temperature free-space quantum memory technology designed to improve photon storage and synchronization in future quantum computing systems. * Photon Queue's expansion will be supported by the New Mexico Economic Development Department and Roadrunner Venture Studios as part of the state's growing quantum technology ecosystem. Press release - Photon Queue, a quantum technology company building high-efficiency quantum storage for next-generation quantum computing systems, today announced it has received $500,000 in grant funding to establish a presence in New Mexico. The funding includes support from the New Mexico Economic Development Department and Roadrunner Venture Studios, and will help Photon Queue expand its operations into Albuquerque, where the company plans to hire locally, lease space in Roadrunner's quantum lab, and build out assembly, testing and verification capabilities for its quantum memory devices. "New Mexico is quickly becoming one of the most important places in the country for quantum technology," said Nathan Arnold, founder and CEO of Photon Queue. "As our technology moves from the lab into real-world quantum systems, this grant enables us to grow in a state that understands both deep science and commercialization. Albuquerque offers the technical talent, infrastructure and ecosystem support we need as we turn high-performance quantum memories into scalable products." Photon Queue, which was founded in 2024 and spun out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is developing free-space quantum memories that store photons using linear optics at room temperature without cryogenics, vacuum systems or complex transduction. The technology is designed to help solve one of the biggest challenges in scaling quantum computers: ensuring photons arrive at exactly the right place and time. New Mexico will serve as a future hub for device assembly, testing, verification and manufacturability work, with a focus on supporting customers and partners working to scale quantum computing systems. "Photon Queue is exactly the kind of high-growth, high-impact company New Mexico is working to attract and support," said Nora Meyers Sackett, Director of EDNM's Technology & Innovation Office. "The company's decision to establish operations here reflects the strength of New Mexico's emerging quantum ecosystem and our commitment to investing in the next generation of advanced technology jobs." As quantum computing moves toward commercially meaningful scale, the ability to connect processors and precisely manage the movement of photons across systems will become increasingly important. Photon Queue is developing quantum memory technology designed to address this synchronization challenge with a simpler, more scalable architecture that delivers high efficiency, high bandwidth and broad compatibility while operating at room temperature. Roadrunner Venture Studios, which supports deep tech startups in New Mexico and across the country, will also play a key role in Photon Queue's expansion through lab space and commercialization support. "Photon Queue is building foundational infrastructure for the quantum computing industry, and we are excited to bring that work to New Mexico and the Roadrunner Quantum Lab," said Adam Hammer, CEO and Co-Founder at Roadrunner Venture Studios. "By locating key operations here, Photon Queue is adding to the state's growing quantum cluster and creating a pathway for more advanced technology companies to build in New Mexico and ultimately in America." Mohib ur rehman. Covering quantum and emerging technologies, Mohib explores the intersection of technology, security, and society. His work also frequently examines surveillance infrastructure and the institutions shaping the digital world. In addition to his work at The Quantum Insider, he co-runs SK NEXUS, an independent technology publication that helps readers understand the technologies shaping their lives. Stay Ahead of Quantum Get the latest research, company news, and market intelligence every week. MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE More in Research

Photon Queue, a quantum technology company developing high-efficiency quantum storage systems, has secured $500,000 in grant funding to establish operations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The funding comes from the New Mexico Economic Development Department and Roadrunner Venture Studios. The company, founded in 2024 and spun out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, plans to use the grant to hire locally, lease space in Roadrunner's quantum lab, and build assembly and testing capabilities for its quantum memory devices. Photon Queue develops free-space quantum memories that store photons using linear optics at room temperature, addressing synchronisation challenges in scaling quantum computers. The New Mexico facility will serve as a hub for device assembly, testing and verification work, supporting customers working to scale quantum computing systems.