Peter Sarlin, a Finnish entrepreneur, has embarked on an exciting new journey following the sale of his previous startup to AMD for $665 million. Now serving as chairman of two innovative ventures, his focus is on NestAI, a physical AI lab, and QuTwo, a startup dedicated to equipping companies for the forthcoming quantum computing revolution.
Fully backed by Sarlin's family office, PostScriptum, QuTwo positions itself as an "AI lab for the quantum era." Rather than waiting for quantum computing to fully develop, the startup is actively collaborating with enterprises, including European fashion giant Zalando. Together, they are creating "lifestyle agents," AI tools that transcend traditional product searches by proactively recommending products and experiences tailored to user preferences.
QuTwo is founded on the belief that AI is nearing an efficiency ceiling, a challenge that quantum computing may help overcome. However, Sarlin emphasizes that the startup is not reliant on a specific timeline for quantum advancements. Instead, QuTwo is developing an orchestration layer called QuTwo OS, which enables businesses to transition from classical to quantum computing seamlessly, utilizing hybrid computing solutions along the way.
With investments in Finnish quantum companies such as IQM and QMill, Sarlin is among a growing group of investors confident that quantum computing will eventually surpass classical systems across various industries while reducing AI's energy consumption. He acknowledges that initial applications will likely require a mix of hardware, allowing enterprises to focus on their core challenges while QuTwo OS manages the computational routing.
The concept of "quantum-inspired" computing offers a promising middle ground, as it is already operational today, leveraging classical hardware to simulate quantum behaviors and circumventing the limitations of current quantum technology. QuTwo OS is designed to be adaptable, accommodating both quantum and classical algorithms and hardware.
The QuTwo team boasts a wealth of expertise from both quantum and AI domains. Among them are Kuan Yen Tan, co-founder of IQM, and Antti Vasara, a board member at SemiQon, alongside Sarlin and his former Silo AI co-founder, Kaj-Mikael Björk. Additionally, Pekka Lundmark, the former CEO of Nokia, has joined QuTwo's board, enriching the company's strategic insight.
With over 30 scientists specializing in quantum and AI, Sarlin underscores QuTwo's mission: "We're building for the quantum world, but QuTwo is an AI company." This vision highlights the company's commitment to transitioning AI workloads from classical systems to quantum frameworks.
QuTwo's customer base is set to expand, as it has initiated a joint quantum AI research initiative with OP Pohjola, a leading Finnish financial services provider. From the start, QuTwo has been focused on commercial viability, establishing substantial design partnerships worth tens of millions. These collaborations not only allow QuTwo to tailor its offerings to customer expectations but also position enterprises to gain a competitive edge as quantum computing emerges.
