University of Calgary alum Jordan Smith and his research-based startup, Quantized Technologies Inc. (QTi), are setting out to revolutionize global internet communications by building the first commercial quantum repeater; an essential device for enabling the backbone of the future quantum internet. QTi is currently raising $4 million in investment to advance this breakthrough effort, building on its existing success in developing advanced quantum encryption devices.
Jordan Smith, left, and Daniel Oblak, have secured funding to research creating the quantum internet. Photo Credit Riley Brandt, University of Calgary
Smith and QTi exemplify the significant impact UCalgary research-driven startups can have when they adapt cutting-edge research to market insight developed through extensive engagement with customers, stakeholders and industry experts.
Satisfying an interest in physics
Before co-founding QTi, Jordan Smith, BComm'12, BSc'20, MSc'23, had already built a career as an entrepreneur. After earning his Bachelor of Commerce in Business from UCalgary in 2012, he launched multiple ventures, including a high-performance automotive company, a crane business and a construction company.
After nearly a decade of traditional entrepreneurship, Smith began looking for a new challenge. One in which he could make a major global impact while simultaneously indulging his long-time interest in physics. So, in 2017, he decided to return to UCalgary, where he earned both a bachelor's (2020) and a master's (2023) in quantum physics.
During his studies, he was introduced to the pressing cybersecurity challenges posed by advances in quantum computing. Given his background in entrepreneurship, he immediately sought ways to leverage the university's advanced knowledge in quantum computing and realize major technical and commercial solutions.
The original idea: Protecting today's internet from quantum threats
In 2021, Smith and his master's supervisor, Dr. Daniel Oblak, PhD, from UCalgary's Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, co-founded QTi to address the looming security risks posed by quantum computing by developing quantum-safe encryption devices. Their first major project was QuSera, a quantum-secure encryption platform designed to protect sensitive data from next-generation cyber threats.
"Quantum computers will soon have the power to break conventional encryption, putting sensitive data at risk," says Smith. "Our goal with QTi has always been to stay ahead of that threat by developing encryption devices that provide organizations with true quantum-safe security."
While still under development, QTi has seen consistent progress and growing support. "The support we've received has been incredible," says Smith. "At each step, people have stepped up to help us because they believe in what we're building. That kind of validation keeps us moving forward."
QTi has completed top programs, including Aeir powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking CDL-Quantum, Plug and Play and QAI Ventures, while also gaining support from the Quantum City, the Alberta Innovation Catalyst Grant, Alberta Innovates, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Mitacs. With customers already lining up to pilot and purchase QuSera, QTi has grown a world-class team of 18 people, secured over $2 million in non-dilutive funding, attracted over $1.5 million in pre-order sales commitments, and recently launched a new investment round.
Success is palpable.
Expanding horizons, expanding possibilities
Since 2023, Smith has been engaging extensively with industry partners, researchers, and early adopters to understand their needs and guide QTi's efforts to meet demonstrated market needs.
Through these conversations, Smith and his team identified an even greater and more foundational challenge than encryption: the absence of the very infrastructure required to enable a truly functional quantum internet.
"Encryption is only part of the solution," says Dr. Daniel Oblak, QTi's co-founder and Chief Scientist. "Without a functional quantum network, we won't be able to scale quantum computing or communications effectively. A secure, large-scale quantum infrastructure is the key to unlocking the next generation of technological advancements."
But this is easier said than done.
Light signals degrade rapidly over long distances in fibre-optic cables - the backbone of the current internet. Classical networks mitigate this problem with amplifiers placed every 60 or so kilometers which read the light signal and then reproduce the same signal, but stronger, and send it down the line.
But this presents a unique problem for quantum networks since the very act of detecting a quantum signal destroys it, with no potential for replication.
Contemporary amplifiers simply won't work.
Instead, what's needed are quantum repeaters complex hardware devices capable of extending the range of quantum signals without destroying their integrity. Without them, the promise of ultra-secure communications, distributed quantum computing, and advanced sensing technologies cannot be fully realized.
A new quantum internet for the future
Smith and his team saw this not as a limitation, but as an even greater opportunity. With an experienced team, proven momentum, and cutting-edge technology, QTi is now expanding its vision: to build the first commercially successful quantum repeater to unlock the infrastructure backbone of the future quantum internet.
"While working on quantum encryption devices, we began to see a larger problem," says Smith. "The future quantum-enabled internet will require new hardware like quantum repeaters. We quickly realized that we're uniquely poised with the team, technology, connections, knowledge, and momentum we've already built to develop a novel quantum repeater."
Millions of fibre-optic amplifiers around the world may eventually need parallel deployment of quantum repeaters alongside them. A demand QTi hopes to meet. It's a massive opportunity with potential for significant global impact.
To fuel this expanded mission, QTi has opened a new funding round and is seeking visionary partners to help them realize this ambitious vision.
With the launch of QuSera on the horizon and now a pioneering effort to develop quantum repeater technology well underway, QTi is positioning itself and UCalgary as global leaders in the race to build the quantum internet.
Interested in supporting or learning more about QTi? Find them at quantizedtech.com/about-qti
