About This Event
Join us for a round of lightning talks by world-class scientists and entrepreneurs exploring the frontiers of physics and computing tech - quantum, thermodynamic, analog, neuromorphic, photonic computing and more.
Hosts:
Will Zeng, Partner @Quantonation
Nima Leclerc, Research Scientist @MITRE
Schedule
17.00 - Arrival and mixing
17.45 - Welcome from Will & Nima
18.00 - 4x 15min talks
19.00 - 30min Break: questions, follow up etc.
19.30 - 4x 15min talks
20.30 - Drinks, snacks, and entropy.
About Quantonation
Quantonation is an early stage venture capital fund investing globally in novel technologies based on advances in physics and/or computing.
https://www.quantonation.com/
Speakers
Will Zeng
Partner, Quantonation
hostWill Zeng is a Partner at Quantonation, investing in early stage physics tech as well as Founder and President at the Unitary Foundation, an open source quantum technology research lab. Previously he built quantum computers at Rigetti Computing and worked on advanced computing R&D for Goldman Sachs. He did his PhD in quantum algorithms at Oxford.
Rodolfo Rosini
CEO, Vaire Computing
Rodolfo Rosini serves as the CEO of Vaire Computing, where he leads efforts to develop near-zero consumption computing chips aimed at revolutionizing energy-efficient technologies. As a repeat founder of seven companies, five in deep tech, he has achieved two successful exits, demonstrating his expertise in hardware innovation and startup growth. His background includes significant contributions to quantum and low-power computing fields, drawing from his experience in building high-impact tech ventures. Rosini's work focuses on advancing hardware solutions for sustainable computing, positioning him as a key figure in energy-efficient technologies.
Connor Hart, Ph.D.
CTO, Quantum Catalyzer
Connor Hart, Ph.D. is an American quantum physicist and technologist best known as the Chief Technology Officer of Quantum Catalyzer (Q-Cat), a Maryland-based startup studio that commercializes quantum sensing and imaging technologies, including the Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond for wide-field magnetic imaging applications in life sciences, materials, and electronics. A University of Maryland alumnus (B.S. Physics, 2015) and Harvard Ph.D. (Physics, 2020) under Ronald Walsworth, Hart has authored influential papers on NV-diamond magnetic microscopy and advanced protocols like double quantum Ramsey, with over 2,000 citations. He drives Q-Cat's portfolio companies, such as QDM.IO and EuQlid, to translate breakthrough quantum research into practical tools.
Gil Verdon
CEO, Extropic
Guillaume "Gil" Verdon is the founder and CEO of Extropic AI, a San Francisco-based startup pioneering thermodynamic computing—a revolutionary physics-based paradigm that harnesses out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics and probabilistic "p-bits" to create vastly more energy-efficient accelerators for generative AI, promising thousands-fold reductions in power consumption compared to traditional silicon chips while natively supporting advanced energy-based models critical for scaling toward AGI. A Canadian physicist with a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing, Verdon previously led quantum machine learning research at Alphabet's X lab, co-creating TensorFlow Quantum before pivoting from noisy quantum hardware to broader thermodynamic approaches amid industry challenges. Doxxed in 2023 as the pseudonymous Beff Jezos—the fiery proponent of effective accelerationism (e/acc), a techno-optimist movement urging unrelenting AI progress against decelerationists—Verdon has leveraged his viral persona to attract talent and hype, raising $14.1M in seed funding and advancing Extropic's chips toward market availability in late 2025, positioning the company as a bold challenger to Nvidia in the exploding AI hardware race for sustainable, abundant computation.
Faris Sbahi
CEO, Normal Computing
Faris Sbahi is an American AI researcher and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Normal Computing, a New York-based deep-tech startup established in 2022 that pioneers thermodynamic computing hardware and probabilistic AI to enable energy-efficient, reliable generative AI for enterprise and scientific applications. A Duke University alumnus with prior research roles at Alphabet's X moonshot factory (formerly Google X) and Google Brain, Sbahi has driven breakthroughs including the tape-out of the world's first thermodynamic chip (CN101) in 2025, harnessing noise and physical fluctuations for up to 1000x efficiency gains on AI workloads. Backed by investors like Celesta Capital and selected for ARIA's scaling compute program, Normal Computing addresses AI's energy crisis through innovative physics-based ASICs and tools like the Verdict library for scalable AI evaluation.
Andre Saraiva
Head of Solid-State Theory, Diraq
André Saraiva is a Brazilian-Australian solid-state physicist and quantum computing expert best known as Head of Theory (or Head of Solid State Theory) at Diraq, an Australian startup pioneering CMOS-compatible silicon spin qubit technology for scalable, fault-tolerant quantum processors. Joining Diraq in 2022, he leads the theoretical design and modeling of large-scale systems aiming for millions to billions of qubits on a single chip. Previously a professor of physics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, with senior research roles at UNSW Sydney and Silicon Quantum Computing, Saraiva holds a PhD in Physics from UFRJ and has over 3,900 citations for work on spin qubits, quantum dots, and valley physics in silicon.
Nima Leclerc
Research Scientist, MITRE
hostNima Leclerc is a Research Scientist at MITRE, an organization focused on research and development for public interest and national security. He has presented at events such as Quantonation: Physics & Compute, indicating his involvement in advanced physics and computing topics. His work at MITRE likely centers on innovative technologies in these areas.
Manuel Hegelich
CEO, Tau Systems
Manuel Hegelich is a physicist and the CEO of Tau Systems, a company focused on advancing fusion energy technology. With expertise in laser physics and high-energy density science, he has contributed to research in plasma physics and fusion development. Currently, he leads Tau Systems in their efforts to achieve commercial fusion power.
Manish Singh
CEO, MemQ
Manish Singh serves as the CEO of MemQ, a company focused on quantum computing technologies. He leads the organization in developing innovative solutions in this field. Specific details about his background and achievements are not readily available.
