Investing in the Quantum Frontier and the Road to Fault Tolerance with Barak Bussel

Item: Investing in the Quantum Frontier and the Road to Fault Tolerance with Barak Bussel
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

by The New Quantum Era

Applied Sciences & Engineering Computing & Cybersecurity UYComputer science UYXNatural computing

🎙 The New Quantum Era 👥 314 📅 August 4, 2026 ⏱ 40 min 👁 94 📄 interview 🧭 2026-08-16

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

quantum computingfault toleranceinvestmentShor's algorithmneutral atoms

Summary

In this interview, Barak Bussel, co-founder of 7i Capital and board chair of UCLA’s Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, discusses the current state and future of quantum computing from an investor’s perspective. He explains why 7i invested in Oratomic, a stealth startup aiming for fault tolerance without intermediate products, highlighting the importance of betting on strong teams. Bussel discusses recent advances in error correction and resource estimates for Shor’s algorithm, noting Google’s paper suggesting 500,000 physical qubits and Oratomic’s more aggressive target of 10,000. He also highlights a lesser-known Google paper on quantum-assisted memory reduction for AI, which could address energy and memory scaling issues. Bussel emphasizes the need for patient capital in deep tech, sharing examples of unexpected engineering challenges. He discusses the role of academia and industry collaboration, citing the Bell Labs model and UCLA’s new research park. The conversation also covers Kedma’s error mitigation work with IBM and RIKEN, and the implications of recent White House executive orders on quantum innovation and post-quantum cryptography.

168 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The interview provides valuable insights into how a serious investor evaluates quantum computing opportunities, emphasizing team quality over specific technical theses. Bussel’s arguments are coherent and grounded in his experience, but they are largely opinion-based and forward-looking. He effectively communicates the importance of patience and the challenges of deep tech, but does not provide detailed technical justifications for his claims. The discussion of recent papers and investments adds credibility, but the lack of independent verification limits the strength of the argumentation.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The conversation references several specific sources, including the Oratomic Series A round, Google Quantum AI papers, and White House executive orders. These are credible and relevant, but the discussion is primarily based on the guest’s personal perspective rather than a systematic review. The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on investment and fault tolerance. No comments were provided for analysis.

156 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on investment strategies in quantum computing and the path to fault tolerance.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The conversation features an experienced investor and physicist, providing informed perspectives on recent quantum computing developments. Claims are supported by references to specific papers, investments, and policy actions. However, the discussion is largely opinion-based and forward-looking, with limited technical depth and no independent verification of the claims.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

7i Capital — Barak Bussel's deep tech venture firm.
UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (CQSE) — The center Barak chairs.
Barak Bussel bio — UCLA CQSE Strategic Board — Official page covering Barak's role.
Barak Bussel on LinkedIn — Where Barak has publicly flagged the Oratomic investment and executive orders.
Oratomic raises $300M Series A — The Quantum Insider — Confirms 7i Capital in the syndicate.
Oratomic Series A deep dive — Quantum Computing Report — Technical breakdown of the architecture and syndicate.
Oratomic's 'no intermediate product' strategy — MLQ.ai — Analysis of Oratomic's strategy.
QEDMA raises $26M Series A — Quantum Zeitgeist — 7i portfolio company Kedma's error mitigation round.
White House EO: 'Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation' — One of the two executive orders discussed.
Sidley Austin analysis of the June 2026 quantum EOs — Legal explainer covering both executive orders.

Concurring Sources

Oratomic raises $300M Series A — The Quantum Insider — Confirms the investment and syndicate.
White House EO: 'Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation' — Official source for the executive order.

Contribution & Novelties

The interview provides a unique investor perspective on the quantum computing landscape, particularly the rationale behind Oratomic’s aggressive strategy and the importance of team over thesis. It also highlights a lesser-known Google paper on quantum-assisted memory reduction, which could have significant implications for AI scalability. The discussion of the Bell Labs model for the UCLA research park offers a novel approach to fostering quantum innovation.

Pour aller plus loin :

Quantum error correction — Essential for understanding fault tolerance.
Shor’s algorithm — The algorithm central to the discussion.
Neutral-atom quantum computers — The technology behind Oratomic.
Post-quantum cryptography — Relevant to the executive orders.

104 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity and quality, reflecting the depth of the discussion. The technical level is moderate, suitable for a general audience. The overall reliability is strong, supported by references to credible sources, though the content is primarily opinion-based.

Reliability 7/10