SandboxAQ, a trailblazing player at the intersection of quantum technology and artificial intelligence, has closed a $150 million funding round with investments from some of the world’s most influential companies. Google, Nvidia, BNP Paribas, and other strategic backers joined this round, reinforcing SandboxAQ’s growing influence in the tech landscape. This new capital injection will help the company expand its product offerings, accelerate research and development, and scale its workforce globally.
With this round, SandboxAQ’s total funding has reached approximately $950 million, placing it among the most well-capitalized startups operating in the quantum-AI convergence space.
From Alphabet Spin-off to Industry Leader
SandboxAQ began its journey as a moonshot project within Alphabet Inc. Before officially spinning out in 2022, the company incubated within Alphabet’s “Other Bets” division. Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, played a crucial role in launching SandboxAQ as a standalone entity and continues to serve as chairman.
From day one, SandboxAQ focused on merging AI capabilities with quantum technologies to solve critical challenges in cybersecurity, drug discovery, and advanced materials science. The company operates at the bleeding edge of science, targeting problems that classical computing alone cannot handle efficiently.
Instead of remaining a theoretical project, SandboxAQ hit the ground running. It rapidly built real-world applications, recruited top-tier scientific minds, and formed partnerships with both private enterprises and government agencies. Its practical, execution-driven approach drew interest from investors looking for the next disruptive wave in technology.
Why Investors Are Betting Big
Tech giants don’t casually throw hundreds of millions into startups. SandboxAQ earned that trust by delivering results and proving its relevance across multiple industries.
Nvidia’s participation signals how deeply AI and quantum have started to merge. Nvidia, the global leader in GPUs and AI computing infrastructure, sees SandboxAQ as a key partner in exploring post-Moore’s Law computing. By leveraging Nvidia’s hardware and AI platforms, SandboxAQ aims to create faster, more efficient quantum simulations and machine learning applications.
Google’s reentry into SandboxAQ’s cap table shows strong confidence from its original parent. Even after the spin-out, Google remains deeply invested—both strategically and financially. Google Cloud could serve as a distribution channel for SandboxAQ’s software, expanding access to quantum-powered AI tools.
BNP Paribas joined the round to gain early access to SandboxAQ’s quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions. As quantum computers become more powerful, traditional encryption will no longer hold. SandboxAQ helps financial institutions like BNP Paribas prepare for the “quantum apocalypse”—a time when current cryptographic standards no longer protect sensitive data.
What SandboxAQ Actually Builds
SandboxAQ’s products fall into three core categories:
- Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): The company helps enterprises prepare for quantum threats by replacing vulnerable encryption algorithms with quantum-resistant ones. SandboxAQ already works with several Fortune 100 companies, ensuring data integrity in a future dominated by quantum computing.
- Quantum Simulation for Drug Discovery and Materials Science: SandboxAQ develops simulation platforms that use quantum algorithms to predict molecular behavior. Pharmaceutical companies use these tools to speed up drug development, while manufacturers apply them to design new materials with specific properties.
- AI-Enhanced Sensing and Navigation: In sectors where GPS is unreliable—like undersea exploration or space missions—SandboxAQ provides AI-powered quantum sensors that deliver highly accurate location and motion tracking.
Unlike many startups in this space, SandboxAQ doesn’t promise quantum computers tomorrow. Instead, it delivers hybrid solutions that provide value today while laying the foundation for fully quantum systems in the future.
Strong Commercial Traction
SandboxAQ doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The company has already secured contracts with the U.S. Air Force, Department of Health and Human Services, and several large pharmaceutical firms. These real-world deployments demonstrate SandboxAQ’s commercial readiness.
In the healthcare space, SandboxAQ collaborates with biotech firms to accelerate the identification of potential drug molecules. Their quantum-enhanced models reduce the time it takes to simulate protein-ligand interactions—a critical step in drug development.
In finance, SandboxAQ audits and upgrades encryption infrastructures for banks and insurance firms, ensuring regulatory compliance and futureproof security. With global cybersecurity threats rising, enterprises demand solutions that extend beyond traditional algorithms. SandboxAQ delivers those solutions now.
The company also sells to governments that seek national defense capabilities not reliant on foreign GPS networks. Its AI-enhanced quantum sensors enable aircraft and submarines to navigate independently, even when communication systems fail.
A Vision for the Quantum-AI Future
Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, laid out the company’s vision in clear terms: “We combine the power of AI with quantum tech to solve humanity’s hardest challenges. This isn’t science fiction—it’s science now.”
Hidary believes AI alone cannot solve the next generation of complex problems. Quantum technology will fill the gaps, especially in chemistry, physics, and secure communications. But the real magic happens when AI and quantum tools work in tandem. That’s where SandboxAQ thrives.
The company doesn’t view itself as a quantum hardware builder. Instead, it positions itself as the software layer—the “brains” of the quantum-AI revolution. While companies like IBM, IonQ, and Rigetti focus on hardware, SandboxAQ builds algorithms, platforms, and interfaces that extract value from quantum systems.
Workforce and Expansion Plans
With fresh funding in hand, SandboxAQ plans to scale its operations aggressively. The company wants to double its workforce over the next 12 months, hiring top talent in quantum computing, software engineering, cryptography, and data science. The startup already employs over 200 researchers and engineers across offices in Palo Alto, Washington D.C., New York, London, and Tokyo.
SandboxAQ also plans to expand its enterprise sales and customer success teams. As more companies demand quantum-safe tools, SandboxAQ wants boots on the ground in major business hubs. The company will open new offices in Frankfurt, Singapore, and Tel Aviv later this year to support global clients.
Hidary emphasized the importance of culture during expansion. “We hire people who love science, but also understand the urgency of enterprise impact. We’re not an academic lab. We build tools that companies use today.”
Industry Implications
SandboxAQ’s $150 million raise sends a clear message to the tech world: the age of quantum-AI integration has arrived. For years, quantum computing remained confined to labs and PowerPoint decks. Now, companies like SandboxAQ are pushing real solutions into boardrooms, hospitals, factories, and government agencies.
This funding round will fuel competition in the quantum software space. Other startups such as Zapata Computing, Classiq, and QC Ware will need to accelerate their own development and go-to-market strategies to keep up.
Meanwhile, enterprise CIOs must begin planning for a hybrid future. Classical IT stacks won’t disappear, but they’ll increasingly include AI-quantum modules that demand new skills and architectures. Companies that ignore this shift risk falling behind.
Final Thoughts
SandboxAQ didn’t raise $150 million because of hype. It raised that amount because it delivers results—and the world now recognizes the potential of quantum-AI solutions. By targeting pressing issues like cybersecurity, drug development, and navigation, the company ensures its products have immediate relevance.
As governments and corporations race to build quantum resilience, SandboxAQ stands out not just as a visionary—but as a builder. With heavyweight investors, proven products, and a clear mission, the company has secured its place at the frontier of technological progress.
SandboxAQ doesn’t just predict the future. It builds it.