Rigetti Computing
An American quantum-computing company developing superconducting quantum processors, integrated systems, and cloud-accessible quantum software.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Rigetti Computing, Inc. is an American quantum-computing company based in Berkeley, California. Founded in 2013 by physicist Chad Rigetti, the company develops superconducting quantum integrated circuits and combines them with control electronics, cryogenic infrastructure, software, and cloud services. Its full-stack approach is intended to give the company control over important parts of the quantum-computing system, from chip design and fabrication through to programming interfaces and access for users. The company emerged from the research and startup ecosystem surrounding superconducting quantum computing. Chad Rigetti had previously worked on quantum-computing research at IBM and studied under physicist Michel Devoret. Rigetti obtained early backing from Y Combinator in 2014 and also participated in the Alchemist Accelerator. These early affiliations helped position the company among a group of venture-backed firms attempting to commercialize quantum hardware rather than limiting their activities to academic research or software development. Rigetti began fabricating and testing its own processors relatively early. In 2016 it produced a three-qubit processor based on aluminum circuits fabricated on a silicon wafer. It subsequently raised venture funding and expanded its hardware program, reaching testing of eight-qubit systems by the spring of 2017. During the same period, the company introduced Forest, a cloud-oriented quantum-development platform. Forest was designed to let programmers write and test quantum algorithms using Rigetti processors or simulators. Its software stack included Quil, a quantum instruction language supporting hybrid quantum-classical workflows, together with open-source Python tools. The company's hardware strategy has centered on superconducting qubits, which operate at extremely low temperatures and require specialized microwave control and cooling systems. Rigetti has described itself as a full-stack provider because it designs processors, fabricates experimental circuits, integrates chips into larger computing systems, and develops software through which outside users can access those systems. Fab-1, its rapid-prototyping fabrication facility in Fremont, California, supports experimental integrated-circuit designs and research into three-dimensional integration and related hardware architectures. Rigetti announced in 2021 that it intended to become a publicly traded company through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company. The transaction closed on March 2, 2022, after which Rigetti began trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol RGTI. In December 2022, Subodh Kulkarni became president and chief executive officer. The company continued to pursue larger superconducting processors, announcing an 84-qubit single-chip processor in July 2023 and presenting it as a platform that could support further scaling. Rigetti's business scope includes quantum processors, quantum-computing systems, cloud access, programming tools, fabrication capabilities, and related research and engineering services. Its commercial proposition is aimed at organizations that want to experiment with quantum algorithms, develop applications, or evaluate quantum hardware without building cryogenic and control infrastructure themselves. The company has received recognition from technology and innovation organizations, including recognition in 2016 by Peter Diamandis and inclusion in MIT Technology Review's 2017 list of highly innovative companies. Rigetti remains an emerging technology company operating in a technically uncertain and highly competitive field. Its principal challenge is to improve processor scale, reliability, error performance, manufacturing consistency, and system-level usefulness while controlling the costs of fabrication and cryogenic operation. The company competes and collaborates within a broader ecosystem that includes large technology companies, specialist quantum-computing firms, universities, government programs, and cloud providers.
History
Rigetti Computing was founded in 2013 by Chad Rigetti, a physicist whose background included quantum-computing research at IBM and study under Michel Devoret. The company was established during a period when superconducting-qubit research was moving from university and government laboratories toward commercial development. Rather than focusing solely on software or providing access to another company's processors, Rigetti pursued a vertically integrated model covering chip design, fabrication, system integration, and programming tools. In 2014, Rigetti received support from Y Combinator, which selected it as a so-called spaceshot company, and later participated in the Alchemist Accelerator. These programs provided early financing and exposure while the company developed its technical and commercial plans. Rigetti's initial work concentrated on superconducting circuits fabricated on silicon substrates. By February 2016, it had produced a three-qubit processor using aluminum circuitry. This early processor represented an important engineering step, although it was still far from the scale and error performance required for broad commercial quantum advantage. Rigetti raised a Series A round of $24 million in 2016 led by Andreessen Horowitz. Later that year, it secured a Series B round of $40 million led by Vy Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator, and other investors. These financings supported continued processor development, fabrication work, cryogenic systems, and the construction of a broader software and cloud-access platform. By the spring of 2017, Rigetti was testing eight-qubit quantum computers. Software became an important part of the company's early offering. In June 2017, Rigetti announced Forest 1.0, a platform intended to let developers write and execute quantum algorithms. Forest used Quil, a custom quantum instruction language designed to support hybrid quantum-classical computing, as well as open-source Python tools. Users could work with simulators and access Rigetti hardware through the cloud. At one stage, the platform supported simulation of a 36-qubit quantum chip. This approach allowed researchers and developers to experiment without directly operating dilution refrigerators, microwave-control equipment, and other specialized infrastructure. Rigetti also developed Fab-1, a rapid-prototyping fabrication facility in Fremont, California. The facility was intended to shorten the cycle between circuit design and experimental testing. Its work included experimental three-dimensional integrated quantum-circuit designs and other hardware approaches aimed at improving scaling, packaging, and system integration. The company's Berkeley headquarters hosted development systems and cooling equipment, while the Fremont facility supported fabrication and prototyping. In October 2021, Rigetti announced plans to become a public company through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company. The proposed transaction was presented as a way to finance accelerated growth and expand the company's processor roadmap. The transaction closed on March 2, 2022, and Rigetti shares began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker RGTI. Public-company status increased the company's access to capital markets but also exposed it to the volatility and disclosure requirements associated with an early-stage technology business. Subodh Kulkarni became president and chief executive officer in December 2022. Under his leadership, Rigetti continued developing superconducting processor generations and larger integrated systems. In July 2023, the company announced an 84-qubit single-chip processor, describing it as a platform with potential to scale to larger systems. The significance of such processors depends not only on qubit count but also on connectivity, gate fidelity, calibration stability, error rates, manufacturing yield, and the ability to operate the chip as part of a reliable complete system. Rigetti's historical development reflects the broader evolution of the quantum-computing industry: early laboratory-scale chips, venture-backed commercialization, cloud access for external developers, public-market financing, and continuing attempts to achieve useful scale. Its principal technical and business risks include the difficulty of manufacturing uniform superconducting circuits, maintaining quantum coherence, integrating control and readout electronics, operating cryogenic systems efficiently, and translating experimental processor improvements into customer value. The company operates alongside major technology firms, specialist quantum-computing companies, academic groups, and government-funded programs.
- 2023
84-qubit processor announced
[1]Rigetti announces an 84-qubit single-chip superconducting processor.
- 2022
Nasdaq listing begins
[1]The SPAC transaction closes on March 2, and Rigetti begins trading under RGTI.
- 2022
Subodh Kulkarni becomes CEO
[1]Subodh Kulkarni becomes president and chief executive officer in December.
- 2021
Public-listing plan announced
[1]Rigetti announces its intention to enter the public markets through a SPAC merger.
- 2017
Forest 1.0 is released
[1]Rigetti launches Forest 1.0, a platform for developing and executing quantum algorithms through simulators and cloud-connected hardware.
- 2017
Eight-qubit systems enter testing
[1]Rigetti advances its hardware program to testing eight-qubit quantum computers.
- 2016
First three-qubit processor
[1]The company creates a three-qubit processor using aluminum circuits on a silicon wafer.
- 2016
Series A and Series B financing
[1]Rigetti raises venture funding in rounds led by Andreessen Horowitz and Vy Capital to support quantum-hardware and platform development.
- 2014
Early accelerator support
[1]Rigetti receives support from Y Combinator and participates in the Alchemist Accelerator.
- 2013
Rigetti Computing is founded
[1]Chad Rigetti establishes the company to develop superconducting quantum processors and related computing systems.
Products and positioning
A full-stack quantum-computing company focused on superconducting-qubit hardware, vertically integrated system development, and cloud-accessible experimentation.
Superconducting quantum processors
Aspen-series quantum processors
The Aspen family represents Rigetti's line of superconducting quantum processors. These processors use superconducting qubits fabricated as integrated circuits and are intended to operate within cryogenic quantum-computing systems. The product family reflects the company's effort to increase processor scale while improving control, connectivity, calibration, and system reliability. Specific capabilities vary by generation, and qubit count alone does not fully describe processor performance.
Quantum processor · 2023
84-qubit single-chip processor
Announced in July 2023, this single-chip processor was presented as an 84-qubit superconducting design. Rigetti described it as a foundation for scaling to larger systems. Its practical value depends on factors including gate fidelity, coherence, connectivity, error rates, calibration stability, fabrication yield, and integration with control and cryogenic equipment.
Quantum cloud-computing platform · 2017
Forest
Forest is Rigetti's quantum-development and cloud-access platform. It was designed to let programmers create, test, and execute quantum algorithms using simulators and Rigetti quantum processors. The platform supports hybrid quantum-classical workflows and was associated with Quil and Python-based development tools. By abstracting much of the underlying hardware operation, Forest allows users to experiment without directly managing cryogenic equipment and quantum-control infrastructure.
Quantum programming language · 2017
Quil
Quil is Rigetti's quantum instruction language, developed for expressing quantum programs and supporting hybrid quantum-classical computation. It formed a core part of the Forest software environment and was accompanied by open-source Python tools. Quil was intended to provide developers with a programming interface for quantum algorithms while allowing classical software and quantum-processing operations to work together.
Quantum-chip fabrication facility
Fab-1
Fab-1 is Rigetti's rapid-prototyping fabrication facility in Fremont, California. It supports the design and production of experimental integrated circuits for quantum hardware, including research into three-dimensional integrated quantum circuits and related packaging approaches. The facility is part of Rigetti's full-stack strategy, allowing the company to iterate on chip designs and hardware architectures without relying entirely on external fabrication resources.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Forest developer-access initiative
International developer and research communities
Rigetti introduced Forest 1.0 to encourage developers and researchers to build quantum algorithms using its programming tools, simulators, and cloud-connected processors.
Outcome. Established a software and cloud-access component alongside Rigetti's hardware program.
Brand decisions
2023
Advance to an 84-qubit single-chip processorGeneration changeBackground
The company sought to increase the scale of its superconducting quantum processors while retaining an integrated-chip approach.
Action taken
Rigetti announced an 84-qubit single-chip processor intended to support further scaling.
Aftermath
The announcement marked a further hardware-generation step, although processor utility also depends on performance and system-level metrics beyond qubit count.
2021
Pursue a public listing through a SPAC mergerM&ABackground
Rigetti sought additional capital and a public-market structure to accelerate quantum-processor and system development.
Action taken
The company announced a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in March 2022, and Rigetti became a Nasdaq-listed company under RGTI.
Proposed transaction valuation. Approximately $1.5 billion estimated valuation in the announced transaction (October 2021 announcement; estimate rather than a current valuation)
2017
Launch Forest 1.0Product launchBackground
External developers needed ways to experiment with quantum algorithms without directly operating specialized quantum hardware.
Action taken
Rigetti released Forest 1.0 with Quil, Python tools, simulators, and access to quantum processors.
Aftermath
The platform extended Rigetti's offering beyond processors and made software development a visible part of its commercial model.
2013
Adopt a full-stack quantum-computing strategyStrategyBackground
Rigetti entered the market as a hardware-focused quantum-computing startup during an emerging commercialization phase.
Action taken
The company pursued processor design and fabrication together with system integration, software, cloud access, and supporting infrastructure.
Aftermath
This approach became the central basis of Rigetti's product and technology positioning.
Recent events
- 2026
Rigetti is identified for planned CHIPS and Science Act support[1]
Regulation
Reference material states that Rigetti is expected to receive up to $100 million in planned support for work on next-generation superconducting quantum-computing technologies, including readout electronics and cryostat architectures.
- 2025
Rigetti reportedly discusses potential federal quantum-computing funding[1]
Regulation · Other
Reports said Rigetti was among quantum-computing companies involved in discussions with the Trump administration concerning possible federal support in exchange for equity interests.
- 2023
Rigetti launches an 84-qubit single-chip processor[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Rigetti announced a single-chip 84-qubit processor and presented it as a basis for scaling to larger superconducting quantum systems.
- 2022
Rigetti begins trading on Nasdaq[1]
M&A
The SPAC transaction closed on March 2, 2022, and Rigetti began trading publicly under the ticker RGTI.
- 2022
Subodh Kulkarni becomes Rigetti president and CEO[1]
Leadership change
Subodh Kulkarni assumed the roles of president and chief executive officer in December 2022.
- 2021
Rigetti announces plans to go public through a SPAC merger[1]
M&A
Rigetti announced a proposed business combination with a special-purpose acquisition company as part of its plan to enter the public markets.
- 2017
Rigetti announces the Forest 1.0 quantum platform[1]
Product launch
Forest 1.0 gave developers tools for creating and testing quantum algorithms through Rigetti's software and cloud-access model.
- 2016
Rigetti produces a three-qubit quantum processor[1]
Product generation
Rigetti created an early three-qubit processor using aluminum circuits fabricated on a silicon wafer.
- 2014
Rigetti receives early startup backing from Y Combinator[1]
Other
Rigetti Computing joined Y Combinator as a quantum-computing startup, receiving early support as it developed its commercial hardware and software program.
- 2014
Rigetti participates in the Alchemist Accelerator[1]
Other
The company took part in the Alchemist Accelerator, adding another early-stage financing and startup-development connection.
Sources2 sources
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