Early Early Stage #10: Matt Clifford Q&A; Quantum Computing; Quantum Motion
Short, clear weekly insights on startups, tech and venture capital from a young mind
Welcome to the Early Early Stage!
I’m Emir, a 14 year old in London who is into startups, technology, and venture capital. Each week I share one trend, one startup, and a few quick updates, always short, clear, and from my own perspective. Learn a bit more about me here.
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Trend of the Week
Quantum Computing Moves Toward Practical Use
Startups and big tech companies are racing to make quantum computers practical for real-world problems. Companies such as Quantum Motion are developing silicon-based quantum processors that can be scaled up faster and more cheaply than traditional alternatives. Governments and VCs, particularly in the UK, US and EU, are investing heavily in this area.
Why it matters:
Increasingly used in finance and healthcare.
Could accelerate AI, materials research, and complex simulations.
The countries and companies leading this race will shape the future of computing with strategic advantage.
The big question: Can silicon-based quantum computers overcome technical challenges before giants like IBM, Google, and Microsoft dominate the space?
Investor Q&A
I ask investors I admire a few short questions to learn from their precious experiences. Answers are brief and to the point.
This week I asked Matt Clifford, Chair of ARIA, Co-founder & Chairman of Entrepreneur First, the following questions:
1. Who are the best co-investors you’ve worked with?
”We’ve co-invested with many great investors at EF, so it’s hard to pick. Two I’m always excited to see: Charlie Songhurst and Ian Hogarth. Charlie has a huge portfolio and multiple boards (Meta, EF), yet always has time for founders; a 20-min call with him can solve tough problems. Ian has a stellar track record (first round in Anthropic, Helsing) and is extremely “all-in”; every team he funds has stories of him going above and beyond.”
2. Which founder do you wish you had backed earlier?
”Alex Kendall from Wayve stands out. I knew him before Wayve existed and helped a bit early on. I could have invested in the first round, but a VC list of problems put me off. Talent investing matters, Alex was exceptional and solved all issues. Still a painful memory despite other successful investments…”
3. What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned from a founder?
”James Dacombe, founder of CoMind and Flux, constantly surprises me. Smart, determined founders can work from first principles and find facts outside expert consensus. James did this at 17 with CoMind; later with optical computing it was a no-brainer for EF to invest again. Running both companies at once so successfully; if Europe is going to have an Elon Musk, it will be James.”
4. One red flag in a pitch that always makes you pass:
”When the founder makes it all sound too easy. That’s a bad thing, not a good thing! The best founders know that building a company of any scale is hard and building a huge company is incredibly hard. One of the things that separates great founders from the rest is that they see, understand and have a plan for that difficulty. If a founder just wants to wave it away, that’s usually a massive red flag.”
Startup Analysis
Quantum Motion: Building quantum computers on silicon.
Sector: Quantum Computing
Stage: Series B
Funding: £62M (led by Bosch Ventures, with Porsche, Sony Innovation Fund)
Product: Quantum Motion builds quantum computers using silicon chips, like the ones in normal computers. Their machines come with the software to run them and are small enough to fit in standard server racks. They’re currently being tested at the UK National Quantum Computing Centre.
My Take:
Founded as an Oxford and UCL spin-off with a strong academic and technological foundation.
Silicon-based architecture compatible with standard processors, lowering production costs and easing scale-up.
Backed by £50M+ from top investors including Bosch, Porsche, and Sony.
It is still in the early stages, commercialisation and scalability remain risky.
Competes with global quantum leaders like IBM, Google, and Rigetti.
🎯 Verdict: Strong academic founders (Oxford and UCL) + leading investors. The silicon based approach is highly scalable, but the technology is still at an early stage. Success will position the UK as a global quantum competitor.
Sources:
Featured Startups
Startups I find and meet their founders around London. Updated whenever I discover a cool company.
LFG Studio – https://lfgstudio.com/
LFG Studio helps Roblox creators turn ideas into games. They provide $15k+ funding, mentorship, and a top creator community to launch high-quality projects. I recently met the CEO, and it was inspiring to see their hands-on approach.
GlycanAge – https://glycanage.com/
GlycanAge focuses on health and longevity. They measure biological age by looking at glycan patterns, giving people a deeper view into how their body is aging. I met their Chief Product Officer who was one of the first employees.
If you want more info, please email me: emir.edut@gmail.com
From you
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Did You Know?
The first website, created in 1991, is still online today
Till next time,
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About me: https://emirk.carrd.co
emir.edut@gmail.com