Strangeworks

About Strangeworks

Strangeworks, Inc. is a computing software company headquartered in Austin, Texas, focused on making quantum and other advanced computing technologies accessible. The company was founded in 2017, with a public debut at SXSW in 2018, by serial entrepreneur William Hurley (widely known as whurley) and Justin Youens. Whurley, the current CEO, has a notable background in technology, having previously founded and sold two other startups: creative technology firm Chaotic Moon Studios to Accenture and financial technology company Honest Dollar to Goldman Sachs. His experience at major corporations like Apple and IBM, combined with his entrepreneurial successes, led him to establish Strangeworks to address the complexities of the emerging quantum computing industry.

The core of Strangeworks' business is its cloud-based platform that simplifies access to a wide array of quantum and quantum-inspired computing resources. This platform operates as a hardware-agnostic ecosystem, integrating quantum hardware from various providers, alongside quantum-inspired, high-performance computing, and AI solutions. The business model is diversified, generating revenue through several streams including tiered subscription services for platform access, custom enterprise solutions, consulting, and training programs. This allows the company to serve a broad client base, from individual developers and researchers to large enterprise customers in sectors like finance, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. A key feature is a pay-as-you-go model for compute time, which lowers the barrier to entry for companies exploring quantum applications.

The Strangeworks platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed for developers, researchers, and IT managers. For developers, it offers an all-in-one environment with access to numerous quantum software development kits (SDKs) and languages such as Qiskit, Cirq, and Amazon Braket SDK. The platform facilitates creating, organizing, and collaborating on quantum projects. For enterprise clients, the Strangeworks EQ™ solution delivers features like granular security, IP protection, team management, and custom integrations. The company fosters a collaborative environment through its "Quantum Syndicate," a partnership program that includes hardware and software providers, educational institutions, and government organizations to accelerate innovation. The company has secured significant funding, including a $4 million seed round in 2018 and a $24 million Series A round in 2023, with investors like Hitachi Ventures, IBM, and Raytheon Technologies.