Colorado Quantum Incubator earns BizWest recognition while helping launch the next generation of quantum companies.
“Being named a BizWest Startup to Watch is a tremendous honor, and one that belongs as much to our Colorado quantum ecosystem partners as to us. COQI wouldn’t exist without the hard work that brought this vision to reality. I am excited to lead the COQI team into our next phase as we continue to welcome new members and bring our quantum testbeds online” said Chris Muldrow, COQI executive director.
COQI is a Boulder-based nonprofit public benefit corporation that was launched in 2025 through partnerships led by CU Boulder in collaboration with Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), BioMed Realty, Colorado State University, Stout Street Capital, Elevate Quantum, and Colorado School of Mines. The 12,500-square-foot facility gives early-stage quantum companies dedicated lab space purpose-built for quantum hardware development, specialized equipment, and access to mentorship and industry connections not typically available to startups working in a highly technical, capital-intensive field. It was funded in part by the Colorado Quantum Fund for Shared Facilities, a State of Colorado tax incentive designed to support the growth of the state’s quantum industry and CU Boulder.
“COQI is a critical engine in our state’s quantum leadership, serving as both a launch pad for homegrown innovation and a strategic landing zone for international partners. By providing early-stage companies with the specialized infrastructure and mentorship they need to scale, we’re not just building startups, we’re cementing Colorado’s position as a global epicenter for the quantum revolution and creating thousands of high-skill, good-paying jobs for Coloradans,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT executive director.
Propelling quantum in Boulder
Six months after its ribbon-cutting, COQI welcomed its first member company, Quantum Rings. The member roster has since grown to seven companies, spanning quantum computing, laser systems, sensing, and other quantum technologies. Beyond shared workspace, COQI has built a community for both the quantum-experienced and quantum-curious and offers a regular calendar of community programming, including networking events and speaker series on emerging developments in the field.
“Flari is fortunate to be part of the COQI family. Without COQI, we would have faced significant search costs and setup expenses securing the right lab space. For an optics startup, it’s an incredibly cost-efficient way to establish operations and begin R&D from day one. The COQI team made our transition smooth, and the network effect the community provides has paid off substantially. Starting a deep tech company is never easy, but COQI has made the beginning of that journey a genuinely positive experience,” said Eva Yao, CEO and Founder of Flari Tech.
The incubator has also hosted quantum companies and international delegations interested in Colorado’s quantum industry, using those visits to connect partners and prospective member companies with the infrastructure, talent, and opportunity that reflects Boulder’s 60+ year history as a quantum leader. This reflects COQI’s emerging role as a landing zone for companies from outside Colorado interested in connecting with the state’s quantum ecosystem.
Growing the quantum ecosystem
COQI is one piece of a wider push to grow the Mountain West as a continuing backbone of quantum technology. In 2023, the U.S. Economic Development Administration named Elevate Quantum an official regional tech hub for quantum information; the coalition has since secured more than $120 million to grow the industry statewide. Additional infrastructure is underway nearby, including a $20 million National Quantum Nanofab facility being built on the CU Boulder campus, and a 70-acre shared-use campus in Arvada. The state’s quantum sector currently supports an estimated 3,000 jobs; a figure officials project could exceed 10,000 within a decade.
“Quantum advances have been part of CU Boulder’s identity for decades, and COQI is a natural extension of that legacy,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at CU Boulder. “This recognition reflects the strength of the broader Colorado quantum community that made the incubator possible.”
What’s next
COQI is moving from its founding phase into its next chapter, which unfolds in two parts. The first is expanding member services, deepening the resources, support, and connections offered to the innovators who make up the COQI community. The second is building out open-access quantum technology testbeds through 2027. This includes equipment and facilities designed to give quantum companies a shared space to test, validate, and standardize their early-stage technologies. Together, these two efforts will help quantum companies move ideas from prototype to product, giving them both the community support and the technical infrastructure needed to scale. The BizWest recognition marks an early milestone in that work, and one that COQI see as a reflection of the region’s momentum more than any single institution’s effort.
The Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) is Human Driven, Quantum Powered – the place where quantum innovators come to break through. It is a launch pad and landing zone for the state’s quantum ecosystem, supporting startups, providing open access to advanced equipment and testbeds, and helping quantum companies establish a presence in Colorado. This accelerates real-world research, drives economic development, and keeps Colorado a global leader in quantum technology.
Interested in being part of the quantum incubator? Reach out to info@coqi.org.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.
Cover Image: Representatives of BizWest’s inaugural Startups to Watch class gather outside East & Co. in Boulder. Dallas Heltzell/BizWest