A breakthrough in quantum error correction
SpinoutsQuantum computers promise transformative advances in fields such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, material science and transportation. But today’s machines are held back by a fundamental challenge: errors.
Even the best quantum computers can only perform a few hundred operations before failure, limiting their usefulness in real-world applications.
Riverlane’s core product, Deltaflow™, is a quantum error correction (QEC) stack that combines proprietary chips, hardware and software to correct millions of errors per second. Designed to work across all major qubit types, Deltaflow™ enables quantum computers to scale from a few hundred operations to millions and eventually trillions of error-free operations.
Riverlane has built the world’s largest dedicated quantum error correction team with close to a hundred interdisciplinary experts working on its core product Deltaflow™. The company’s technology is already being deployed in national lab environments, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre, where it supports the development of scalable quantum error correction systems.
“We have solved a really important problem in quantum computing: how hardware and software interact whilst teasing the highest possible performance out of a quantum computer. This finally shifts the complexity of designing quantum computer applications from hardware to software.”
Riverlane’s work is accelerating the transition from experimental quantum systems to fault-tolerant, utility-scale machines. By enabling real-time error correction, Deltaflow™ is helping quantum computers move beyond academic use cases and into practical applications. This leap forward is expected to unlock transformative advances in drug discovery, climate modelling and advanced manufacturing.
From Cambridge roots to global leadership in quantum error correction
Founded in 2016 by Dr Steve Brierley, Riverlane spun out from the University of Cambridge to solve one of quantum computing’s biggest challenges: error correction.
Over the years, Riverlane has grown into a global leader in quantum error correction, working with leading quantum hardware companies and government bodies including Rigetti Computing, Alice & Bob, QuEra Computing, Infleqtion and Atlantic Quantum. The company also collaborates with national labs such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre. Riverlane’s roadmap includes reaching one million error-free quantum operations by 2026, known as the MegaQuOp and scaling beyond to support trillions of operations.
Cambridge Enterprise is proud to have supported Riverlane from its earliest stages, helping the company throughout its journey from a research-led spin-out into a commercial success. We invested in Riverlane’s first round in 2019 and participated in subsequent raises through to their Series B in 2023.
Looking ahead in quantum innovation
Following its $75 million Series C raise in 2024, Riverlane is expanding globally to meet surging demand for QEC technology. The company continues to develop new capabilities within Deltaflow™, including streaming quantum memory and ultra-low-latency decoding. With its technology now integrated into real-world quantum systems, Riverlane is well positioned to lead the industry into the era of fault-tolerant quantum computing.
