Finnish entrepreneur Peter Sarlin is not waiting for quantum computing to become mainstream. Just eighteen months after selling his previous startup to chipmaker AMD for $665 million, Sarlin has stepped down as CEO of the unit now known as AMD Silo AI and launched two new ventures. One of them, QuTwo, is an AI startup with a bold mission: helping enterprises prepare for the quantum computing era — starting right now.
From AMD Exit to Quantum Ambitions
Sarlin is now chairman at both QuTwo and NestAI, a physical AI lab. QuTwo is currently fully funded by Sarlin's family office, PostScriptum, and describes itself as an AI lab for the quantum era.
Rather than building quantum hardware or waiting for the technology to mature, QuTwo is taking a pragmatic approach. The startup is building QuTwo OS, an orchestration layer that allows companies to shift from classical to quantum computing, making use of hybrid computing along the way. The idea is that enterprises should not have to worry about the underlying hardware — QuTwo OS handles the routing while businesses focus on solving their actual problems.
The Efficiency Wall
QuTwo is built on the premise that AI is hitting an efficiency wall that quantum computing may eventually help solve. As AI models grow larger and more complex, the computational demands on classical hardware continue to increase, driving up energy consumption and costs. Quantum computing promises a way through this bottleneck, but the technology is still years away from widespread commercial readiness.
This is where the concept of quantum-inspired computing becomes relevant. This middle-ground approach is already viable today because it uses classical hardware while simulating quantum behavior, working around the hurdles that still hinder quantum hardware. QuTwo OS is designed to be flexible, supporting both quantum and non-quantum algorithms and chips, meaning it can deliver value now while being ready for the quantum future.
Enterprise Customers From Day One
Unlike many quantum-focused startups that remain in the research phase, QuTwo is already commercially active. The company is working with European fashion retailer Zalando to develop what both companies call "lifestyle agents" — AI tools designed to go beyond product search and proactively suggest products and experiences.
QuTwo has also launched a joint quantum AI research initiative with OP Pohjola, a major Finnish financial services provider. These partnerships signal that the startup is attracting interest from large enterprises across different industries.
Sarlin noted that the company already has large design partnerships valued in the tens of millions. These co-development arrangements allow QuTwo to build its product alongside enterprise customers, learning what they need in real time. For the enterprises involved, it is a strategic bet — an opportunity to establish early footing if and when quantum computing does arrive at scale.
A Team Spanning Two Worlds
QuTwo's team brings experience from both sides of the quantum-AI divide. On the quantum side, the team includes IQM cofounder Kuan Yen Tan and board member Antti Vasara, who also chairs SemiQon, a Finnish semiconductor startup focused on quantum chips.
The enterprise side is represented by Sarlin himself and Kaj-Mikael Björk, one of his former cofounders at Silo AI. Pekka Lundmark, the former CEO of Nokia, has also joined QuTwo's board. With more than 30 quantum and AI scientists on staff, the company has assembled a formidable team that bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and practical enterprise deployment.
An AI Company at Heart
Despite all the quantum talk, Sarlin is clear about the company's identity. He stated that while QuTwo is building for the quantum world, it is fundamentally an AI company focused on pushing AI workloads from classical to quantum computing.
This distinction matters. QuTwo is not asking enterprises to take a leap of faith on unproven quantum hardware. Instead, it is offering a practical path: start with AI-driven solutions on classical and quantum-inspired systems today, and seamlessly transition to full quantum computing as the technology matures.
Sarlin has also invested in Finnish quantum companies IQM and QMill through PostScriptum, reflecting his deep conviction that quantum computing will eventually transform a wide range of industries. With QuTwo, he is making sure enterprises will be ready when that moment arrives.
