Zapata Quantum Joins IBM Quantum Network to Build Quantum Applications
Zapata Quantum, a Boston quantum software company, has joined the IBM Quantum Network, it announced on Tuesday. It will leverage IBM’s machines to develop practical applications for its clients.
Zapata doesn't manufacture quantum hardware; instead, it assists organizations in identifying problems suitable for quantum computers and creates the corresponding software. The company claims that hardware advancement is outpacing software development.
“The rapid progress IBM is making on the path to fault-tolerant quantum computing brings the quantum application gap into sharper focus,” said Sumit Kapur, Zapata’s CEO.
IBM aims to deliver its first fault-tolerant quantum computer, capable of error correction, by 2029. Jonny Olson, Zapata’s co-founder and vice-president of strategy, highlighted the appeal of IBM’s superconducting machines for customers due to their speed:
“Joining the IBM Quantum Network lets us better identify valuable opportunities for organizations that need the fastest systems, and then prepare those organizations for the precise moment that quantum gives them real ROI,” said Olson.
The collaboration builds on a previous partnership. In a 2025 Nature Biotechnology study, Zapata utilized IBM hardware to discover potential drug candidates targeting KRAS, a protein linked to various cancers. Scientists from both companies also co-authored a paper on using a quantum chip for number factoring.
Zapata’s new initiative, Quantum Pilot, is a tool aiding firms in selecting and implementing projects. It is designed to run on hardware from any manufacturer.
The announcement comes a year after Zapata’s comeback, following a bankruptcy restructuring in September 2025. The company now trades on the OTCQB market in the US.
Ana-Maria Stanciuc, Editor-in-Chief at TNW, contributed to this article.