The Post-Quantum World The Fall and Rise of a Quantum Company Boosting Algorithmic Development – with Sumit Kapur of Zapata Quantum
Mar 18, 2026
32:13
Zapata’s back! A tough stretch including a difficult SPAC deal, a brief move into AI, and a $20 million debt forced the company to shut down in 2024. But in this episode, Sumit Kapur, CEO of Zapata Quantum, talks with host Konstantinos Karagiannis about how the company made a remarkable comeback. They discuss the intense restructuring, the strong support from the quantum computing industry, and how Zapata’s seven years of intellectual property proved too valuable to give up.
The conversation goes into the prospects of quantum utility, focusing on Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR)—a universal translator that abstracts the immense complexity of hybrid computing. Sumit explains why the industry is entering a critical arms race for application intelligence and why even skeptics are now predicting that milestones like Shor’s algorithm could be achieved far sooner than previously imagined. From collaborating with DARPA on quantum benchmarking to finding the company’s new north star in a post-SPAC world, this episode showcases resilience plus a forward-looking roadmap for the next decade of quantum edge.
For more information on Zapata Quantum, visit https://zapataquantum.com/.
Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/US-en/technology-consulting/quantum-computing-services to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.
Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on all socials: @KonstantHacker
Questions and comments are welcome!
Theme song by David Schwartz, copyright 2021.
The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by, Protiviti Inc., The Post-Quantum World, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders, or subsidiaries. None of the content should be considered investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Protiviti Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, including minorities, females, people with disabilities, and veterans.
The conversation goes into the prospects of quantum utility, focusing on Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR)—a universal translator that abstracts the immense complexity of hybrid computing. Sumit explains why the industry is entering a critical arms race for application intelligence and why even skeptics are now predicting that milestones like Shor’s algorithm could be achieved far sooner than previously imagined. From collaborating with DARPA on quantum benchmarking to finding the company’s new north star in a post-SPAC world, this episode showcases resilience plus a forward-looking roadmap for the next decade of quantum edge.
For more information on Zapata Quantum, visit https://zapataquantum.com/.
Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/US-en/technology-consulting/quantum-computing-services to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.
Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on all socials: @KonstantHacker
Questions and comments are welcome!
Theme song by David Schwartz, copyright 2021.
The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by, Protiviti Inc., The Post-Quantum World, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders, or subsidiaries. None of the content should be considered investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Protiviti Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, including minorities, females, people with disabilities, and veterans.