Unitary Fund

Fund advancing quantum technology research and development via grants.

Berkeley, USA
Founded 2018

Company Links

Industries

TechnologyPhysicsEngineering

Funding

Philanthropically Funded

Narrative

The Unitary Fund operates under a philosophy of radical collaboration and open-source principles, fostering a "scenius" within the nascent quantum technology field. Their core methodology revolves around identifying and directly funding promising, yet often overlooked, early-stage research and development projects through grants. This targeted financial support is coupled with a vibrant online community built around shared knowledge, collaborative tooling, and peer review. This allows researchers worldwide to iterate faster and build on each other's work, accelerating the development of practical quantum technologies.

Located within the broader landscape of academic research and venture capital, the Unitary Fund specifically addresses the "valley of death" where promising quantum research struggles to secure funding for crucial development milestones. By prioritizing open-source contributions and fostering a strong sense of collective ownership over the emerging quantum ecosystem, the Fund aims to democratize access to the technology and ensure its responsible development. This approach effectively sidesteps traditional institutional silos and enables a more fluid exchange of ideas, ultimately leading to more rapid and impactful innovation in the field.

Key People

  • Aaron Shaw: Founder & Executive Director. A prominent figure in the effective altruism movement.

  • Linus Lee: Key Member. Significant contributor to the organization's technical and strategic direction. (More specific details on his role are publicly unavailable beyond his association with the Fund).

  • Various other individuals: Key Members/Employees/Grantees. Detailed information on specific roles and biographies for many individuals involved with Unitary Fund is not consistently or publicly available.

Related Entities

  • Funded By: Various individual donors and foundations. Unitary Fund receives funding from a diverse range of sources to support its grantmaking activities.

  • Collaborated With: Numerous open-source projects and organizations. Unitary Fund works with various groups to further its goals of supporting the long-term health of the free and open-source software ecosystem.

  • Influenced By: The broader open-source community and its needs. Unitary Fund's grantmaking priorities are shaped by the evolving needs and challenges within the open-source landscape.

Back to Organizations