Joab Rosenberg, Partner at Deep33

Deep33, a newly launched venture fund led by physicist‑turned‑investor Joab Rosenberg, closed its first $100 million tranche and aims for a $150 million total raise. The fund’s thesis is simple: break the compute bottleneck by backing the next generation of quantum hardware, AI infrastructure, energy and robotics. Rosenberg argues that commercial quantum use‑cases will appear as early as 2027, a timeline far sooner than the typical ten‑year horizon assumed by many VCs. By positioning capital ahead of the curve, Deep33 hopes to capture upside before larger players flood the market.

Hardware dominates Deep33’s near‑term focus, with investments targeting cryogenic control systems, vacuum chambers and other core components that enable full‑stack quantum computers. The firm cites companies like Quantum Machines, which supplies control boxes, and its own portfolio firms—CyberRidge’s physical‑layer post‑quantum encryption and Quamco’s superconducting qubits with integrated cryostat control—as proof points. While software startups remain dependent on hardware roadmaps, Rosenberg expects a wave of new algorithms for chemistry, drug discovery and optimization once logical qubit counts reach 60‑80 and error rates drop below 10⁻⁴. This hardware‑first approach aligns with the belief that algorithmic breakthroughs follow scalable machines.

Geopolitics also shape Deep33’s strategy. Rosenberg warns that as the quantum ecosystem matures, export controls will likely isolate Chinese and Russian players, reinforcing collaboration among Israeli, U.S. and European firms. The fund’s diverse team—combining venture experience, entrepreneurial insight and government liaison expertise—helps navigate non‑dilutive grant programs and cross‑border partnerships. Raising capital in a cautious market required leveraging partners’ track records and deep‑tech credibility. With average initial checks around $5 million and follow‑on rounds scaling to $100‑$250 million, Deep33 positions itself to support startups from prototype to commercial scale, betting on quantum’s imminent impact on compute.