Government · 5 deals
Every published round DARPA took part in, and every parcel of existing shares it bought off another holder. Deals we hold but haven't published yet are not counted.
| Company | Stage | Announced | Amount | Role | Alongside | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diraq | Grant | 8 Oct 2026 | $73m | Lead | This Week in Australian Startups, Startup Daily, Forbes Australia (Thu 8 Oct 2026), Forbes Australia (Thu 8 Oct 2026) | |
| PsiQuantum | Grant | 24 Jul 2026 | $179.2m | Lead | Forbes Australia (Thu 8 Oct 2026), Forbes Australia (Thu 8 Oct 2026) | |
| Q-CTRL | Grant | 28 Aug 2025 | $38m | Lead | Defence Connect, Startup Daily | |
| Silicon Quantum Computing | Accelerator | 2025 | - | Lead | SmartCompany | |
| Diraq | Accelerator | 2025 | - | Lead | Forbes Australia |
Companies DARPA has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PsiQuantum | 24 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Q-CTRL | 28 Aug 2025, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Silicon Quantum Computing | 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Diraq | 2025, Accelerator | 2 | 2 |
Fund closes reported for DARPA, as distinct from the investments it has made.
Companies DARPA has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal DARPA did.
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Dr John Franklin | Physicist (former) | @AuManufacturing |
| Micah Stoutimore | Program MD | Startup Daily |
Stories naming DARPA. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Weekly digest: Firmus withdraws its planned listing, Square Peg reaches a billion-dollar close on two vehicles, MUFG clears regulators to buy Grow Inc, and Lubdub, RocketDNA, Energy Bay and Metal all raise.
Sydney quantum startup Diraq has received an initial US$51 million from DARPA after reaching the final stage of its quantum benchmarking program, with more funding possible; the National Reconstruction Fund earlier invested $20m.
Also Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·This Week in Australian Startups
Sydney quantum company Diraq has reached the last stage of a US defence quantum program, securing US$51 million with more possible, alongside mentions of PsiQuantum, IonQ and Quantinuum milestones.
Also Forbes Australia
Defence tech firm Q-CTRL reports a first-at-sea trial navigating a vessel with no satellite positioning, using a quantum gravity sensor hardened by software, reaching nautical-mile accuracy and extending its navigation product line.
Quantum chip venture Diraq has struck a US$38m deal with America's Commerce Department to build out its supply chain there, much of it becoming equity; Australia's NRF backed it with $20m in February.
A Sydney quantum chipmaker says its new processor keeps improving in accuracy as more qubits are added, a milestone published in Nature, with DARPA benchmarking progress and systems used by Telstra and Australian Defence.
Q-CTRL has won $38 million of DARPA defence contracts to build GPS-independent quantum navigation technology, working alongside Lockheed Martin on jam-proof sensors.
Also Defence Connect
Weekly roundup detailing new capital for Australian startups Diraq, BrainFish, RecycleSmart, Cohabit and Five Faces, alongside Alumly's undisclosed multimillion-dollar backing from UK investor Mauve Group.
Also Startup Daily
PsiQuantum will build a second quantum computer in Chicago with US$500m in tax incentives, after Australian and Queensland government equity in April. Forbes Australia's 30 Under 30 nominations are open.
Also Startup Daily
Analysis of the technological singularity concept, covering brain-computer interface work by Neuralink and Synchron, expert predictions about artificial general intelligence, and worries over unregulated AI. Republished from The Conversation.
Analysis of Australia's low robot uptake, the launch of CSIRO's Robotics Innovation Centre in Queensland, Emesent's recent capital raise, and the need for more local robotics startups.