FINALIST outside of Japan

United States

Icosa Computing was founded in June 2022, aiming to solve large scale discrete optimization problems in finance and AI. The startup employs quantum-inspired tools developed in Japan to solve difficult optimization problems that can’t be solved with conventional systems and currently has a trading product which most recently beat internal benchmarks of a $2B hedge fund.

Mert is a physicist working on building products that adapt to the era of quantum technologies. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Stanford University, focusing on physics, computer science, and financial engineering, before moving to University of Oxford to obtain a PhD in quantum computing. With his work experiences at QC Ware and Fidelity Investments (FCAT), Mert realized that quantum science has the potential to create impactful products. Mert started Icosa Computing in June 2023, aiming to solve large scale discrete optimization problems in finance and AI by utilizing quantum-inspired methods.