Duality Q2B Quantum Pitch Contest 2026

The Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit Pitch Competition is organised and sponsored by Duality, a quantum accelerator led by the University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Chicago Quantum Exchange. It is for early-phase startups building quantum technologies or quantum-enabled solutions. The total prize pool is US$150,000, and applications close on 20 November 2026.

The page does not restrict entry by country, so an Indian quantum startup can apply, but finalists pitch live in Chicago. It suits quantum hardware, software, sensing and related companies that are still at pre-seed or seed level. It does not suit mature companies that have raised more than the limit below.

What the program offers

First place wins US$100,000, made up of a US$50,000 SAFE investment from Duality and US$50,000 that is non-dilutive (about ₹47.5 lakh). Second place wins US$50,000, all non-dilutive (about ₹47.5 lakh). Non-dilutive means you give up no ownership for that money. A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is different: it is an investment that converts into shares in your company at a later funding round, so that half of the first prize is not a grant.

Up to ten finalists also get a full three-day Q2B26 conference pass (8 to 10 December 2026), a live pitch to a dedicated jury and the global Q2B26 audience, and exposure to quantum investors, innovators and industry leaders. The source does not say what the money may be spent on, and it does not publish detailed competition terms.

Who can apply

The competition is for early-phase startups developing quantum technologies or quantum-enabled solutions. To qualify, a startup should be at pre-seed or seed level, or have raised less than US$5 million to date. The page gives no limit on country of incorporation, no requirement about founders' nationality and no sector split within quantum.

For an Indian startup this means you can apply if your product is genuinely quantum or quantum-enabled and your funding is within the limit. A practical tip: if your company is registered in India with overseas investors, add up everything raised across all rounds before deciding whether you are under the US$5 million line.

How to apply

Open the competition page on the Duality website and use the application form linked there. The form is run on Submittable. Submit it by 20 November 2026. The page does not list the questions in the form, the length of answers or whether a deck is needed, so open the form early and read all the fields before writing anything.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Duality reviews the applications and selects up to ten finalists by 30 November 2026. The finalists pitch live on 8 December 2026 at the Chicago Marriott Marquis during Q2B26, before a dedicated jury. The jury then picks first and second place. The page does not name the judges or describe the scoring criteria.

About Duality and the sponsors

Duality is a quantum startup accelerator based at the University of Chicago and led by the Polsky Center and the Chicago Quantum Exchange. The competition is sponsored by the Applied Research Institute (ARI), a non-profit that connects innovators, researchers, industry and government around technologies that support national security, and by P33. TechRise supports the competition as part of P33's quantum commercialisation work; TechRise began in 2021 as a livestream pitch competition.

Things to check before you apply

• Finalists must pitch in person in Chicago on 8 December 2026. The page does not say that travel or accommodation is paid, only that finalists get a conference pass.
• The first prize includes a SAFE investment from Duality, so part of it brings an investor into your ownership later. Ask for the SAFE terms before accepting.
• The page does not publish competition terms, so ask Duality for them before you apply, in particular how the prize is paid and in which currency.
• The application deadline has no time zone on the page.
• Check whether any visa you might need for the US can be arranged in time before 8 December.