The Quantum Spin

The first podcast focused on PR and marketing communications for the quantum tech industry, by HKA Marcom, specializing in PR for startup, scaling and global quantum tech companies.

The Quantum Spin is a technology podcast hosted by HKA Marketing Communications, with 47 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

HKA Marketing Communications hosts The Quantum Spin, a technology show with 47 episodes published.

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  Episode #47

  Episode 47: Building a Portfolio, Connecting the Ecosystem

  Sep 29, 202627 minS6

  In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA , Veronica Combs speaks with Zeynep Korutürk, founding and managing partner of Firgun Ventures, a fund focused exclusively on funding Series A and B rounds for quantum companies. As an early investor in Cambridge Quantum Computing, which later became Quantinuum, she has seen the evolution of quantum tech from a niche scientific field into a maturing global investment category. She explains how Firgun is building a comprehensive portfolio and what it takes to communicate scientific accomplishments for a business audience. 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:34 Meet Zeynep and Firgun 01:14 Firgun Quantum Strategy 02:13 Sensing and Comms Upside 02:48 Quantinuum Early Bet 04:50 SPACs and Going Public 06:29 Quantum Investing Today 08:57 Government Funding and China 11:32 Portfolio Approach and Modalities 12:18 From Goldman to Quantum VC 15:44 How Firgun Diligences Deals 18:19 Explaining Qubits Clearly 21:29 Quantum Tipping Points 23:31 AI and Quantum Feedback Loop 25:16 What to Watch Next 26:11 Wrap Up and Where to Listen Zeynep Korutürk was Executive Director at Goldman-Sachs for over a decade and brings a similar proven record as a successful Quantum investor, having also acted as an early angel investor into Cambridge Quantum Computing (now Quantinuum). At Goldman Sachs, she has co-founded and steered the company’s Tech Initiative for a decade, meeting with over 1,000 tech founders, acting as an angel investor, board member or advisor. She was a Board Member of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Alumni Board of Directors, from where she holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy. Zeynep is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and a member of Milken Institute’s Young Leaders Circle. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website https://hkamarcom.com/

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  The Quantum Spin

  Episode 46: A VC’s POV: Investing in Quantum

  Aug 25, 202629 min

  Venture investor Russ Fein moved to Colorado for family reasons – landing in the heart of one of America’s biggest quantum ecosystems was an unexpected bonus. This new homebase was the perfect place to pursue his pandemic research project: quantum tech. Russ tracks advances in quantum hardware and software on his Substack newsletter, The Quantum Leap , and guides investment decisions at Corporate Fuel . Russ is also CFO and a board member at Colorado-based Vescent . He spoke with The Quantum Spin about why he likes investing in the “picks and shovels” opportunities in the quantum sector. 00:00 Welcome to Quantum Spin 00:34 Meet Russ Fein 01:08 How Russ Found Quantum 02:46 Inside The Quantum Leap 03:39 How Investors Evaluate Quantum 05:53 Why Vescent Won Him Over 08:58 Vescent Tech Lasers to Clocks 11:16 Investor Misconceptions 13:31 Colorado Quantum Hub 16:55 Policy Funding and Supply Chain 19:14 Benchmarking Quantum Computers 23:10 Pitching Quantum to Investors 26:08 Error Correction to Watch 27:34 Closing and Where to Listen Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website https://hkamarcom.com/

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  The Quantum Spin

  Passion is Key for Communicating Quantum

  Jul 28, 202623 min

  With the growing momentum and investment in the quantum sector, now is the time to tell a clear and compelling story about this powerful technology. That's the advice from HKA Marketing Communications leaders Cierra Lunde, Director, Strategic Content, and Mike Kilroy, Executive Vice President, who explain why the key to success is passion for quantum. In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, Cierra describes her path to quantum tech and the strategies she uses to make quantum computing understandable for everyone. While Cierra has become a world-class communicator in a relatively short period of time, Mike weighs in based on his three decades in tech PR, including the last 7 years of quantum at HKA. 00:00 Welcome to Quantum Spin 00:34 Meet the New Director 01:25 Why Now for Quantum 03:15 Cierra’s Quantum Journey 05:16 Stories the Public Needs 07:08 Humanizing the Science 09:15 Multi Platform Strategy 12:13 GEO and Website Basics 14:48 How HKA Helps Now 16:11 Trends to Watch 18:52 Advice for Quantum Companies 21:49 Wrap Up and Where to Listen Mike Kilroy is the Executive Vice President of HKA Marketing Communications and a veteran PR executive with decades of experience in leading award-winning communications programs for top-tier, mid-sized and emerging technology companies. Mike was instrumental in the agency transitioning to representing the quantum industry back in 2019. He leads the team and oversees the strategic direction and tactical execution for all clients. Cierra Lunde is the Director of Strategic Content at HKA Marketing Communications, a deep tech journalist, a data analyst and a passionate advocate for deep tech. She created The Daily Qubit newsletter and founded Universum Labs, a platform that uses emerging technologies to drive scientific discovery and innovation with open-access tools. Cierra is a founding member of the Quantum and AI Learning and Innovation Alliance. She has carved her own path in science and technology and believes that access to science and discovery is a fundamental right. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website https://hkamarcom.com/

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  The Quantum Spin

  Episode 44: Why Startup Storytelling is a Good Investment

  Jul 7, 202628 min

  How do you make your quantum startup stand out in an industry where every company name starts with the letter Q? One powerful way to do that is to tell the stories of the people building the technology. Christopher Godfree , Commercial Director at Across the Pond , has worked with Ai executives, robotics experts and Google’s Quantum Team to explain how their work will change the world. In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, Christopher and host Veronica Combs discuss how storytelling can derisk deep tech investments and why it’s important to do more than just explain how something works to attract new employees and investment. 00:00 Welcome to Quantum Spin 00:46 Meet Christopher Godfree 01:59 Making Complex Human 03:55 Finding Quantum Use Cases 08:29 Storytelling Grows Business 11:30 Engineers as Story Fuel 13:21 Google Quantum Launch Playbook 16:12 Branding That Stands Out 20:15 Storytelling at Tech Speed 24:45 Culture and Quantum Narratives 26:50 What’s Next and Wrap Up Christopher Godfree is the Commercial Director of Across the Pond , the creative consultancy and studio in one. Based in London, but with teams in San Francisco and Singapore, he works with some of the world's fastest-growing tech businesses, helping them tell more effective stories about their science and technology. He has worked in communications for twenty years, including at a scale up tech business in Tokyo, ad agency JWT London, and the BBC. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website https://hkamarcom.com/

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  Episode #43

  Episode 43: Explain Like I’m Five: Quantum from a Kid’s POV

  Jan 12, 202625 minS5

  <p>Kids ask the best questions: simple, direct and sometimes painfully honest. Science communicator Katia Moskvitch, MPHIL, uses this approach in the podcast she hosts with her young son Kai. The co-hosts of “The Quantum Kid” channel Kai’s curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM into an educational show about quantum tech. Katia also shares her experiences working with IBM, the importance of effective science communication, and plans for her new company, Tesseract Quantum. Katia is also the director of communications at Quantum Machines. </p><p>00:00 Introduction to The Quantum Spin</p><p>00:34 Meet Katia Moskvitch: The Quantum Kid</p><p>00:51 Kai's J...

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