NVIDIA backs Molten Ventures VCT portfolio holding: quantum computing company Riverlane
At a London event this October, chief executive Jensen Huang announced NVIDIA’s planned investment in five UK startups.
Molten Ventures VCT’s largest portfolio holding, Riverlane, was one of them.
Riverlane is a Cambridge-based quantum error correction (QEC) software company already working with NVIDIA to explore how AI and accelerated computing could make quantum error correction faster and more effective.
Molten first invested £2.7 million in Riverlane in April 2023 – a position now valued at c.£12 million (March 2026). Past performance is not a guide to the future.
In the global race to make quantum computing commercially viable, what is NVIDIA’s strategic interest in Riverlane and how are they collaborating? Why did Molten invest? How could you invest in Riverlane and similar companies?
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What does Riverlane do?
The race to commercialise viable quantum computing has been going on for over a decade – with players like IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon and Google so far spending billions.
One of the biggest challenges is identifying and correcting the billions of quantum errors that occur each second during computing. Currently, even the best quantum computers can only perform a few hundred operations before failure – limiting their usefulness in real-world applications. Without effective quantum error correction (QEC), they can barely match, much less outperform, classical computers.
Riverlane is developing a QEC system, DeltaFlow™, incorporating proprietary QEC chips with specialist hardware and software. Riverlane believes its QEC technology could accelerate the arrival of utility-scale quantum computing by three to five years.
“Quantum error correction is the key technology that will enable useful quantum computers. As quantum systems scale, QEC becomes one of the world’s most demanding real-time computing challenges. Through this collaboration with NVIDIA, we are exploring how advances in quantum computing, AI and accelerated computing can come together to support the next generation of quantum systems.”
What is NVIDIA’s interest in Riverlane’s technology and how are they working together?
The quantum computing market could potentially surpass $11 billion by 2030, provided critical engineering challenges, such as quantum error correction (QEC) and scalability, can be addressed.
NVIDIA believes AI is the key. It has created a suite of AI tools – particularly, an open family of AI models called NVIDIA Ising, that it believes delivers breakthrough performance in quantum processor calibration and error correction, with its calibration model reducing calibration time from days to hours.
NVIDIA’s goal is for Ising to become ‘the operating system of quantum machines’. Separately, NVIDIA is working with Riverlane to explore how AI and NVIDIA accelerated computing can make Riverlane’s DeltaFlow™ QEC technology faster and more effective.
Why did Molten Ventures VCT invest in Riverlane?
The VCT’s manager Molten Ventures is one of Europe’s leading venture capital firms. The manager has considerable experience and a strong track record investing in ‘hardware and deep tech’ (and also in the consumer, enterprise and health technology sectors).
Molten seeks to invest in high-growth companies with strong IP, powerful technology and what it describes as “the management team equivalent of jet fuel”, operating in new markets, with the potential for global expansion.
Riverlane has this pedigree. The quantum pioneering company was founded in Cambridge in 2016 by computational mathematics fellow Steve Brierley, with the guidance of ARM co-founder Jamie Urquhart. Riverlane now also has offices in the quantum hubs in Delft (Netherlands), Boston and Maryland (USA).
When Molten led Riverlane’s £15 million Series B round in April 2023, Molten’s co-founder Stuart Chapman observed, “Riverlane's impressive progress in quantum computing has led to a significant rise in its valuation, even in a tough market. We have never felt more confident in its ability to drive quantum innovation and generate enduring value.”
From an initial investment of £2.7 million, the position is now valued at £11.9 million, making Riverlane the largest holding for the VCT at 10.4% of net assets (March 2026). Past performance is not a guide to the future.
“Quantum offers truly transformative effects on economies—from cybersecurity through to healthcare, medicine and climate change. As quantum computing advances, the need for effective error correction becomes increasingly critical. Riverlane’s focus on QEC positions it to play a pivotal role in the commercialisation of quantum technologies, offering significant growth potential for investors interested in the quantum computing sector.”
How might you invest in similar companies?
Molten Ventures VCT is currently open for investment – you can apply online and get exposure to companies like Riverlane – including Riverlane itself.
The VCT invests in early-stage digital technology businesses, usually alongside manager Molten Ventures plc’s own balance sheet. The VCT has net assets of £114.4 million and a portfolio of around 40 active companies (March 2026) – the bias is towards businesses in the consumer technology, enterprise technology, deep tech & hardware, and digital health & wellness sectors.
Molten Ventures VCT targets dividends of 5% of NAV p.a. – dividends are variable and not guaranteed. Over the five years to 30 June 2026, the VCT delivered a NAV total return (including dividends) of 1.8% – past performance is not a guide to the future.
See performance of Molten Ventures VCT
Source: Morningstar. Past performance is not guide to the future. Dividends are variable and not guaranteed. The bar chart shows net asset value and cumulative dividends (paid out) per share for the period 31/12/2020 – 30/06/2026.
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Alex Davies
Founder and CEO
Alex was a board director at Hargreaves Lansdown, where he worked for 15 years. He was responsible for building Hargreaves Lansdown into the biggest direct-to-consumer SIPP provider in the UK with more than 150,000 clients and over £12 billion under management. He is a keen investor with a portfolio of shares, funds, student property, EIS and VCT investments.