East Hill Equity welcomes Chiara Decaroli as a quantum-focused venture partner

The East Hill team is thrilled to announce that as of early 2025, Chiara Decaroli has joined East Hill Equity as a Venture Partner. With a distinguished career at the intersection of quantum technologies and venture capital, Chiara brings deep expertise in advanced computing, semiconductors, and the broader deep tech ecosystem.

Chiara holds a PhD in Quantum Computing from ETH Zürich and has built an impressive career spanning scientific research, industry, and investment roles. Prior to joining East Hill Equity, she was instrumental in scouting and backing next-generation quantum startups at Redstone VC, helping shape the roadmap for quantum investments in Europe.

With the growing momentum in quantum technologies and their increasing commercial viability, we took the opportunity to ask Chiara a few key questions about the future of quantum investments and its impact on industries.

Q: What makes you excited about VC investment into the quantum space?

Quantum technology is at an inflection point where scientific breakthroughs are translating into commercial opportunities. Unlike a decade ago, we now see an ecosystem where quantum startups are not just pushing the boundaries of physics but also developing tangible products with real-world applications. The convergence of quantum with AI, cryptography, and materials science opens up unprecedented opportunities for investors. I’m particularly excited about the potential for quantum computing to redefine industries by solving problems that classical computers struggle with—whether it’s drug discovery, climate modeling, or financial risk analysis.

Q: Which industry verticals and applications do you foresee will experience the biggest impact of quantum in the next couple of years?

While we are still in the early days of large-scale quantum adoption, I see key industries already preparing for a quantum future. Pharmaceuticals and biotech will likely see significant early impact, as quantum simulations accelerate drug discovery and material design. Financial services are also taking an active interest, leveraging quantum algorithms for portfolio optimization and risk assessment. Additionally, cybersecurity and encryption are becoming a critical area, especially as post-quantum cryptography emerges as a necessity. Over the next few years, I expect more enterprises to develop quantum-ready strategies to stay ahead of the curve.

Q: Which subsectors of quantum technology do you believe will attract the most investor attention in the upcoming years?

There are three major areas that will drive investor interest in the quantum space. First, quantum hardware—specifically scalable quantum processors—will continue to attract significant funding, given the race to achieve quantum advantage. Second, quantum software and algorithms are a fast-growing segment, with companies building the tools and frameworks needed for quantum applications to integrate with existing infrastructures. Third, enabling technologies—such as advanced photonics, networking technology and methods to integrate quantum and classical compute—will become increasingly relevant, as they are crucial for bringing practical quantum computing to market. Investors are now looking beyond just quantum processors and considering the entire value chain that will drive the industry forward.

At East Hill Equity, we are committed to backing visionary deep-tech founders shaping the future of computing, semiconductors, and quantum technologies. With Chiara Decaroli on board, we strengthen our expertise and continue to support groundbreaking innovation in the quantum ecosystem.

For more insights from Chiara, feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn.