Amanda Chew of Horizon Quantum is building the world’s first commercial quantum hardware testbed

Imagine a world powered by computers so advanced that these super devices could handle a quadrillion tasks simultaneously.

Major tech companies are racing to lead in quantum computing, with Google recently unveiling a new chip that it claims can solve a problem in five minutes – one that would take the world’s fastest computers 10 septillion years to complete.

Closer to home, one Singapore-based deep-tech company could soon revolutionise the efficiency of big data processing. Horizon Quantum is developing the world’s first commercial quantum testbed, and Amanda Chew, VP of Product, is leading the product vision, strategy, research, design, and development of tools for programming quantum computers.

An early preview of the software, Triple Alpha, was released to selected users in 2023.

“We’re building a new generation of programming tools to simplify and accelerate software development for quantum computers. Our work includes compilers and a runtime environment that extends the capabilities of today’s quantum computers, laying the foundation for the world’s first quantum operating system,” she shares.

Simply put, while both classical and quantum computers tap on quantum technology – which uses quantum mechanics, a field of physics that studies matter and energy at a subatomic level – to operate, classical computers are limited to exploring one solution at a time, whereas quantum computers can process multiple solutions simultaneously.

Horizon Quantum, which was established in 2018 and has offices in Singapore and Dublin, aims to make creating applications for quantum hardware accessible for software developers with programming tools that remove the need for prior quantum computing experience.

The 33-year-old is one of the few women leaders in deep tech who is helping to bridge the gap between quantum theory and real-world applications. Amanda leads the product and design teams in Singapore, while chief science officer Si-Hui Tan, who heads research and development, is based in Dublin. In total, approximately 45 per cent of the start-up’s staff are women.

Here, Amanda’s work involves turning complex quantum computing ideas into real, usable technology – understanding these concepts, teaching them to others, and applying design and product strategies to build the system. Such computing power is said to have the potential to dramatically impact various sectors like AI technology, aerospace and scientific research.

Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced plans for further investments in the quantum sector, with Singapore set to invest an additional $300 million over the next five years in studies, research grants, and the development of local talent.

This is on top of the $400 million already spent on research and development since 2002. Amanda shares that such funding, including support from SGInnovate, has helped Horizon Quantum advance its research and commercial development.

“With our new quantum hardware test bed in Singapore, we are attracting global partnerships and talent. Horizon Quantum has a strong internship programme, and we are funding several of our employees as they pursue PhDs while working here. We cover their tuition and salaries, so they can contribute to research and industry at the same time,” she says.

Representation, says Amanda, is important in encouraging more women to join male-dominated industries like deep tech. “When people see role models from different backgrounds, they feel encouraged to pursue their passions. The more diverse perspectives we have, the better our industry will be.”

She adds: “I personally try to contribute by sharing insights at industry conferences. I speak at product, engineering and UX events – like the Product-Led Summit, Developer Week and UXDX – to make quantum technology more accessible to those outside the field.”

Committing to growth

A natural inclination towards mathematics and science, coupled with an adventurous, can-do attitude, led Amanda to apply to various universities in the US and UK after junior college.

“When I was researching universities at the National Library, I came across Brown University (a private Ivy League research university), and found its open curriculum to be very flexible and rigorous. It seemed to focus a lot on undergraduates, and gave students the freedom to chart their own educational pathways,” she recounts.

In 2010, Amanda was awarded the Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Scholarship – a full-ride scholarship sponsored by Microsoft and IMDA – which funded her Bachelor of Science course in Mathematics and Computer Science.

“I remember taking my first computer science class at university. Even though it was difficult, when I finally wrote a piece of code and saw it compiled in the terminal, it felt very satisfying.

“I also took my first abstract algebra mathematics course, and that was when I decided to major in pure math. It was beautiful, and it made me want to learn more,” shares Amanda.

Even so, the gender gap at school was obvious. Initially, the gender ratio during her freshman and sophomore years was about equal. However, by her third and fourth years at university, Amanda often found herself the only female student in her math classes, while in her computer science classes, there were typically only one or two women in a class of 50 or 100.

“Some courses are simply a better natural fit for certain people, while others realise it’s not for them. That can happen regardless of gender. For me, I loved what I studied. If you truly love what you do, no one can stop you from doing it, because the joy is in the process – doing it every day.

“Thankfully, I’ve always been in nurturing academic environments with supportive professors, teachers, mentors and peers. I had to do problem sets with people who weren’t similar to me, but you learn to adapt and connect at different levels,” she muses.

During this time, Amanda completed two internships in Nairobi, Kenya. She taught 3-D computer animation to local trainers at a company that provided design and computing education to underprivileged teenagers. She also assisted another company in developing a prototype for a disaster response mobile application designed to track the whereabouts of victims in crisis situations, such as riots or earthquakes.

“During my first internship in Kenya, I taught trainers and interacted with students of digital literacy organisation Nairobits, who were from the Nairobi slum districts of Kibera and Kariobangi.

“I learnt a lot from their creativity, resourcefulness, resilience, drive and hunger to succeed, and witnessed first-hand how education can empower the individual and their communities to transcend the social classes they were born into. That left a deep impression on me, and it made me return to Kenya for a second summer internship in my junior year,” she shares.

After graduating in 2014, Amanda worked at Microsoft as a senior program manager in the Visual Studio department. Being in Silicon Valley was exciting, especially when Google announced a breakthrough in quantum research in 2019.

“Google’s quantum research team published their quantum supremacy results, proving that they had built a system too complex for conventional computers to simulate. The whole tech community was buzzing, even though it wasn’t solving practical problems yet. That’s when I started taking an interest in quantum computing,” says Amanda.

The following year, she left Microsoft to travel the world for a year – but the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted those plans. Forced to stay in Singapore, she began considering alternative paths, including pursuing research or obtaining a PhD or master’s degree in quantum computing, mathematics, computer science, or quantum mechanics.

She started attending virtual conferences and talks, and one event hosted by SGInnovate featuring Joe Fitzsimons, CEO of Horizon Quantum, caught her attention. Inspired, she decided to reach out.

“I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the company was based in Singapore, and that there was a pathway to working in quantum here. I met him in person, and he mentioned an open role for a product manager. I interviewed for it, got the job, and have been with Horizon Quantum ever since.”

For her contributions to the local tech industry, Amanda received the 2024 SG Digital Leader award, and was selected for the Singapore Computer Society’s Singapore 100 Women in Tech 2023 list.

It might come as a surprise that the self-described highly competitive perfectionist – who meditates, swims and plays competitive squash – was once held back by her fear of being perceived as inadequate.

“Early in my career, I would hold back from opportunities if I didn’t feel completely ready. I wanted to be 100 per cent prepared before taking a leap. But over time, I’ve learnt that you don’t need to be perfect – you just need to go for it. Now, I try to say yes to things even before I feel ready,” she says.

Amanda quotes a phrase by American mountaineer Jimmy Chin: “Commit, and then figure it out – that really resonates with me. The act of committing pushes you to grow.”

The potential of quantum computing

Although quantum computing is currently in the experimental phase – classical computers still outperform quantum computers in error detection and correction, as well as stability and energy efficiency – Horizon Quantum is attracting interest with its efforts to commercialise and grow the technology.

In February 2025, the company signed a nonbinding letter of intent (LOI) to merge with dMY Squared Technology Group, Inc., a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) that is publicly traded and helps private companies go public through mergers.

If successful, Horizon Quantum will become a publicly traded company that is expected to be valued at US$500 million ($667 million) after the merger. Amanda is excited about what quantum computing could offer.

She says: “Quantum computers could benefit industries that rely on high-performance computing today. For example, in oil and gas, quantum computing could be used for geophysical calculations. 

“AI could also benefit from quantum computing. If machine learning models can be adapted to run on quantum computers using quantum algorithms, they could achieve exponential speed-ups.”

In other words, the possibilities for this still-developing technology are limitless – a compelling prospect for Amanda, who thrives on exploring the unknown. She cites courage as an inspiring quality – the courage to follow one’s curiosity and pursue one’s path without being deterred.

When asked if she had a role model that she admires, Amanda names Grace Hopper, American computer scientist, mathematician, and US Navy rear admiral, as one of the many women who inspire her.

“There’s a conference in the US named after her – the Grace Hopper Celebration. I attended it for three years. In my sophomore year, I almost wanted to drop out of computer science because it was quite difficult, but going to that conference and seeing so many capable and determined women in tech really motivated me,” she says.

To that end, Amanda has learnt that she does not want to be the one holding herself back or allowing her own fears to limit her growth.

She shares: “I love learning and growing, so I started pushing myself to do things even when I was scared. I wouldn’t say I have a single role model, but whenever I see inspiring people, regardless of gender, I feel motivated. It’s about witnessing different individuals lifting others up and breaking barriers in the process.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Clement Goh
ART DIRECTION Ray Ticsay
HAIR & MAKEUP Benedict Choo, using Burberry Beauty