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A leading quantum company is expanding to the U.S.

UK-based Oxford Ionics announced Monday it established its international headquarters in Boulder — right on the heels of the Biden administration’s announcement solidifying Colorado as the nation’s quantum technology hub.

Oxford Ionics, founded in 2019, recently claimed to break the record for the highest-performing quantum chip. The company also said the chip is more capable of being mass-produced because their technology uses electronics instead of lasers to control qubits, the basic unit of information stored on the super computers.

Oxford Ionics said it decided to make Boulder its North American base, calling the area the U.S. “epicenter” of quantum computing because of federal funding to the Elevate Quantum hub nonprofit and premier laboratories at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and JILA.

The U.K. company also said it aims to utilize the area’s talent pool and supply chain to help bring quantum computers to market.

“Demand for powerful quantum computers in the US is increasing at a breakneck pace, so we’re thrilled to be entering this market in Boulder,” said Oxford Ionics CEO Dr. Chris Ballance in a press release. “As we continue to advance the commercialization of our record-breaking technology, we look forward to bringing on new US-based talent, strategic partners, and customers to accelerate this journey.”

The Mountain West tech hub spanning from Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming won an additional $40.5 million grant from the Biden administration for making the shortlist of federally-recognized tech hubs in what is considered to be a “down-payment” for the industry.

University of Colorado Boulder said the federal designation could spur an additional $2 billion in private investment into the state.

Colorado also chipped in $70 million to supercharge the region’s quantum computing industry that struggles with mass-production scaling due to high production costs.

As Colorado is positioned to be a national leader in the industry, Elevate Quantum CEO Zachary Yerushalmi said in the release it’s essential to partner with the best talent and companies across the world to stay economically vibrant.

“That’s why we’re so excited to welcome Oxford Ionics, a world leader in ion trap quantum computing, to our ecosystem and are eager to see how they bring forward the future for everyone in our region and well beyond,” he said.

Croc’s acquisition Heydude opens first Colorado store

A store from shoe brand Heydude is now open in the Centennial State.

Heydude opened its first Colorado store at the Denver Premium Outlets mall last Friday.

The Massachusetts-based brand specializing in comfortable footwear was acquired in 2022 for $2.5 billion by Crocs Inc., the foam clog footwear company based out of Broomfield.

The Denver store opening is part of the parent company’s strategy to expand Heydude’s products across the country, Crocs said in a press release. It opened 19 Heydude outlet stores in the first half of 2024 and aims to open 30 by the end of the year.

The new shop is located next to the outlet mall’s American Eagle and Express stores.

Esports training center opening in Broomfield

Ready, player one?

A new Valhallan Esport Training facility is opening in Broomfield on Saturday.

The esports center focuses on teaching communication and leadership skills to young people between the age of 7 and 17 using their favorite video games such as Fortnite and Minecraft

“I think that esports can be a really positive force in young people’s lives, as well as a powerful way to build community,” said Arena Manager Joshua Sharp in a news release. “This opening hopefully signals the beginning of a bright future for youth esports across the state as a whole.”

The center will open at 3800 W. 144th Ave.

The Valhallan arena also allows kids to join teams as competitive video gaming is becoming a booming industry.

“Competitive esports is a rapidly growing space, and it offers so much more than most people realize,” said Kelly Fleischhacker, Valhallan’s director of marketing, in a release. “With this event, we hope to build the foundations for a vibrant youth esports community in Broomfield and beyond.”