Zapata Bets on Software and Strategy with New Expert Board

BOSTON, MA – March 10, 2026 – In a move that signals a maturing quantum computing market, Zapata Quantum (OTC: ZPTA) today announced the formation of a high-powered Growth Advisory Board (GAB), appointing three industry veterans to guide its commercial expansion. The appointments of Steve Suarez, Steven Lau, and M. Jeff Brittain are being interpreted as a powerful endorsement of Zapata’s core strategy: that the future of quantum value lies not in building the machines, but in creating universal software to run on them.

Zapata, a pioneer in quantum algorithms that traces its roots to a Harvard University lab, has appointed Steve Suarez, CEO of HorizonX and a McKinsey Senior Advisor; Steven Lau, CEO of WorldQuant Foundry and an early investor in quantum hardware leaders IonQ and PsiQuantum; and M. Jeff Brittain, a supply chain and pharma technology expert from the FedEx Institute of Technology. This strategic assembly of expertise in enterprise adoption, scalable business models, and key industrial verticals aims to accelerate the company’s mission to translate quantum’s theoretical promise into tangible business results.

“We’re honored to welcome these industry veterans to the GAB, strengthening our reach in key verticals as we move to expand on our unmatched experience, grow our commercial footprint and drive transformational value creation,” said Sumit Kapur, Zapata’s CEO, in the official announcement.

A Strategic Bet on Agnostic Software

The central pillar of Zapata’s strategy, and the one most validated by these appointments, is its hardware-agnostic approach. In a field where multiple competing quantum hardware technologies—from superconducting circuits to trapped ions—are vying for dominance, Zapata has chosen to remain neutral. The company focuses exclusively on developing applications and algorithms that can run on any underlying hardware, effectively creating a universal translation layer for the quantum world.

This approach directly addresses a primary concern for enterprises looking to invest in quantum: the risk of betting on the wrong hardware platform. “What’s most important to these companies is not only that they’re working with a proven technical leader but also that they aren’t locking themselves into one hardware platform which may not be the winning paradigm,” noted new GAB member Steve Suarez. “Zapata offers exactly that.”

His perspective is echoed by Steven Lau, whose experience as an early investor in leading hardware companies provides a unique vantage point. “I’ve had the privilege of investing early in several of the world’s leading quantum hardware companies, and it’s increasingly clear that the next phase of progress will be driven by hardware-agnostic software,” Lau stated. “Zapata is a clear leader in that layer of the stack.”

This strategy is not merely philosophical; it is built on a foundation of intellectual property. The company holds a portfolio of over 60 patents, including its Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR), a technology designed to allow quantum programs to interoperate across different hardware and software frameworks. This positions Zapata alongside other major ecosystem players like Microsoft Azure Quantum, which also champion a hardware-independent model to foster broader adoption.

From Lab to Ledger: Bridging Theory and Enterprise Value

While strategic positioning is crucial, the ultimate measure of success will be the ability to solve real-world problems. The composition of the new GAB is a clear indicator of Zapata’s focus on practical, industry-specific applications. Each member brings deep domain expertise that aligns with the sectors most poised to benefit from a quantum advantage.

M. Jeff Brittain, with his background as North American Head of IT at Bayer and a senior IT leader at Merck, brings invaluable experience from the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. These sectors are prime candidates for quantum disruption, with applications in molecular simulation for drug discovery and materials science promising to slash R&D timelines and costs. Brittain’s current role driving supply chain innovation at the FedEx Institute of Technology also addresses another key vertical for Zapata, where quantum optimization algorithms could revolutionize logistics, routing, and inventory management.

Meanwhile, Steve Suarez, co-founder of The Quantum Index—a leading scorecard for enterprise quantum readiness—and a guest lecturer on quantum strategy at MIT, brings a framework for guiding large corporations from initial curiosity to systematic adoption and measurable value. His experience helps bridge the gap between technical capabilities and C-suite decision-making.

The board’s collective expertise is intended to sharpen Zapata’s focus on creating sustainable revenue streams by moving beyond research-driven pilot projects. This aligns with broader market trends identified by firms like McKinsey & Company, which projects the quantum technology market could generate up to $97 billion in revenue by 2035, with chemicals, life sciences, and finance leading the charge.

The Public Market’s Quantum Litmus Test

As the only publicly traded, pure-play hardware-agnostic quantum software company, Zapata serves as a unique barometer for investor sentiment in this specialized sector. Trading on the OTC market, ZPTA has attracted a “Buy” consensus from analysts, with a target price suggesting significant upside. However, the company’s recent SEC filings paint the picture of a pre-commercial-scale technology firm, showing a revenue decrease in 2024 alongside increased operating losses as it invests heavily in R&D and restructuring.

In this context, the formation of the GAB is more than a strategic alignment; it is a powerful signal to the market. By bringing on board respected figures with proven track records in scaling technology businesses and navigating large enterprise sales cycles, Zapata is reinforcing its commitment to commercialization. It demonstrates a clear path from its deep scientific roots—including participation across all technical areas of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking program—to a sustainable business model.

This move helps differentiate Zapata's investment thesis from that of both integrated hardware-software players like IBM and capital-intensive hardware manufacturers. The bet on Zapata is a bet that the 'picks and shovels'—the essential software and operating systems—will capture significant value as the entire quantum ecosystem grows, regardless of which hardware ultimately prevails.

Charting the Course in a New Quantum Economy

The quantum industry is at an inflection point. As noted in a recent Deloitte study, enterprise investment in quantum computing is accelerating, with a growing number of businesses reporting they are already seeing value from their quantum initiatives. The conversation is shifting from the theoretical potential of fault-tolerant quantum computers in the distant future to the practical application of today's noisy, intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, often in hybrid combination with classical computers.

Zapata’s formation of its Growth Advisory Board, which complements its existing Scientific Advisory Board, is a testament to this shift. The company is building an organization engineered for both frontier science and operational execution. By combining deep scientific insight with the commercial and vertical-market acumen of its new advisors, Zapata is positioning itself to lead the charge in making quantum computing a practical and indispensable tool for enterprise.

As the industry moves from counting qubits to counting real-world use cases, the ability to navigate complex customer environments, define clear value propositions, and deliver reliable, interoperable software will be paramount. Zapata’s latest move demonstrates a clear understanding that the path from quantum theory to tangible economic impact is paved with strategic expertise and a relentless focus on the customer.