Intel has agreed to acquire Classiq, an Israeli quantum software start-up, in a transaction Bloomberg valued at approximately $2.3 billion, citing people familiar with the matter. The chipmaker disclosed no price and declined to comment on that estimate. Completion is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
Quantum computers use qubits to tackle certain problems, including molecular simulation, far faster than conventional chips, but programming them typically requires specialist expertise. Classiq allows developers to specify a program’s intended function and automatically designs the corresponding quantum circuit, much as conventional chip-design software does for processors. Its platform supports multiple hardware types, with BMW and HSBC among its customers.
Intel has pursued quantum computing since 2015, building qubits on silicon with equipment also used for conventional chips. Acquiring Classiq would create a full-stack business encompassing processors and software. Intel intends to maintain compatibility with other manufacturers’ quantum hardware and make Classiq its global quantum computing development centre.
Founded by chief executive Nir Minerbi, Amir Naveh and Yehuda Naveh, Classiq has raised just over $200 million. According to Calcalist, as cited by Ynet, it was valued at roughly $600 million to $700 million in 2025. Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan invested in its 2022 and 2025 funding rounds; Calcalist reported that he stayed out of acquisition talks because of his stake.
The proposed purchase coincides with Intel’s accelerating turnaround. Its shares have nearly tripled this year, and it sold $15 billion in stock in August to fund its chip factories.
