Originating from a quantum computing lab at Harvard, the team includes leading researchers with extensive contributions in quantum algorithms, AI and machine learning systems, compilation and error correction, and intellectual property strategy. Together, founding leadership has authored hundreds of publications, holds dozens of patents, and has been cited more than 15,000 times in scientific literature.
Supported by deep operational and commercial expertise, Zapata's leaders are building the software infrastructure that will make quantum computing practical, viable, and scalable across industries.
Sumit Kapur is a seasoned technology and finance executive with a track record of scaling complex businesses across startups, growth-stage companies, and mature enterprises.
Before joining Zapata, Sumit held C-Suite roles and senior leadership roles, including at 3Degrees, Morgan Stanley, and Tulip AI. He has a track record of driving revenue growth from $5M to $1B+, executing financing transactions in excess of $1B, and guiding technology-led businesses through critical phases of expansion.
Sumit’s professional experience spans fintech, AI, enterprise software, and investment banking. He has also served in advisory and governance roles, collaborating with boards, investors, and founders to align on long-term strategies and deliver results.
Sumit has a mathematics degree from Harvard College and MBA from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Yudong Cao is a pioneer in quantum computing and generative AI with over a decade of experience leading scientific initiatives that bridge foundational research with real-world enterprise applications.
As Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, he leads the development of industrial generative AI software designed to provide scientific and computational advantages to global enterprises.
Prior to rejoining Zapata, Yudong served as the Head of Quantum at BCG X, Boston Consulting Group’s tech build and design unit.
Throughout his career, he has personally developed a portfolio of more than 30 patents covering quantum algorithms for chemistry, optimization, and machine learning, as well as quantum-inspired classical algorithms. His recent work focuses on verification-aware quantum agents, a paradigm shift that integrates mathematical constraints directly into AI-driven quantum program generation.
Yudong earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University and completed his postdoctoral research at Harvard University.
Dr. Jonathan Olson is a theoretical physicist, quantum software executive, and patent attorney whose work spans algorithms, product strategy, and intellectual property in quantum computing.
He co-founded Zapata Computing following postdoctoral research at Harvard University in quantum computing and machine learning, where he developed quantum autoencoders and optical neural networks.
As Vice President of Strategy and Operations, Jonny ensures that Zapata’s commercial, product, and IP strategies synergize into a single approach to support the industry's present needs and future impact. He is one of the few IP attorneys globally with expertise in quantum algorithms and successfully led the first significant appeal in quantum computing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), setting a critical industry precedent.
Jonny holds a J.D. and is admitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Pennsylvania Bar.
