In the News

Quantropi adds Jeff York and Sacha Gera to its Board of Directors.

Quantropi is delighted to announce that Jeff York and Sacha Gera have joined the Quantropi Board of Directors. Their combined expertise will support Quantropi’s mission to secure the internet against encryption-breaking technologies (Quantum & AI) that are expected to become major threats to the world’s financial and communications systems over the next few years.

Quantropi: An official ST Authorized Partner

Quantropi Inc. is now an Authorized partner with STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor company serving customers with ground-breaking innovative solutions for automotive, industrial, electronics, IoT and communication applications. Partnering with STMicroelectronics strengthens Quantropi’s commitment to ensuring quantum-secure data and communications are for IoT devices and applications.

Quantropi partners with Evergreen Innovations ahead of AUSA 2023

Quantropi Inc,  a provider of complete quantum-secure cryptographic solutions for data and communications, has partnered with Evergreen Innovations LLC (“Evergreen”), a tactical communications integrator, as its official American distributor to the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

Quantum World Congress 2023: Quantropi finishes strong!

We are excited to announce that we were recognized as runners-up at the Quantum World Congress 2023 Start-Up Pitch competition. Held in Tysons, Virginia, the competition provided an opportunity for start-ups utilizing quantum science and technology to improve the precision and effectiveness of current capabilities, while presenting their concept LIVE to quantum investors and industry experts at this incredible start-up pitch competition.

Eric Chan (a.k.a EEPMON) Wins Canada’s Exclusive Library and Archives Canada Scholar Award 2023

We are excited to share that our Associate Creative Director, Eric Chan (a.k.a EEPMON), has been awarded the prestigious Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Scholar Award. The award recognizes remarkable Canadians who have made an outstanding contribution to the creation and promotion of Canada’s culture, literary heritage and historical knowledge.

Cybersecurity Firmware Protects Machines as They Boot Up

Cybersecurity threats are likely to increase because the emergence of quantum computing will render existing cryptography standards obsolete. A startup company, Quantropi, has developed boot loading firmware that implements digital encryption the moment the machine boots up, preventing malware from infecting the machine.

Quantropi at RSAC™ 2023 with Live QiSpace™ Demos Securing Data from Quantum and AI Attacks

Quantropi is attending RSAC 2023, April 24th – 27th in San Francisco, USA, booth N-5200. Visit the booth for great swag and daily demos, including a quantum-secure boot loader, data encryption, TLS, quantum entropy services, and more.

Quantropi Adds Distinguished Cryptography and Security Expert Brian LaMacchia to its ­Board of Advisors

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Brian LaMacchia will join Quantropi’s Board of Advisors. Dr. LaMacchia recently retired from Microsoft Corporation as a Distinguished Engineer and head of the Security and Cryptography team within Microsoft Research.

Quantropi Partners with Cypherbridge Systems to Launch Advanced Quantum Secure Boot Loader for IoT Platforms­

Quantropi today announced the launch of uLoadXLQ Quantum Secure Boot Loader for IoT platforms, a major QiSpace™ design win. This new, integrated solution raises the bar for IoT security and offers significant benefits for the IoT market.

Is your encryption quantum-proof?

While billions of people rely on encryption and the cryptography that empowers it, very few ever think about it. Encryption happens behind the scenes. The world of encryption, however, is about to change dramatically. The change is coming because traditional encryption is about to stop working.

What is Y2Q?

“Y2Q”, or “Year to Quantum”, refers to the day when quantum computers will have the power to break current public key cryptography. In this article by NY Weekly, we explore what Y2Q is, why it’s a threat, and how companies like Quantropi are working to prepare for the quantum future.

Why Quantropi is the Cybersecurity Answer for the Future

Quantum computers will pose an existential threat to standard encryption methods. In this article by San Francisco Post, we discover how Quantropi’s QiSpace™ platform offers effective solutions to the quantum threat with its quantum-secure symmetric and asymmetric encryption products and quantum random number generation.

How Quantropi is Changing the Way We Protect Data

With Y2Q fast approaching, there is a need for secure data protection in the IoT and embedded device landscape. In this article by The Los Angeles Tribune, we understand how Quantropi’s QiSpace™ platform is designed to protect the growing 13+ billion connected IoT devices from the looming Y2Q quantum threat.

Quantropi Wins Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award

Quantropi’s TrUE Quantum-Secure cryptographic solutions for IoT and embedded systems recognized by Deloitte Fast 50 for “Quantum in Mobility”. This category focuses on innovative quantum technologies that control and protect mobility, which includes connected and self-navigating vehicles.

Why Quantum Encryption Compelled A Silicon Valley Exec To Move To Ottawa

Tech Talent Canada recently interviewed Quantropi CTO Michael Redding to learn more about what drew him out of retirement to join Quantropi Inc. and its mission to preserve truth and trust by defending the global digital economy from the Y2Q Quantum Threat!

Quantropi Announces General Availability of its QiSpace™ Quantum-Secure Cryptography Platform, Unique IoT Offerings, More Major Milestones

Quantropi announces the release of MASQ™, a high-performance PQC, and the availability of QiSpace™ for the IoT / embedded space with all three TrUE quantum-secure cryptographic products now commercially available on market-leading microcontroller units (MCUs), including Microsoft Azure IoT compatibility!

Quantropi to Tell "TrUE" Story at Quantum.Tech Boston Conference

Quantropi CTO Michael Redding will speak about the inherent advantages of Quantropi’s ground-breaking technology as a superior “third alternative” for addressing the imminent quantum cryptographic threat at the Quantum. Tech Conference in Boston, MA, Jun. 14 – 15, 2022.

James Nguyen Of Quantropi on What We Must Do to Protect Critical Industrial Systems from Cyber Attacks

James Nguyen, Co-founder & CEO of Quantropi shared insights from his experience and expertise about what we must do to protect critical industrial systems from cyber-attacks in an interview with David Leichner, published in Authority Magazine.

Quantropi Unveils New “Digital QKD” Quantum-Secure Product at RSA Conference 2022

Quantropi today displayed its latest quantum-secure cryptography product, SEQUR™ SynQK, which generates and digitally distributes synchronized quantum keys, onsite at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, CA, Jun. 6 – 9, 2022.

Quantropi at CANSEC to Urge Canadian Defense Sector to Prepare for Quantum Threat

Quantropi, announces collaboration with Calian Group and Deutsche Telekom, one of the world’s leading Telcos, to benchmark the performance of Quantropi’s quantum-secure cryptography technology.

‘The threat is real and the risk is now’: Ottawa’s Quantropi teams up with powerful partners in quest to stymie next great cyberthreat

Quantropi CEO James Nguyen and team were at CANSEC, Canada’s largest annual exhibition of its kind, this week, drumming up interest in its subscription-based software that aims to stop a looming cyberthreat known as “Y2Q” in its tracks.

Quantropi CTO Michael Redding And Post-Quantum Cryptography

After years at Accenture Ventures, Michael Redding was so intrigued by quantum encryption that he hopped on a plane in the middle of winter during a pandemic and flew to Ottawa to join Quantropi Inc. While RSA has been a great scheme for 20-plus years, Y2Q and quantum computers have the potential to put every secure online transaction under threat. Listen to the pod now to learn what you can do to prepare.

Quantum Cybersecurity

Quantum Computing has been gaining significant ground in the past decade, with companies like Google and IBM announcing major breakthroughs every few weeks. On this podcast, Mike Redding, CTO of Quantropi – a company specializing in Quantum Encryption – claims that this revolution is even closer than most of us think.

TechopiaLive: Quantropi: Working to counteract the quantum threat

In this episode of TechopiaLive, OBJ talks to Quantropi CEO & Co-Founder James Nguyen who is looking to counteract the downside of quantum which threats our cybersecurity.

Quantum Computing: Decrypting The Future

Quantum computers almost certainly will not become available to the masses anytime soon. Still, tremendous research effort from parties like Google, IBM, and leading Chinese universities propel quantum technology forward at an exciting — and equally alarming — rate.

Quantropi added to 2021 Global Affairs Canada Venture Dealbook

Quantropi was named 1 of 43 innovative Canadian startups featured in the Fall 2021 Global Affairs Venture Capital Dealbook.

Quantropi named a Top 20 Tech Company in Canada

Check out Quantropi on page 28 of this year’s Enterprisetechsuccess magazine’s Top 20 Technology companies in Canada.

Quantropi emerges as a major contender with the appointment of Ottawa technology visionary and seasoned senior executive Marco Pagani as Chairman of the Board

Quantropi Inc., a groundbreaking Canadian quantum-secure data and communications software solutions provider, announced today the appointment of Ottawa Community Foundation President & CEO Marco Pagani to the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Quantum Security to Meet the Needs of 6 Googles

To address today’s growing cybersecurity threats as well as the threat posed by quantum computers tomorrow (these computers are literally billions of times faster than classical computers), Quantum-security start-up Quantropi recently developed and deployed what they’re calling Digital QKD.

Canadian company touts test of its quantum key distribution solution

An Ottawa security company says it has successfully tested its quantum key distribution technology over long distances on the internet in preparation for the commercial launch of products later this year. Quantropi Inc. said it had securely sent huge volumes of random numbers called quantum entropy over conventional and high-speed internet networks as far away as Singapore with what it believes are unprecedented speeds.

Quantropi makes history by quantum-securely distributing true random numbers over vast distances using existing network infrastructure

Quantropi announced today the impressive results of a high-profile demonstration of its patented technology. A portion of the demonstration was enabled by CANARIE, the federal partner in Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN), and its Alberta partner in the NREN, Cybera. CANARIE’s participation in the demonstration leveraged existing network infrastructure to support Quantropi’s solution and the evolution of the Canadian quantum ecosystem.

CIOs: Bring Your Own Keys to Secure the Cloud

Cloud computing began its meteoric ascent to dominance almost two decades ago. But one fundamental — and persistent — shortcoming of this approach has continued to confound businesses and keep many CIOs awake at night: Trust and Control.

51 CTOs Transforming the World of Quantum Tech

Quantropi’s Michael Redding makes Quantum Daily’s list of top CTOs Transforming the World of Quantum Tech. Quantropi is developing the new standard for quantum-secure communications with its TrUE solutions.

“Innovators are also starting to investigate developing quantum secure communication solutions. Innovator Quantropi was founded in 2018 to develop quantum secure communications services using ultra-high-entropy quantum keys.”

Cybersecurity disrupter appoints former Accenture Ventures Managing Director with exceptional take-to-market track record, prepares breakthrough product launches, eyes hyper-growth. Quantropi today announced the appointment of Michael Redding as Chief Technology Officer. In his new role, Mr. Redding will oversee Product Strategy, Engineering, Research and Development and Customer Support.

“We’ve developed the world’s first cloud-based platform for digital quantum key distribution over the internet,” Nguyen says. “We’ve been able to prove — with a partnership with McGill — that we’re a hundred thousand times faster than existing quantum key distribution systems.”

Quantropi is excited and honored to be named a "Best Ottawa Business Awards" recipient for 2020.

The BOBs, as the annual honours have come to be known, are an annual celebration of the most accomplished businesses and executives in Ottawa’s National Capital Region. The awards are a joint initiative of the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade with support from dozens of sponsors, including Telfer School of Management.

In this episode of TechFirst I chat with Quantropi CEO James Nguyen, who has built the world’s first non-photonic quantum key distribution over the Internet. He says that quantum computing is the next foundation of computing, period. And functioning, fast cryptography will open up our ability to use it, just like the internet unlocked PCs in the 90s.

Quantropi Selected as Finalist for Berlin Falling Walls

Quantropi is pleased and honoured to have been selected as a finalist for the Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2020 in the category Science Start-Ups. CSO & Co-founder Dr. Randy Kuang describes the breakthrough in question as “breaking the wall between our increasingly vulnerable classical internet and the coming secure quantum internet.”

Quantropi to present quantum communication breakthrough at IEEE Quantum Week

Quantropi recently announced that the company will be part of IEEE Quantum Week 2020, a prestigious annual industry event. IEEE Quantum Week (QCE20, October 12-16, 2020) brings together some of the world’s leading quantum scientists and engineers with other stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in the fast-growing quantum industry. The international conference also showcases recent progress achieved in quantum research, applications, practices, standardization and education.

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Sacha Gera

Sacha Gera possesses a deep understanding of the industry’s nuances through extensive experience in the cybersecurity sector.The Ottawa-based leader and Forty Under 40 recipient has nearly twenty years of experience in SaaS industries, professional services, and M&A, working in technology for both start-ups and large multinational organizations, such as IBM, Nortel, CGI and Calian. He currently also holds the position of CEO at JSI and Director at CENGN & Ottawa Board of Trade BOD.

Christopher McKenzie

With his extensive experience in software development and strong analytical skills, Chris can handle the entire end-to-end software development life cycle. Prior to Quantropi, he served as Director of Product Development at Sphyrna Security, Inc., where he managed the delivery of security compliance automation and data diode appliance products, and as Commercial Software Development Manager at Cord3, Inc., where he managed the development of an advanced data access policy management product. Chris graduated from Computer Science at Algonquin College and the Ottawa School of Arts in 1998. Read less

Dr. Randy Kuang

Randy holds a doctorate in quantum physics. His research findings have been published in top international journals and named “Kuang’s semi-classical formalism” by NASA in 2012. With a career spanning IT, including with Nortel as senior network researcher & developer, he co-founded inBay Technologies in 2009, serving as CTO of the cybersecurity platform. As the first recipient of a patent for two-level authentication (2011), Randy is a prolific inventor, with 30+ U.S. patents in broad technology fields, such as WiMAX, optical networks, multi-factor identity authentication, transaction authorization, as well as concepts, technologies and industrial applications for quantum key distribution.

Cory Michalyshyn

Cory brings a breadth of experience to the Quantropi team, working fractionally with multiple SaaS technology companies as CFO, and as the CFO with Celtic House Venture Partners. Prior to these roles, Cory was CFO and COO at Solink, and played a lead role in the metrics-led pivot to a direct-sales SaaS model, followed by multiple VC-backed funding rounds and their recognition as one of the fastest growing start-ups in Canada. He qualified as a CPA while serving technology, VC & PE-fund clients at Deloitte, and earned his Bachelor of Commerce at Queen’s University.

Ken Dobell

Ken leads marketing strategy at Quantropi. In high demand as a consultant with 25 years’ experience in performance media and an award- winning creative background, he has completed successful transformations, (re)branding and product development mandates with KPMG, Keurig DrPepper, Fidelity,the Previan Group of companies, Coveo, and numerous others. Previously, Ken pivoted an offline advertising brokerage to a leading-edge, data-driven performance agency as President of DAC Digital, held a progression of international leadership roles with Monster.com in North America and Europe, pioneered a range of multi-channel initiatives as VP Marketing with a global franchisor, and introduced a mobile-first programmatic media offering to Canada within WPP.

Raj Narula, P.Eng.

A seasoned technology executive, business builder and angel investor, Raj has held operational and advisory roles in Recognia (Trading Central), Belair Networks (Ericsson), March Networks (Infinova), Sandvine (Procera), Neurolanguage (ADEC), Bridgewater Systems (Amdocs), Vayyoo (Cafex), TenXc (CCI), 1Mobility (Qualys) and others. Having divided his time among North America, EMEA and Asia-Pac for over 20 years, Raj speaks several languages. He grew up in Asia, Europe, South America and Canada, and holds a B.Eng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa. He is also a co-founder and Charter Member of the Ottawa chapter of TiE (the Indus Entrepreneur).

Michael Redding

Before joining Quantropi, Mike was Managing Director and co-founder of Accenture Ventures, where he grew a global portfolio of strategic partnerships and 38 equity investments in emerging technology startups.

During his nearly 30 years with Accenture, he incubated and launched technology innovations for enterprises across multiple geographies and industries. Ever-passionate about bold ideas with game-changing results, he speaks frequently on the impact of emerging technology on large organizations.

With a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton, and a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern, Mike is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Accenture Foundation and Board Observer for startups Maana and Splice Machine.

Alex He

Alex is a product-oriented project manager who bridges the gaps between the company’s engineering and commercial teams. He has over ten years of experience in the analysis, design and development of enterprise-class applications, with a particular focus on creating optimal user experiences (UX). Ever passionate about cybersecurity solutions that can deliver solid security without unreasonably sacrificing customer convenience, Alex is the lead inventor of a registered patent on user interface security. He is committed to helping ensure that the Agile software engineering team at Quantropi delivers consistently high-quality, high crypto-agility cybersecurity solutions for next-generation communications.

Nick Kuang

As VP Corporate Services, Nick plans, directs and coordinates a wide range of activities aimed at achieving Quantropi’s vision of the Quantum Internet. He has a keen interest in transformative technologies and the possibilities they offer for bettering our everyday lives. A pharmacist by training, Nick nurtures teams with a focus on integrity and collaborative effort, coupled with strong attention to detail. With prior experience in a successful biotech start-up developing point-of-care test kits, he enjoys the fast pace and challenge of the start-up environment.

Tina Wang

Tina develops websites and participates in a range of different projects, using new frameworks for front-end UI, along with Vuejs, Angula, Beego, Ruby on Rails, and Electron. She developed Quantropi’s desktop CipherSpace application by integrating Electron, Webassembly and Go, to ensure a good user experience, as well as perfect operating system compatibility. She is also part of the dynamic and efficient QKD-NODE project team. Tina is always looking for new ways to increase her knowledge, improve her technological proficiency and enhance her strong execution and implementation skills. Prior to Quantropi, Tina served as a full-stack web developer at Sunny Future, where she maintained a WordPress home site and managed the release of new content for the company.

Bond Vo

Bond Vo is the Business Analyst of Quantropi. Along with Quantropi, Bond has been dynamic in accordance with a fast and evolving startup environment and is responsible in a wide range of areas including market research, funding, and more involved in the controller roles to oversee day to day accounting operation as well as build financing models and budget to achieve company’s ultimate goals/objectives. Bond has applied best practices consistently and successfully supports equity, debt, and non-dilutive funding for Quantropi since joint the team. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce concentrated in Finance from Carleton University. Outside of his professional career, Bond also participated in volunteer for the Vietnamese Immigration Student Association (VISA) to help and support students as well as newcomers in Canada.

Pauline Arnold

As James Nguyen’s EA, Pauline Arnold brings more than 40 years of experience in complementary customer service and administrative roles. Prior to Quantropi, she served 20 years as Branch Manager and an assistant in investments, and over 20 years at Metropolitan Life Canada in various aspects of the insurance sector – assisting clients, management and colleagues to complete tasks, solve problems, address questions and achieve goals. She also worked part-time for Royal Lepage Performance for 5+ years as a receptionist & admin, and for 5 years was chair of the TKFG’s charity golf tournament.

Dafu Lou

Dafu is Quantropi’s Director of engineering. Prior to Quantropi, he served as a technical leader at Irdeto, a world-leading provider of digital platform security software, where he was responsible for white-box cryptography, cloaked CA secure core, and iOS/android application protection services, among others. Prior to Irdeto, Dafu served as a senior software engineer at SecureNex Systems, where he led the implementation of an SSL-VPN solution and ECC-based secure data storage & PKI. He earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Ottawa in 2009. Dafu is also a part-time professor, teaching VLSI, Cryptography and other subjects at uOttawa.

Eric Chan

Eric Chan a.k.a. EEPMON is a Crypto / Digital Artist with 15 years in the industry – and Quantropi’s Creative Emissary. His hybrid fractal/digital creations have been seen in fashion, comics to museums and has exhibited worldwide. EEPMON’s collaborations include Canada Goose, MARVEL, Snoopy, Microsoft Xbox, Canada Science & Technology Museum and was a TEDx performing artist. In 2018 he represented Canada on its first Creative Industries Trade Mission led by Canada’s Minister of Heritage and serves on the Canadian Museums Association‘s Board of Directors. At the same time, he is currently completing his Master of Information Technology – Digital Media at Carleton University. 

Jeff York

Jeff’s distinguished career includes an extraordinary track record of successfully navigating and spearheading expansions and transforming companies into industry giants. Jeff was the President and CEO of Giant Tiger Stores for 10 years. In this capacity, Jeff helped grow the business from a regional discount chain with 250 million in sales to 1.4 billion in sales nationally as Canada’s third largest discount chain. In 2009, Jeff joined Farm Boy with a mandate to expand the business. Under his leadership, the company grew from a nine-store chain in the Ottawa region to 26 stores in Ottawa, Kingston, the GTA and Southwestern Ontario. Farm Boy was acquired by Sobeys’ parent company Empire Company Limited for $800 million in 2018.

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Marco Pagani

Marco Pagani began his long and successful career as a senior executive in Ottawa’s high-tech sector in 1985, with Nortel Networks (then Bell-Northern Research). He rose across two decades to become president of several Nortel Business Units, managing more than 2,000 employees and over $1 billion in revenue. Having gone on to advise numerous organizations, as well as guide a range of companies through complex, critically necessary turnarounds, he is particularly respected for placing a strong emphasis on ethics and corporate governance in building the culture of the corporate and not-for-profit organizations he leads and supports.

Lawrence O’Brien

Lawrence O’Brien is a founder of Calian Group and former Mayor of Ottawa. Larry founded Calian Technology Ltd. in 1982 with a $35 investment and built it into a $200M/ year profitable, dividend-paying public company by 2006. As the CEO of Calian, Larry executed an IPO in 1993, completed five significant acquisitions, and managed the overall strategic growth of Calian from 1982 until 2006. After retirement from Calian in 2006, Larry served as the 58th mayor of Ottawa and proceeded to push forward four major economic development projects, including a Light Rail Transit tunnel in the core of the city, a new Convention Centre, now known as the Shaw Centre and a new trade show facility and a major urban renewal project that rebuilt 40 acres of dilapidated downtown Ottawa called Lansdowne Park into a vibrant, destination for citizens and tourist.

Dat Nguyen

Dat Nguyen has executive experience with top global consultancies such as IBM, Accenture, Ernst & Young (EY), and decacorn start-up Grab at C-Level roles.

During 20 years of consulting, Dat has worked with multiple companies across Canada, the USA, the Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific with CEO roles and leadership such as CEO for Accenture Vietnam, CEO of Grab Vietnam, and Partner of EY Consulting leading the technology practice (including Cybersecurity) in Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia).

Dat is a tech entrepreneur, a co-founder, and a digital ecosystem builder. He is passionate about new and innovative technologies and is involved in multiple companies across verticals such as AI, Blockchain, Web3, Cybersecurity, InsurTech, and FinTech. Dat is currently a member of the ASIA CEO Club.

Dat earned the Executive Education at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School, and received the Executive Certificate in Public Leadership in 2018.

Tanya Woods

Tanya Woods brings more than a decade of successful strategic advocacy experience to her role at the Chamber of Digital Commerce Canada. Tanya most recently served as the Interim Executive Director for the Blockchain Association of Canada and is a champion for Canada’s digital innovation ecosystem, domestically and globally. Tanya has held senior-level positions in the industry, representing national and multinational organizations in the telecommunications, technology, and entertainment sectors, including BCE Inc., Microsoft, Hut 8 Mining, and Nintendo. She has also advised and represented the Government of Canada in global trade negotiations and on the growth of the country’s blockchain ecosystem. Tanya is a global public speaker and published author with degrees from the London School of Economics, Ottawa University, and American University Washington College of Law. She was named among the top 10 “Leading TechWomen in Canada” by the Government of Canada, a “Trailblazer” by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and a “Top 40 under 40” in Canada’s Capital by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Business Journal.

Renato Pontello

Renato has 30 + years of experience as a trusted legal advisor and strategist. As an executive he has assisted numerous companies and their Boards of Directors to plot out and implement significant growth, diversification and reorganization plans in challenging circumstances. He was lead counsel on the sale of Zarlink Semiconductor’s $680 million dollar business as part of a takeover bid. At Zarlink he negotiated significant development, manufacturing, supply, distribution and IP licensing agreements with leading suppliers (eg Cisco, Nokia, Ericsson, Medtronic, Starkey, TSMC, Global Foundries, etc.). Renato has been involved in M&A, restructuring, financings and commercial contracts for dozens of companies. He also provides legal support in regards to intellectual property, securities, real estate leasing and employment law. He represents clients mostly in the SaaS, wireless, proptech, quantum, renewables, e-commerce, engineering and real estate conversion space.

Timothy Stapko

Timothy Stapko is a senior software engineer at Microsoft with 20+ years of experience in the information technology industry specializing in embedded systems, IoT security, security (SSL/TLS), and 9+ years of experience leading projects and a team of engineers on two commercially successful implementations of TLS for resource-constrained embedded systems (including cryptography, X.509, DTLS, HTTPS, etc.). Tim also has experience with US federal information standards (e.g., FIPS) and other standards and certifications (e.g., Common Criteria/EAL) and specializes in C, C++, FIPS 140-2, Linux, SSL, TLS, TCP/IP

Jay Toth

Prior to joining Quantropi, Jay was Chief Growth Officer of Kepro, responsible for the organization’s overall growth strategy in government markets. Before that, Jay held a progression of sales leadership and general management roles during his nearly 17 years at Microsoft, including GM, Enterprise Services, State and Local Government & Education, during which period he was responsible for the most complex business in the U.S. subsidiary (with 2,000 customers across the country), nearly doubling revenue from $160M to over $300M. Prior to his career at Microsoft, Jay was VP at Risetime, where he launched and ran a Financial Services practice area; a Principal at Lakefront, where he was responsible for business development and strategic partnerships; and a Manager at Accenture in the Emerging Technology Solutions group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Nik Mahidhara

Prior to joining Quantropi, Nik most recently provided strategic and tactical leadership as Director of Finance overseeing a large corporate treasury department. Here, he managed over $2B in operating funds and $1B in financing. Other responsibilities included cash management and forecasting, liquidity and investments, corporate financing, financial risk management as well as accounting and internal control management. Preceding that, Nik provided assurance, accounting and advisory services focused on high tech clients with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Canada. Nik has held progressive finance roles in various different environments and holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.

Brian LaMacchia

Brian LaMacchia recently retired from Microsoft Corporation where he was a Distinguished Engineer and head of the Security and Cryptography team within Microsoft Research. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, an Affiliate Faculty member of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. Brian also currently serves as Treasurer of the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) and as a Vice President of the Board of Directors of Seattle Opera. Brian received S.B., S.M., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 1990, 1991, and 1996, respectively.

James Nguyen

James Nguyen is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Quantropi, a quantum-secure communications company established in 2018. Alongside Dr. Randy Kuang, he aims to uphold truth and trust in the digital economy on a global scale. In 2021, James was officially recognized as a recipient of Ottawa’s Top Forty Under 40 Award, and he holds a degree in Economics from Carleton University.

With a profound understanding of banking and global finance, James actively invests in and advises early-stage companies in the fields of Fintech, Graphene, and Quantum Technologies, particularly in emerging markets. Prior to his role at Quantropi, he served as the Chief Investment Officer and VP of Asia Operations for a diverse group of private and public interests involved in real estate, mining, energy storage, and manufacturing. In this capacity, he was responsible for strategy, banking, and global expansions, successfully securing substantial investments and partnerships to commercialize graphene applications across various industries.

James participates as a speaker and panelist at international conferences focused on quantum technology, cybersecurity, and investment. He also contributes to the community as a volunteer and mentor, leveraging his expertise and experiences to benefit others.