Spectrum recruits Billy McLaughlin as first Non-Executive Director at Quantcore: the UK’s only niobium-based quantum manufacturer
Quantcore designs, manufactures, and tests the superconducting processors, resonators and sensors which form the core of quantum computers and advanced sensing systems.
Niobium maintains superconductivity at higher temperatures than aluminium – the material most used by its global competitors. This reduces energy consumption and improves scalability in cryogenic environments.
Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, Quantcore successfully raised £2.5 million in seed funding at the start of 2026, co-led by PXN Ventures, Blackfinch Ventures, and Scottish Enterprise, with additional backing from Quantum Exponential and STAC.
This investment follows the UK government’s pledge to invest £670 million into quantum computing as part of its ten-year modern industrial strategy. Quantcore enables the sovereign supply chain as the only company in the UK manufacturing niobium-based components.
William (Billy) McLaughlin becomes Quantcore’s first Non-Executive Director. Based in Glasgow, he brings 30 years’ international semiconductor experience to Quantcore.
Billy’s semiconductor fabrication and deep tech manufacturing experience is ideally matched to Quantcore’s current stage of development as an organisation. Having previously navigated similar challenges, he natively understands the complexities of what Quantcore is building.
He currently serves as Vice President at MAX IEG Consultants, as a board member and advisor at Photon Bridge, and advisor to Silicon Catalyst and Cambridge Deeptech Labs.
Previously, Billy was co-founder of III-V Epi, a compound semiconductor wafer foundry, and has led multiple businesses through scale-up from R&D to volume manufacturing.
To support this search, Spectrum leveraged its BoardFinder platform – the only board platform and community solely dedicated to the technology sector.
About Spectrum
Established by Daniel Osmer in 2001, Spectrum is a specialist technology sector board, executive, and interim search and advisory firm. Spectrum’s BoardFinder community is the only platform in the market dedicated to the technology sector and its private capital backers. Spectrum is part of Kestria, the world’s largest executive search alliance.
As a first time CEO, it was critical for me to secure a Non-Executive Director who could both support and challenge me as I lead Quantcore on the next stage of its journey – an entirely new and exciting experience. Daniel presented us with a choice of candidates which was helpful for me to understand exactly what I really needed from a NED as CEO - and who would fit best. He also coached us through the process and provided helpful benchmark data contained in Spectrum’s Board Chair Report. Billy has the skills, the experience, and the passion I was looking for, and I am delighted that he will be with us as we navigate the next stage of our journey to commercial adoption
Jack Brennan, CEO & Co-Founder, Quantcore
Daniel proactively contacted me about the opportunity to join the Quantcore board. This was not an immediately obvious thing to do, as I hold a full-time executive role. However, the approach was targeted and the opportunity presented to me was compelling. It demonstrated Spectrum’s comprehensive approach as I was not part of their BoardFinder network at the time of the first contact. Daniel then successfully guided me through interview rounds with Jack; Claire and Robert at PXN Ventures; and Kimberley at Blackfinch Ventures - and I am delighted to now play an involved, strategic role in Quantcore’s evolution
Billy McLaughlin, Non-Executive Director, Quantcore:
PXN co-led Quantcore’s £2.5 million seed round. We needed immediate help to source an impactful NED to the board. Spectrum’s BoardFinder platform enabled Daniel to provide us with high-quality, highly relevant board profiles of interested candidates - at pace. We were delighted to secure Billy’s services onto the Quantcore board as a direct result
Robert Higginson, Partner, PXN Ventures
Case Study Overview
Client:
Sector
Quantum Computing
Work Completed
Non-executive Director
Consultant
Daniel Osmer