EXCLUSIVE: Quantum’s SpaceX Moment? Ashlee Vance on PsiQuantum’s Moonshot

Core Memory creator, Silicon Valley’s Science Expert, & once–quantum skeptic Ashlee Vance sits down with PsiQuantum’s Co-Founder & CSO Pete Shadbolt for a candid, wide-ranging conversation.

After touring PsiQuantum’s secretive labs—more than five years after first covering the company—Ashlee found his skepticism shaken, likening PsiQuantum’s ongoing uphill climb to SpaceX’s decade-long, near-death march toward liftoff. Pete reveals why mission, mindset, and his mantra “always be impressive” are non-negotiables for a team attempting a moonshot that may take years to fully realize.

If PsiQuantum succeeds, this may be remembered as the conversation where skeptics began to believe.

1. Pete Shadbolt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-shadbolt-4b7541126/

2. Ashlee Vance: https://x.com/ashleevance

3. Molly O’Shea: ⁠https://x.com/MollySOShea⁠

4. Sourcery: ⁠https://x.com/sourceryvc⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) Intro: Molly welcomes Pete & Ashlee

(00:53) Ashlee’s history covering quantum since 2007

(03:11) What makes PsiQuantum different

(05:11) Touring PsiQuantum labs: hardware challenges & scale

(07:20) Why Ashlee trusted PsiQuantum’s story

(08:43) Pete: “Come and see the wafers”

(10:23) The academic → startup culture gap in quantum

(13:24) Ashlee’s “mind palace” shoot in chaotic engineer’s office

(16:12) How PsiQuantum keeps its team motivated for a decade-long mission

(17:02) Apollo 11 as a model for focus & alignment

(20:01) Pete’s management mantra: “Always be impressive”

(20:25) The mud-slinging problem in quantum pitches

(22:51) Hardware timelines: SpaceX as a 10–15 year lesson

(24:47) Closing reflections: Quantum’s future and PsiQuantum’s place in history