OptQC Appoints Michihiro Maeda as Executive Officer and CFO

Tokyo, August 6, 2026 - OptQC Corp. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Kan Takase; hereinafter "OptQC"), a developer of optical quantum computers, today announced the appointment of Michihiro Maeda as Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective August 1, 2026. The appointment strengthens OptQC's financial leadership as the company enters a new phase of growth.

With Mr. Maeda on board, OptQC will build a management foundation grounded in a medium- to long-term financial strategy, further accelerating the practical application of Japan-made optical quantum computers.

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In July 2026, OptQC installed "MoQuren," its first optical quantum computer, at the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI technology (G-QuAT) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and commenced initial operations. Moving forward, OptQC will now use the machine to advance technical verification and develop real-world use cases addressing computationally complex problems in fields such as drug discovery and finance.

As OptQC moves into full-scale commercialization and social implementation, establishing a forward-looking financial structure has become essential - one capable of funding the large-scale growth investment required for global expansion and of leading a diverse range of financing initiatives. Against this backdrop, OptQC has appointed Mr. Maeda, who brings deep expertise in capital strategy and investor relations (IR), as Executive Officer and CFO. Adding a seasoned finance professional leader alongside the company’s existing technology and business leadership will further accelerate OptQC’s growth.

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Career Background:

Mr. Maeda began his career in consulting before joining USEN Corporation, where he planned and executed group-wide strategy in the Financial Strategy Office, covering M&A, financing, and investor relations (IR).
He went on to hold senior finance roles - including CFO - at organizations ranging from global corporations to healthcare startups, among them Eli Lilly Japan, Nomura Holdings, Abbott Japan, and Promethera Biosciences. In these roles, he led IPO preparations and raised over JPY 10 billion (approx. US$65 million) from domestic and international investors. He also actively drove business development with prospective global and domestic partners, concluding strategic alliances with major pharmaceutical companies.
In June 2022, he was appointed CFO of PRISM BioLab Co., Ltd., leading the company to its listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market in July 2024. He brings hands-on experience in financing, IR, M&A, and IPOs, across both large corporations and early-stage companies.

Comment from Mr. Maeda:

"I am honored to join OptQC as it takes on the challenge of commercializing optical quantum computers, and to be part of this new phase of growth. With our first machine now in operation and validation for full-scale commercialization under way, our priority is to build a globally competitive business model and the medium- to long-term financial strategy that will sustain it.
Drawing on my experience in financing, IR, and capital strategy, together with my background in business development, I am committed to underpinning OptQC's technological strength and business expansion with a solid financial foundation, and to driving both corporate growth and the real-world deployment of our technology."

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"With 'MoQuren,' our first optical quantum computer, now in operation, OptQC has entered its next phase toward practical application and social implementation. We are delighted to welcome Mr. Maeda, a proven finance leader, at such a pivotal moment.

Agile capital management and a strengthened leadership team are essential as we move the business into this next stage. I am confident that Mr. Maeda's expertise and execution will be a powerful driving force behind our medium- to long-term growth strategy. Together, we will work toward a future in which Japanese optical quantum technology delivers solutions around the world."

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OptQC is a deep-tech startup building a next-generation computing platform based on optical quantum technology.
Drawing on more than 25 years of research at the Furusawa Laboratory of the University of Tokyo, the company advances research, development, and commercialization in parallel to accelerate the practical application of quantum technology in the global market.

Company Name : OptQC Corp.
Location : 15th Floor, IT tower TOKYO, 3-28-13 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0021, Japan
Representative : Kan Takase, Representative Director and CEO
Established : September 2, 2024
Business Description : Research, development, and provision of optical quantum computers
URL : https://www.optqc.com/en/

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OptQC Corp. Public Relations
E-mail: press@optqc.com

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