BERKELEY, Calif., March 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Rigetti Computing, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGTI) (“Rigetti” or the “Company”), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.

Fourth Quarter of 2022

• Total revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were $6.1 million, compared to $1.8 million in the same period of 2021.
• Total operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were $32.0 million, compared to $12.2 million in the same period of 2021.
• Operating loss for the three months ended December 31, 2022 was $26.7 million, compared to $11.1 million in the same period of 2021.
• Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2022 was $22.9 million or $0.19 per share, compared to $14.1 million or $0.61 per share in the same period of 2021.
• As of December 31, 2022, cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities totaled $142.8 million.
  

Year-End 2022 Results

• For the 12 months ending December 31, 2022, total revenues were $13.1 million, and net loss was $71.5 million or $0.70 per share.
• For the 11 months ending December 31, 2021, total revenues were $8.2 million, and net loss was $38.2 million or $1.64 per share.¹
• Total capital expenditures for 2022 were $22.7 million.
  

Executive Leadership Developments

• Subodh Kulkarni, President and CEO, appointed December 2022
• Jeff Bertelsen, Chief Financial Officer, appointed February 2023
• David Rivas, Chief Technology Officer, promoted February 2023
  

“We have strengthened our executive and operational management team and have implemented steps designed to improve our focus and operating efficiency,” said Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti Chief Executive Officer. “This included reducing our workforce in order to focus the organization and our resources on nearer-term strategic priorities and preserve available cash resources.

“Our next generation 84 qubit chip known as the Ankaa-1, with its new architecture of square lattice and tunable couplers, was internally deployed for testing this month. This chip is a leap forward in architectural design and is already showing superior performance compared with our prior generation 80 qubit Aspen M3 system based on our internal analysis. We are using the Ankaa-1 internally within Rigetti and initial performance is demonstrating improved median 2-qubit fidelity and faster gate speeds compared with the Aspen M3. We currently anticipate launching availability of Ankaa-1 to select customers in mid-2023 as we continue to work to improve Ankaa-1 performance with the goal of reaching median 2-qubit fidelity of 98% to support the anticipated Ankaa-2 84-qubit system. Ankaa-2 84-qubit system, with anticipated improved design and further improvement in performance is expected to be deployed and made available for external customers in the fourth quarter of 2023, following which we plan to continue work on the Ankaa-2 to reach 2-qubit fidelity of 99%.

“In the event we reach 2-qubit fidelity of 99%, which we expect to reach in 2024, we plan to move to tiling 4 Ankaa chips to develop the anticipated 336 qubit Lyra system. We expect that if this milestone is achieved, it will enable vastly greater scale and serve as a key and exciting step to bring Rigetti closer to quantum advantage,” said Kulkarni. 

Outlook

“At our current stage of development, we believe that executing toward our roadmap and achieving our technology milestones are key to fueling our goal of achieving quantum advantage. We believe Rigetti has enormous potential and could be able to contribute tremendous value as quantum computing potentially becomes mainstream by 2030. We remain focused on meeting our objectives,” said Dr. Kulkarni.

Based on its current operating plan, Rigetti expects to have cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale securities of between $65-$75 million at the end of 2023. At this time, based on its current operating plan, Rigetti anticipates that it will need to raise additional funding by late 2024 or early 2025 to continue its research and development efforts and achieve its business objectives.

Conference Call and Webcast

Rigetti will host a conference call later today at 5:00 p.m. ET, or 2:00 p.m. PT, to discuss its fourth quarter and year end 2022 financial results.

You can listen to a live audio webcast of the conference call at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/253j86pe or the "Events & Presentations" section of the Company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.rigetti.com/. A replay of the conference call will be available at the same locations following the conclusion of the call for one year.

To participate in the live call, you must register using the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIad8e205fd89b44f08963dfd7de0ac595.  Once registered, you will receive dial-in numbers and a unique PIN number. When you dial in, you will input your PIN and be routed into the call. If you register and forget your PIN, or lose the registration confirmation email, simply re-register to receive a new PIN.

About Rigetti

Rigetti is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The Company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. The Company’s proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides high performance integration with public and private clouds for practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industry’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The Company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industry’s first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Learn more at www.rigetti.com.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to the updated business plan, including with respect to its objectives and its technology roadmap, including its ability to achieve milestones including developing the Ankaa 84-qubit system to enable better performance than the Company’s current 80-qubit Aspen-M system and achieve target gate fidelities, including at least median 2-qubit fidelity of 98% on Ankaa-1 and at least 99% median 2-qubit gate fidelity on the anticipated Ankaa-2 on the anticipated timing or at all; the Company’s expectations with respect to the timing of next generation systems; the Company’s ability to scale to develop the Lyra 336-qubit system and develop practical applications on the anticipated timing or at all; the Company’s expectations with respect to the anticipated stages of quantum technology maturation, including its ability to develop a quantum computer that is able to solve a practical, operationally relevant problem significantly better, faster, or cheaper than a current classical solution and achieve narrow quantum advantage on the anticipated timing or at all; the Company's expectations with respect to the reduction in force, including anticipated benefits including anticipated reduction of operating expenses, anticipated preservation of available cash resources and anticipated expenses and charges associated with the reduction in force, as well as the expectation that the reduction in force will put the Company in a better position to deliver on the promise of quantum computing; expectations regarding cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2023 and the time by which the Company expects it will need to raise additional funding, including expectations with respect to capital expenditures; expectations with respect to management transitions; expectations with respect to the potential of the Company, including the potential for the Company to contribute tremendous value; and the potential of quantum computing to become mainstream and the timing thereof. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to achieve milestones, technological advancements, including with respect to its technology roadmap, help unlock quantum computing, and develop practical applications; the ability of the Company to obtain government contractors successfully and in a timely manner; the potential of quantum computing; the ability of the Company to obtain government contracts and the availability of government funding; the ability of the Company to expand its QCaaS business; the success of the Company’s partnerships and collaborations; the Company’s ability to accelerate its development of multiple generations of quantum processors; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company or others; the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and attract and retain management and key employees; costs related to operating as a public company; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, or competitive factors; the Company’s estimates of expenses and profitability; the evolution of the markets in which the Company competes; the ability of the Company to execute on its technology roadmap; the ability of the Company to implement its strategic initiatives, expansion plans and continue to innovate its existing services; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; the expected use of proceeds from the Company’s past and future financings or other capital; the sufficiency of the Company’s cash resources; unfavorable conditions in the Company’s industry, the global economy or global supply chain, including financial and credit market fluctuations and uncertainty, rising inflation and interest rates, disruptions in banking systems, increased costs, international trade relations, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare (such as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions against Russia), and terrorist attacks; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company’s future filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements other than as required by applicable law. The Company does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

Contacts
Rigetti Computing Investor Contact:
IR@Rigetti.com

Rigetti Computing Media Contact:
press@rigetti.com 

¹ In October 2021, the Company changed its fiscal year-end from January 31 to December 31, effective December 31, 2021.