D-Wave Systems Inc. was founded in 1999 to explore the commercial potential of quantum computation.

Focused on solving problems poorly served by traditional computational methods, D-Wave brought together leading experts from academia and industry to design and build commercially useful quantum computers. As the recognized leader in the fabrication and integration of superconducting quantum processors, D-Wave is uniquely positioned to usher in a new era of ultra-performance processing solutions. In 2010, D-Wave completed the world's first commercial sale of a quantum computer to Lockheed Martin Corporation. 

In 2013, D-Wave has completed its development of D-Wave Two, a 512-qubit processor, of which early tests indicate performance beyond the capability of classical computing systems for a given set of hard benchmark problems. In 2013 a D-Wave Two was installed as part of a scheduled upgrade of the Lockheed Martin system and is currently being installed at the new Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, a collaboration among NASA, Google and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).