Main Sequence doubles down on advanced computer era by promoting Alejandra Romero to principal

Deep-tech venture capital firm Main Sequence Ventures has promoted Alejandra Romero to principal in a move that doubles down on the group's bet that the next wave of computing gets won at the hardware layer, not just in software.

Romero, who has backed pioneers such as Q-CTRL, Diraq and Quantum Brilliance, leads Main Sequence’s investments across advanced physical systems, semiconductors, quantum and AI hardware.

She joined Main Sequence as an investment analyst in 2023 working closely with CSIRO, universities and research institutions and helping to build new companies from the ground up.

“My proudest work so far has been building Cortisonic through our Venture Science model,” says Romero, who also co-authored the firm’s Quantum Investment Thesis.

“We took foundational university technology to market with Lockheed Martin as our first commercial partner.

“That partnership is now shaping how we expand the strategic model into other commercial domains.

“Helping companies fundraise through significant, large-scale rounds and expand successfully overseas has also been a defining part of that journey.”

Main Sequence manages $1billion across three funds and has backed almost 80 companies including two unicorns, Advanced Navigation and Gilmour Space.

As principal Romero will drive deal sourcing as well as evaluate deep-tech and research-based startups and lead due diligence in an area that she sees as critical to innovation.

"Seven years ago, we made our first quantum investment,” she says.

“Today, we have a portfolio of companies defining the next era of computing.

“I've spent the last three years at Main Sequence backing and building companies that are rethinking computation from first principles.

“What if magnetic fields replaced GPS? What if sound waves processed information at the edge? What if millions of qubits sat on a single chip using existing semiconductor manufacturing?

“These aren't hypothetical questions. They're the starting points for Deteqt, Cortisonic and Diraq from our portfolio."

Romero believes that the sector’s narrative must expand past the promise of future computing to the immediate reality of physical substrate. 

“The next era of computing isn’t defined by any one paradigm - quantum, semiconductors, AI hardware - it’s defined by who controls the physics advantage and the infrastructure built around it,” she says.

“True advantage happens at the hardware level. Whether it’s new semiconductor architectures, AI chips or sensing systems, our job is to translate complex physics into tangible infrastructure that regular markets can easily value and adopt.”

Romero’s early career and path into venture spans science, marketing and sales roles across Europe, plus co-founding a cross-border humanitarian nonprofit.

She previously commercialised university research at Uniseed and holds honours degrees in applied science from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universidad Complutense de Madrid.