​What is Dual-Use? 

​Think of dual-use as a handshake between your company and the government. You have a great company, but there needs to be a government contract on the other end to make building for that market worth it. This is the way public procurement works.

​Without market demand in the form of a government contract or development grant, innovation is just a great idea without a business case.

​That handshake doesn’t happen automatically. Government buyers care less about whether your product works, and more about evaluating whether you can operate inside their world: procurement processes, compliance requirements, interoperability standards, security, governance, clearances and supply chain rules.

​Getting this right matters more than ever: Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy is putting close to $180 billion in procurement and $290 billion in related capital investment on the table over the next decade, and the companies that navigate this well keep serious revenue and their IP in Canada.

​This panel brings together perspectives from the advisors and investors who help companies find their footing in the defence and dual-use landscape. We’ll also touch on how programs like Alacrity’s ARC Lab are helping close the gap between promising tech and defence and dual use-ready companies.

​Karl Swannie

CEO of Intlabs, building a data governance platform for governments and enterprises. A 20-year technical leader and founder, he recently exited Echosec Systems, the global intelligence platform he founded and led, and has spoken at TEDx, NATO, and to European national security agencies. His expertise spans massive data aggregation, OSINT, privacy, AI, and security.

​Scott Dewis

Founder of Dewis Ventures, where he helps established Canadian companies scale and break into the defence, aerospace, and maritime markets. Over two decades he's founded and scaled multiple companies, from an Emmy-winning Hollywood VFX studio (Lost) to a defence tech firm delivering systems to the Canadian Armed Forces, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Babcock. His Engage™ program gets companies defence-market ready in 30 days.

​Logan Chester

CTO of Sidian, where he leads development of DataGuard, an AI-powered platform for protecting sensitive information and securing business documents. His work spans engineering leadership, machine learning, privacy, and product development, focused on making advanced technology practical for organizations handling sensitive data.

​Justin Young

Partner in Osler's Emerging and High Growth Companies group, focused on venture financing, M&A, and corporate matters for private tech companies. He has advised hundreds of technology clients across Canada and the US on financings raising over $1 billion since 2005, plus M&A deals ranging from $2 million to $17 billion. He also counsels clients on governance, licensing, SaaS, and other strategic matters.


In collaboration with Victoria Tech Week and sponsored by Osler.

​​About Alacrity Canada

​We back founders bringing Canadian technologies to the world stage. Through market-driven programs, funding opportunities, and advisory services, our tailored support helps homegrown businesses scale rapidly. Over the past 15 years, we have supported 24k+ entrepreneurs and created $1.8B+ of collective company value.

​About Osler

​Osler is a leading business law firm practising internationally from offices across Canada and in New York. Our clients include industry and business leaders in all segments of the market and at various stages in the growth of their businesses. We have built our reputation on our commitment to our clients' success and the experience, expertise and collaborative approach for which we are recognized. We believe that our success is a reflection of our clients' success.