Inside Canadian Defence: What Nobody Tells You About Selling into the System
Unlocking the Canadian defence market requires more than breakthrough technology—it demands strategic navigation, regulatory clarity, and the right network. Join Scale Up for an exclusive, high-impact evening designed to unpack what it truly takes to scale and secure contracts within Canada’s defence ecosystem.
Why Attend?
Direct Ecosystem Access: Connect face-to-face with key leaders across government, prime defence contractors, venture capital, and prospective strategic partners.
Actionable Industry Insights: Tap into the collective expertise of our venture cohort, advisors, and industry veterans as they share practical playbooks on procurement, compliance, and commercialization.
High-Value Networking: Build meaningful relationships with decision-makers, sponsors, and high-potential founders actively shaping the future of national security innovation.
Whether you are a dual-use startup seeking your first government contract, an investor eyeing high-growth defence tech, or an ecosystem partner looking to collaborate, this event offers a front-row seat to the conversations driving Canadian defence forward.
Space is limited. Register for your spot today to engage with the innovators and leaders transforming the industry.
Event Details:
When: 5:00 - 7:30pm (Doors Open at 4:30pm)
Where: Downtown Vancouver (Precise location shared with approved attendees)
Agenda:
4:30pm - Registration
5:00pm - Opening remarks
5:10pm - Keynote from Louise Mercier
5:30pm - Panel featuring Seaspan & 49North
6:15pm - Audience Q&A
6:30pm - Networking Reception
Questions? Send us an email at support@thescaleup.ca
About our Keynote Speaker - Louise Mercier:
Louise Mercier is President of FMJ Solutions and a senior Canadian defence procurement and business development strategist with nearly three decades of experience navigating complex military procurements. She has led major defence and security pursuits resulting in contracts valued in the billions of dollars, working across political, military and industrial stakeholders to shape strategy, capture opportunities and build winning proposals. Her expertise spans defence market strategy, procurement, industrial participation and government decision-making, giving her a uniquely practical perspective on what it actually takes to navigate and succeed in the Canadian defence system.
Thank you to our Event Sponsor!
About UBC Sauder's ScaleUp Program
UBC Sauder's Scale Up Program is Canada's first scale-stage defence technology accelerator and executive leadership program, designed to support high-potential Canadian companies navigate the path from advanced innovation to procurement, partnerships, and global market readiness. Delivered by the team behind CDL-Vancouver, the program supports founders building defence-relevant technologies with the commercial discipline, strategic access, and ecosystem connections required to grow in complex sectors.
Anchored at UBC Sauder and connected to one of Canada's strongest commercialization ecosystems, the program brings together founders, CXOs, defence-sector operators, investors, and institutional partners to strengthen Canada's next generation of globally competitive defence technology firms.