Trudeaus former defence minister launches tech startup that could bolster Arctic sovereignty
Summary
Former Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan and Hunter Scharfe launched Vancouver-based Juno Industries to develop autonomous systems software for military and civilian use in high-consequence environments, with an initial focus on Arctic sovereignty. The startup has operated in stealth since April 2025, employs 10 core team members, and plans to recruit Canadian technical and defence experts as it scales. Juno closed a $3 million seed financing round in the fall to fund development and will release product details soon, positioning itself as a dual-use defence technology provider. The launch aligns with increased global defence spending and Canadian government commitments to bolster the defence industrial base and an upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.