Ottawa, Canada – November 4, 2025 – Ottawa’s defence and cybersecurity ecosystem continues to stand out on the national stage.
A recent feature from the Ottawa Business Journal, created in partnership with Invest Ottawa, highlighted five emerging companies at the forefront of innovation, developing technologies that strengthen national security, enhance situational awareness, and advance Canada’s global competitiveness.
From AI-powered training systems to quantum-secure encryption and interoperable command software, these startups reflect the strength, diversity, and purpose-driven innovation that define Canada’s Capital.
Here are the five companies highlighted in the recent feature.
Founded in 2015 by Tunch Akkaya and Elijah Wu, GameStrat is redefining real-time video replay for sports and tactical environments. Its platform provides offline, wireless, multi-angle replay to support coaching, combat simulation, and training in even the most remote or disconnected environments. Already trusted by more than 850 football programs across the U.S., GameStrat is collaborating with early adopters in law enforcement and special operations communities to expand into performance analysis and tactical training.
A 2017 Ottawa-founded company led by Hugo Hodgett, H2 Analytics develops Exercise Architect Suite (EASE) — a platform that delivers realistic, data-rich training simulations for military, intelligence, and public safety organizations. Ranked 12th among Deloitte’s 2025 Technology Fast 50 Companies-to-Watch, H2 Analytics has supported over 50 exercises since its founding, working with the Canadian Armed Forces, national security agencies, and allied partners to modernize defence training with scalable, AI-driven automation.
Founded in 2022 by Daly Brown and Nick Foubert, Metropolitan Technologies is developing a decentralized connectivity, IoT/OT cybersecurity, and data mesh platform that connects and protects critical infrastructure in the world’s most challenging environments.
The company’s “compliance-by-design” solution supports digital transformation across energy, transportation, industrial, and defence sectors. Backed by early funding and partnerships with multinational defence primes, Metropolitan Technologies is advancing the future of secure, resilient communications infrastructure.
Founded in 2018 by James Nguyen and Randy Kuang, Quantropi is one of Canada’s leading quantum cybersecurity companies. Its QiSpace® platform delivers quantum-secure cryptographic solutions that protect communications, devices, and networks from quantum and AI-enabled attacks.
A participant in the 2025 NATO DIANA Accelerator Program, Quantropi’s technology has been benchmarked by Deutsche Telekom and Siemens Research, with commercial partnerships including ST Micro, Renesas, Palo Alto Networks, and Himera.
Founded in 2022 by CAF veteran Michael Nelson, Tactiql builds software that automates the conditioning of remote, multi-modal sensor data for interoperability across military command, control, and intelligence systems. Its flagship software, Fulcrum, helps enable universal data compatibility across DND/CAF, Five Eyes, and NATO systems. Tactiql was one of just 15 companies selected for NATO DIANA Phase II out of more than 2,600 applicants from 32 countries.
With more than 330 defence, security, and cybersecurity companies employing over 10,000 people, Ottawa is home to one of Canada’s largest and most sophisticated defence innovation ecosystems. The region houses 65 federal research labs, the headquarters of DND, DRDC, RCMP, CSIS, and CSE, and multiple NATO DIANA test centres, including Area X.O, Canada’s ITB-certified R&D complex for emerging technologies.
This deep concentration of talent, infrastructure, and mission-driven innovation enables Ottawa companies to develop technologies that advance national sovereignty, global security, and economic growth.
Collectively, these startups underscore Ottawa’s position as a national hub for defence, cybersecurity, and dual-use innovation – an ecosystem defined by collaboration between entrepreneurs, post-secondary institutions, research organizations, and government partners.
- Read the full feature on the Ottawa Business Journal: Five of the hottest Ottawa startups in defence and cybersecurity.
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