Former Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan has entered the private sector with a new defence technology startup aimed at supporting Canada’s growing military and sovereignty ambitions, particularly in the Arctic.
Sajjan is a cofounder and executive chair of Juno Industries Inc., a Vancouver-based company developing autonomous systems software for use in high-risk environments. The startup officially launched Thursday, though it has been operating quietly since April 2025 and secured $3 million in seed funding last fall.
The move comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government accelerates defence spending and looks to strengthen Canada’s domestic defence industry.
Targeting Near-Term Military Needs
Juno Industries is led by CEO and cofounder Hunter Scharfe, who says the company is focused on practical technology that addresses immediate operational challenges.
“Our priority is technology that helps protect Canadian sovereignty,” Scharfe said. “We’re starting with Arctic operations and building toward broader dual-use capabilities that work across multiple domains.”
The company plans to share more technical details about its products in the coming months.
Leveraging Government Experience
Sajjan says his experience overseeing Canada’s military gives the company insight into long-standing gaps between defence needs and industry delivery.
“For years, there’s been a disconnect between what the military needs and what gets built,” he said. “We’re trying to close that gap by tying innovation directly to operational reality.”
Juno currently employs 10 people and plans to grow its team in Canada while expanding internationally.
Defence Spending Creates Opportunity
The company’s launch coincides with a sharp rise in global defence investment. Worldwide military spending reached a record US$2.7 trillion in 2024, while venture capital funding for defence technology climbed to US$49 billion in 2025.
In Canada, the federal government has committed nearly $82 billion to defence, including $6.6 billion specifically for domestic defence companies. A new Defence Industrial Strategy is expected soon, outlining how Ottawa plans to support innovation and industrial growth.
Scharfe said he hopes the strategy will prioritize faster funding decisions and stronger backing for dual-use research and development.
Focus on Canadian and Allied Markets
Juno plans to pursue contracts with the Canadian government first, followed by allied countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The company is also positioning itself to compete for a share of the $244 million recently allocated to support small and mid-sized defence technology firms.
“Canada is where we start,” Scharfe said. “But we also see opportunities to contribute to allied security as defence partnerships expand.”
Investors and Advisors
The startup is backed by a group of Canadian investors who have not been publicly named. Geordie Rose, founder of D-Wave Quantum and Sanctuary Cognitive Systems, is advising the company.
Sajjan served as Canada’s defence minister from 2015 to 2021 and later worked with the British Columbia government on defence-related economic opportunities. Scharfe, a University of Toronto graduate, previously invested in early-stage technology and founded an AI and cloud-focused investment firm in 2023.
