Former defence minister Harjit Sajjan has co-founded Juno Industries Inc., a Vancouver-based defence technology start-up developing autonomous systems software for military and civilian use in high-consequence environments such as the Arctic. The company has operated in stealth since April 2025 and closed a $3-million seed financing round last fall.
Juno Industries says it will focus on Arctic sovereignty and dual-use capabilities that can serve both defence and civilian markets. The company currently employs a 10-person core team in one Vancouver office and plans to scale in Canada and internationally while recruiting Canadian technical and defence experts.
Company leadership and advisory
Juno was co-founded by Sajjan, who serves as executive chair, and Hunter Scharfe, who is chief executive. Sajjan served in the Canadian Armed Forces and was federal minister of national defence from 2015 to 2021. The start-up lists several Canadian investors and entrepreneurs among its backers, and Geordie Rose, founder of D-Wave and robotics firm Sanctuary Cognitive Systems, is a senior adviser.
Since my time as national minister of defence, I’ve stressed the need for predictability, certainty and a clear path forward to strengthen our military and defence sector. We are now seeing the early foundations of that vision take shape, and I believe the team at Juno Industries has the talent, know-how and capital to help advance innovation in Canada and among allied partners.
Harjit Sajjan
We are focusing on technology that directly addresses near-term needs to secure Canadian sovereignty. Our initial focus is on Arctic sovereignty, with a vision to build all-domain dual-use capabilities.
Hunter Scharfe
What the company is building
Juno has not released detailed product specifications. The company says it develops autonomous systems software intended for high-consequence operating environments where reliability and safety are critical. The stated aim is to link capability development more directly to operational needs, using expertise from the public and private sectors.
Policy and market backdrop
The launch comes as defence spending and investment in security-related technologies rise globally. Global military expenditures reached a record US$2.7 trillion in 2024, and venture capital activity in defence technology climbed to US$49 billion in 2025, up from about US$7 billion a decade earlier. In the most recent federal budget, Ottawa committed nearly $82 billion to defence over several years, with $6.6 billion earmarked for the defence industry.
The federal government plans to release a Defence Industrial Strategy to guide procurement, research and innovation. Juno has signalled it will pursue Canadian government contracts first, while also targeting allied partners in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Canada remains our top priority as we work to build technology that secures our nation’s sovereignty. As Canada establishes new partnerships around the globe, we hope to be a meaningful contributor and play a role in enhancing allied security.
Hunter Scharfe
Hiring, funding and near-term plans
Juno plans to expand its technical and defence hiring in Canada, and to seek both domestic and international contracts. The company aims to compete for newly announced funding streams, including a $244 million allocation for small-to-mid-sized dual-use and defence technology companies. Sajjan told reporters his public-sector experience will help align product development with operational requirements.
- Founders: Harjit Sajjan (executive chair) and Hunter Scharfe (CEO)
- Headquarters: Vancouver
- Status: In stealth since April 2025
- Seed funding: $3-million round closed in fall 2025
- Staff: 10 core team members
- Focus: Autonomous systems software, initial emphasis on Arctic sovereignty
- Adviser: Geordie Rose
Juno’s announcement positions the company at the intersection of rising government defence budgets and growing private investment in security technology. The start-up will need to deliver tangible capabilities and secure government partners to move beyond early-stage funding.
Expect Juno to publish product details and hiring plans in the coming months as it seeks contracts and scales operations. The company says it will release more information on its technology and commercial strategy soon.
