Defence technology startup Dominion Dynamics has raised $4 million in pre-seed funding to advance its mission of modernizing Arctic surveillance and establishing Canada as a global leader in sovereign defence innovation.
The round was backed almost entirely by Canadian investors, including Garage Capital, Golden Ventures, Afore Capital, Side Door Ventures, and several strategic angels. While Afore and Side Door are based in the U.S., the partners leading their investments are Canadian. Founder Eliot Pence noted that less than $50,000 came from U.S.-based investors, emphasizing the company’s Canadian roots.
Building a Modern Arctic Surveillance Network
Founded in June 2025, Dominion Dynamics is developing a defence intelligence platform that links off-the-shelf sensors across land, sea, air, and space into a unified data fabric. This system enables real-time coordination, detection, and data sharing across allied networks — with an initial focus on Canada’s Arctic region, where melting ice and emerging trade routes are reshaping geopolitical dynamics.
In September, the company signed a three-year partnership with the Arctic Training Centre in Whitehorse to develop and field-test its systems in extreme northern conditions.
“Within 12 to 18 months, we’ll be able to create a mesh network capable of detecting vessels across the Arctic — at a fraction of the cost of a NORAD modernization,” said Mitch Carkner, COO of Dominion Dynamics.
The funding, raised on a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), will support product development, field testing, and the expansion of Dominion’s team from fewer than 10 employees to around 40 by early 2026.
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Aiming to Build Canada’s First Sovereign Defence Prime
Dominion Dynamics was founded by Eliot Pence, a Victoria, BC native and former Head of International Operations at Anduril Industries, where he helped scale the company from a startup into one of the world’s leading defence tech innovators. Pence and Carkner plan to emulate Anduril’s “build-first” model — anticipating future defence needs rather than waiting for government procurement.
“We’re building a sovereign defence prime for Canada — one capable of competing with the major American and European defence companies,” said Carkner.
Strengthened by Canadian Leadership
Dominion’s advisory board features some of Canada’s most experienced defence and finance leaders:
- Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Conservative Party, serves as Chair.
- General Wayne Eyre, former Chief of the Defence Staff.
- Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau, former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.
- Neil Cunningham, former CEO of PSP Investments.
Positioned at the Heart of Canada’s Defence Renaissance
Dominion’s rise comes amid a resurgence in Canada’s defence technology sector, spurred by the government’s commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035, a new procurement modernization agency, and a push for institutional investment in national security innovation.
“Canada’s defence future cannot be outsourced,” said Eliot Pence, Founder and CEO.
“We have the talent, the commitment, and the strategic need — but until now, we’ve lacked a company built from the ground up to deliver modern capability at the speed of relevance.”
About Dominion Dynamics
Dominion Dynamics is a Canadian defence technology company developing AI-driven sensor fusion and surveillance systems to enhance Arctic and national security. By integrating land, sea, air, and space data into a unified network, Dominion provides governments and allies with real-time situational awareness, resilient infrastructure monitoring, and scalable intelligence solutions designed for the next generation of sovereign defence.
