Founder in Residence

FOUNDER-IN-RESIDENCE (DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY TRACK)

Location:
Remote (Immigrant, Indigenous & global founders highly encouraged)

Commitment:
Full-Time (40+ hrs/week)

Why This Matters Now

Canada is making unprecedented investments in dual-use technologies—commercial systems with defense, security, or critical infrastructure applications. Recent policy shifts prioritize domestic suppliers. Government programs provide significant non-dilutive funding. The "Buy Canadian" mandate creates structural advantages.

But there's a gap:
World-class technical founders—especially immigrants, Indigenous innovators, and global operators—face systemic barriers in Canadian venture capital. Traditional VCs don't understand dual-use markets or government procurement.

Nordiqon Venture Studio offers a different path:
Build dual-use technologies with embedded operational support—commercial traction + government positioning—from a Canadian base with access to funding traditional startups can't access.

Since launching, we've attracted founders in AI/ML, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, supply chain intelligence, and climate tech—technical experts told their backgrounds "didn't fit the pattern."

This isn't an advisory program.
Our operators embed in your venture from day one—product, GTM, government positioning, and compliance. Spots are limited, and early applicants get priority review.

About Nordiqon Venture Studio

Nordiqon is Canada's dual-use technology studio—purpose-built for overlooked technical founders.

We co-create ventures in:

AI & Autonomous Systems

Cybersecurity & Secure Communications

Quantum Technologies

Advanced Sensors & Surveillance

Supply Chain Intelligence

Climate & Resource Security

Whether you bring your own concept or choose from our validated pipeline, we embed product, GTM, and operational specialists into your team—giving you a Canadian launchpad and positioning for both commercial scale and government contracts.

The Role: Founder-in-Residence

You'll join our
Sprint-to-Spinout Track
—to explore and validate a high-potential dual-use venture:

• Bring your own idea
  with strong founder-market fit in dual-use domains, or
• Co-build from our validated pipeline
  targeting commercial + government opportunities

Your mission:
Lead discovery, build MVP, secure early commercial traction, position for government funding, and establish foundation for dual-market growth.
Successful founders transition into 12-month studio partnership
with continued operational support, government funding applications, procurement positioning, and preparation for strategic fundraising.

What You'll Do

Lead customer discovery in commercial and government buyer contexts

Develop, prototype, or refine MVP

Secure early commercial traction—pilots, LOIs, design partners, or first revenue

Position for government funding programs (IRAP, SR&ED, IDEaS)

Shape business model and GTM strategy for dual markets

Join (bi)weekly studio check-ins and cohort feedback sessions

Who You Are

Deep technical expertise in AI, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, quantum, sensors, supply chain, or related dual-use domains

Have built/shipped products, led technical teams, or driven innovation in relevant sectors

Already working on a compelling idea or eager to co-build from proven thesis

Understand both commercial market pain AND potential government/defense applications

Thrive in ambiguity and validate before scaling—not "build and hope"

Immigrant founder, Indigenous founder, diaspora entrepreneur, or global operator—especially if told your background "doesn't fit the pattern"

Ready to build from Canada (remote initially, optional relocation via Startup Visa)

What We Offer

Founder-level role with clear path to CEO/Co-Founder of studio-backed venture

Path to equity + competitive salary as venture achieves traction

12-month embedded studio support
with product, GTM, government funding, legal, and compliance operators

Government funding support: IRAP grants, SR&ED tax credits, IDEaS competitions (six figures in non-dilutive capital available)

Procurement navigation and security requirement guidance

Optional relocation & Canadian Startup Visa sponsorship

Access to defense industry contacts, procurement officers, and innovation programs

Who We're Looking For: Success Profiles

International Technical Expert:
Former engineer with supply chain security, autonomous systems, or critical infrastructure expertise. Understands commercial + government buyer needs. Told by VCs: "We don't invest outside our networks."

Indigenous Innovator:
Deep understanding of sovereignty, resource management, or territorial systems. Building commercial solutions with clear government applications in Arctic operations, disaster response, or resource security.

Defense-Adjacent Expert:
Worked in aerospace, critical infrastructure, or government sectors. Sees commercial applications for defense tech or dual-use potential for commercial innovations.

Diaspora Entrepreneur:
Built venture abroad, wants North American expansion. Domain expertise in markets Canadian VCs don't understand. Technology has commercial market + strategic defense/security relevance.

Research Commercialization:
PhD/researcher with breakthrough in quantum, AI, sensors, or related field. Strong technical foundation, needs operational support for commercial product + government positioning.

How to Apply

If you're ready to build dual-use technology with hands-on operational support from day one:

Apply here:

Or apply directly through this job post.

What Makes Nordiqon Different

We're not an accelerator giving advice—we embed operators for 12 months. We're not traditional VC writing checks—we provide product, GTM, government positioning, and compliance expertise.

We back founders others overlook—not for diversity, but because "non-traditional" backgrounds are strategic advantages in dual-use markets. International expertise, unconventional paths, and perspectives others miss become your competitive edge.

We position for both markets from day one. Commercial viability first—but we help you access government funding while building traction. Government revenue becomes non-dilutive growth capital.

We're Year 1, building track record in real time. Early founders get disproportionate attention. You're not just joining a studio—you're helping shape how Canada supports overlooked founders in dual-use markets.

Questions?
| Learn more:

Equal opportunity employer. We particularly encourage applications from immigrant, Indigenous, and diaspora founders—not for diversity metrics, but because dual-use markets reward precisely the expertise traditional venture capital overlooks.