Dominion Dynamics, a fledgling defence technology company based in Ottawa, has secured $4 million in pre-seed funding to develop a deployable mesh network designed to enhance surveillance and threat detection in Canada’s remote Arctic regions. The funding round, completed in August, was backed almost entirely by Canadian investors, underscoring a growing commitment to domestic innovation in defence technology.
The company, founded in June by Eliot Pence, a former head of international growth at U.S.-based Anduril Industries, aims to address critical gaps in communications and data collection for the Canadian Rangers—a reserve unit of the Canadian Armed Forces operating in rural and isolated areas. Dominion’s first product is a sensor network that functions as a command-and-control system for regions lacking robust communications infrastructure.
The network consists of small, AirTag-like devices that can be stationary or carried by military personnel. These sensors connect to phones or cameras to collect data, such as images and voice notes, and transmit it across a mesh network to a communications tower. This real-time data is then relayed to nearby military bases, producing a 3D map that allows forces to monitor activities in the field.
“We’re building that digital archive of the country through the eyes of these Rangers,” Pence said, highlighting the technology’s potential to revolutionise situational awareness in remote regions.
The Canadian Rangers, numbering around 5,000 and stationed in over 220 communities, play a vital role in reporting unusual activity, collecting data, and conducting patrols. However, their effectiveness has been hampered by outdated technology and limited connectivity—a challenge Dominion Dynamics seeks to overcome.
As Prime Minister Mark Carney invests billions in bolstering Canada’s Arctic presence, the need for modernised communications infrastructure has become increasingly urgent. Erin O’Toole, former Conservative Party leader and chair of Dominion Dynamics’ advisory board, emphasised the importance of addressing these gaps.
“This is something that gives us an immediate sovereignty solution in the North,” O’Toole said, referencing a 2019 report he co-authored that called for enhanced Arctic surveillance and communications capabilities. The report’s recommendations, which included training Rangers on drone usage and upgrading military communications infrastructure, have largely gone unheeded until now.
Dominion Dynamics conducted its first trial of the sensor network with the Canadian Rangers in Northern Ontario between September 29 and October 6. The feedback gathered will inform further development of the technology, with testing set to continue at sites such as the Yukon-based Arctic Training Centre.
“We need to just put stuff in the Arctic and let it sit there and get conditions, telemetry data off of the hardware, understand how it performs so that we can design different ways of ruggedizing it,” Pence said, outlining the company’s approach to adapting its technology for extreme environments.
The company’s advisory board includes prominent figures such as former chief of defence staff Wayne Eyre and former CEO of Public Sector Pension Investments Board Neil Cunningham. Dominion Dynamics’ pre-seed funding round was led by Canadian venture funds Garage Capital, Golden Ventures, and Afore Capital, with additional support from angel investors.
Looking ahead, Dominion Dynamics plans to expand its sensor network to include ground, underwater, space, and personnel-based systems, creating a comprehensive display of Arctic activities for military personnel. The company also intends to develop low-cost drones that can serve as early warning and detection systems for aircraft such as the F-35.
With a team of 10, including four veterans, Dominion Dynamics is poised to leverage its expertise in defence technology to address critical gaps in Canada’s Arctic surveillance capabilities. As O’Toole noted, the company’s innovations offer a timely solution to long-standing challenges in the region.
“We’re behind everywhere we need to be. So, what solutions, what innovations can we bring to solve real problems today? That’s what Dominion’s offering.”