Episode 8: xahive cybersecurity

Episode 8: xahive cybersecurity

In the final episode of the season, we sit down with Sem Ponnambalam, Co-Founder and CEO of xahive, an Ottawa-based cybersecurity company helping organizations prepare for the next generation of digital threats. Drawing on her background in international policy, trade, and national security, Sem explains post-quantum cryptography in plain language, explores why cybersecurity is a leadership and culture challenge (not just a technical one), and shares why Ottawa’s unique ecosystem makes it a critical hub for cyber defence innovation in Canada and beyond.

Episode 7: Anvil Intelligence

In episode 7, we sit down with Samuel Witherspoon, co-founder and CEO of Anvil Intelligence, an Ottawa-based defence and national security company that’s transforming how analysts and commanders make decisions. Drawing on his background as an engineer, lawyer, and clerk at Canada’s National Security Court, Sam shares how Anvil’s technology increases analytical capacity for the Canadian Armed Forces, why Ottawa is Canada’s defence innovation hub, and the lessons of persistence, trust, and human-centred leadership that have guided the company for over a decade.

Episode 6: H2 Analytics Inc.

In this episode, we sit down with Hugo Hodgett, founder and CEO of H2 Analytics Inc., an Ottawa-based defence and intelligence company that’s transforming how elite military teams train. A veteran of Army Intelligence and Special Operations, Hugo shares how his mission command leadership style has shaped H2 Analytics’ culture, why the company is betting big on AI and realistic training exercises, and the importance of being rooted in Canada’s Capital Region.

Episode 5: TACTIQL

In Episode 5, we’re joined by Mike Nelson, founder and CEO of TACTIQL. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who served overseas, Mike turned his focus to defence tech innovation after leaving the military. He explains how his company is helping standardise and integrate disparate sensor and intelligence systems, why Ottawa is the heart of Canada’s defence innovation ecosystem, and how mission focus and perseverance still guide him, whether in uniform or in entrepreneurship. Tune in to hear how Mike and TACTIQL are bringing commercial scale tech to the national defence domain.

Episode 4: Dominion Dynamics

In this episode, we’re joined by Eliot Pence, founder of Dominion Dynamics and General Partner at Tofino Capital. Eliot shares his journey to leading the charge in Canada’s frontier defence innovation, building sovereign capability for the Arctic and beyond. He discusses the lessons learned from global defence technology, the importance of speed and action over asking for permission, and why Ottawa is the right place and time for Canada to become a hub for 21st-century defence innovation. Tune in to hear how Eliot and Dominion Dynamics are redefining what it means to protect and lead in a complex, tech-driven world.