Archive - The Canadian Explorers

Three Months of The Canadian Explorers

Fourteen conversations with the people shaping Canada’s future

Aug 1 • Ethan Marcoux

July 2026

Fighting Wildfires With Drone Swarms | Alex Deslauriers — Explorer Spotlight #9

FireSwarm builds drone-agnostic autonomy for ultra-heavy-lift aircraft that fight wildfires and move critical loads through contested environments.

Jul 30 • Ethan Marcoux

Autonomous Manufacturing for Ukraine | Kath Intson — Explorer Spotlight #8

Sentinel R&D is automating manufacturing of unmanned systems for the next generation of warfare.

Jul 23 • Ethan Marcoux

The Icebreaker | Matthew Lombardi on Canadian Defence Startups

The Icebreaker co-founder and ONE9 director on procurement, founder traits, quantum cybersecurity, and the next generation of Canadian defence…

Jul 21 • Ethan Marcoux

Vertical Takeoff Planes | Brandon Robinson — Explorer Spotlight #7

Horizon Aircraft is building a hybrid-electric VTOL designed to take off like a helicopter and fly like a conventional aircraft.

Jul 16 • Ethan Marcoux

The Founder Who Refused to Quit | Samuel Witherspoon, ANVIL

Listen now | Canadian Explorers II: From legal software to sovereign Canadian defence technology.

Jul 14 • Ethan Marcoux

48:30

A Canadian Era of Startups, Defence & Greatness | Harley Finkelstein, Shopify

Be Too Good to Ignore: The President of Shopify on raising globally, reversing Canada’s brain drain, and building world-class companies from Canada.

Jul 10 • Ethan Marcoux

Medical Manufacturing Anywhere | Dr. Harvey Hawes — Explorer Spotlight #6

Building Bloc Systems is building forward deployed medical microfactories for warzones, disaster response, and remote environments.

Jul 9 • Ethan Marcoux

Flying Sea Drones | Dr. Mike Peasgood — Explorer Spotlight #5

ENVGO is building six-foot autonomous surface vessels designed to travel four times farther than conventional boats.

Jul 2 • Ethan Marcoux

June 2026

Marconi on Startups & Exporting

Marconi CEO Alain Cohen on the first Canadian contract under SAFE, selling into Europe, and partnering with Canadian startups.

Jun 29 • Ethan Marcoux

Countering Drones With Sound | Parth Mahendru — Explorer Spotlight #4

Prandtl Dynamics won $750,000 from DND building acoustic technology that can now detect drones before they are powered on.

Jun 25 • Ethan Marcoux

Canada's First National Security VC | Glenn Cowan — Explorer Spotlight #3

Sitting down with the founder of Canada's first national security venture capital firm.

Jun 17 • Ethan Marcoux

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