Canadian and U.S. intelligence partners issue guidance to protect Western tech startups from exploitation in international pitch competitions
News release
September 4, 2025—Ottawa, Ontario
Today, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), along with U.S. intelligence partners issued new guidance to help protect Western technology startups from potential exploitation in international pitch competitions.
While international pitch competitions can offer tech startups exposure and funding opportunities, they can also lead to exploitation by foreign entities looking to acquire Western innovation and skills for economic and military advantage.
CSIS issued the bulletin with its U.S. intelligence partners: the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) Office of Economic Security and Emerging Technology (OESET).
Quotes
“CSIS actively works with its partners, including the U.S., Five Eyes and others around the world in order to identify threats, inform Canadians and share mitigation measures. Canadian tech startups are essential to the Canadian economy and should protect themselves from potential threats or exploitation by threat actors.”
- Dan Rogers, Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
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Canadian Security Intelligence Service