Canada’s $35 Billion Arctic Push, the New Cost of War, and Building Sovereign Capability with Glenn Cowan of ONE9
About this episode
Glenn Cowan discusses Canada's evolving defence landscape and the role of venture capital in national security.
In this episode of Tank Talks , host Matt Cohen sits down with Glenn Cowan, a former Canadian Special Forces squadron commander, world-record skydiver, and founder of ONE9 Investments, one of Canada’s most focused venture firms in defence, national security, and dual-use tech. He has experienced both sides of the mission, from the field to the boardroom, and brings a perspective you do not hear often when it comes to building serious, sovereign technology in 2026. Glenn opens up about his unexpected shift from military operations into venture capital and what he is seeing firsthand as Canada’s defence landscape rapidly evolves. He breaks down major moves like the federal government’s $35 billion Arctic defence infrastructure push and BDC’s expanded $6 billion defence platform, translating what those headlines actually mean for founders, investors, and the country’s long-term capability. The conversation also digs into bigger questions, including how Canada balances sovereignty with working alongside allies, why the Arctic is becoming strategically critical, and how venture capital is stepping in as a real force in national security. If you are building in defence tech, investing…
People in this episode
Host: Matt Cohen
Guest: Glenn Cowan
Topics covered
- defence technology
- venture capital
- national security
- sovereignty
- Arctic strategy
- dual-use innovation
Keywords
- defence
- venture capital
- national security
- Arctic defence
- sovereign capability
- dual-use technology
- Canada
- investment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ONE9 Investments, BDC
Places: Canada, Arctic
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