Martello Defence Advisory

We help commercially capable companies become defence-capable organizations.

Martello Advisory bridges the gap between commercial innovation and defence adoption — providing the institutional credibility, strategic translation, and ecosystem access that established companies need to become effective participants in the Canadian defence sector.

$180B

Canadian defence procurement pipeline over the next two decades — Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy, 2026

70%

Of contracts targeted to Canadian firms within 10 years under the new BUILD-PARTNER-BUY framework

110+

Entry points, programmes, and pathways in the Canadian defence ecosystem — most commercial companies know fewer than five

Why Most Commercial Companies Fail to Enter Defence

The gap isn't capability. It's institutional knowledge.

Many of Canada's most capable commercial firms — technically strong, operationally mature, with proven products or services — are structurally unable to access the defence sector. Not because their capability falls short, but because they lack the institutional understanding, trusted relationships, and procurement knowledge that defence requires.

At the same time, the defence sector continues to struggle with slow adoption of commercial innovation, fragmented capability development, and limited visibility into what commercially mature organizations can actually deliver.

Martello Advisory exists to close that gap.

Most founders who have thought about defence assume the sector is a closed system — built for insiders, too slow to be worth the effort, or simply a different world. That assumption is understandable and almost always wrong. The companies that succeed in defence are rarely the ones with the most sophisticated technology. They are the ones who understood the institutional environment well enough to work within it. That is a navigable problem. It is what Martello Advisory exists to solve.

The timing has rarely been better.

Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy, released in early 2026, commits to a $180 billion procurement pipeline over the next two decades — with 70% of contracts targeted to Canadian firms.

The opportunity is large and the window to establish a position is open. The question for most commercial companies is not whether the opportunity is real. It's whether they have the institutional knowledge to reach it.

2026
Canada's first-ever comprehensive Defence Industrial Strategy — the window is open now
Why Companies Work With Martello Advisory

A different kind of defence advisory practice.

vs. Traditional Consultants
Martello Advisory builds integrated operational capability through a structured delivery plan — not advice alone. Results are tied to client outcomes, not hours billed.
vs. Defence Contractors
We start from commercial capability discovery — not defence-first development. Clients retain full ownership of their commercialization strategy.
vs. Accelerators & Incubators
We focus on operational integration and commercialization for established businesses — not startup mentorship or incubation infrastructure.
vs. Government Relations Firms
We bring operational delivery capability and technical credibility, not just access and relationships. We can take a company from positioning through to contract execution.
vs. Systems Integrators
We add organizational intelligence, strategic translation, and integration expertise — building the capability alongside you, not just connecting the parts.
What We Deliver

Built for every part of the equation.

For Commercial Companies

  • Translate capability into defence-relevant language
  • Reduce procurement confusion and institutional friction
  • Provide strategic positioning and stakeholder access
  • Build operational credibility and process maturity
  • Structure partnerships and integration pathways

For Defence Organizations

  • Surface commercially mature capabilities faster
  • Reduce evaluation friction with vetted companies
  • Access integrated, pre-assessed capability combinations
  • Lower adoption risk versus unproven startups

How We Work

  • Select clients, not volume
  • Every engagement built on a defined Roadmap
  • Connected inside the community, not observing from outside it
  • Results measured against your outcomes, not our hours
Interactive Ecosystem Map

Most commercial companies have no map of this sector.

The Canadian defence ecosystem has over 110 entry points, programmes, and pathways across 9 major areas — from government customers and procurement vehicles to defence primes, innovation funding, and international markets. We've mapped all of it.

Explore the Full Ecosystem Map
01
Government & Military Customers
5 entities
02
Procurement & Contracting
7 mechanisms
03
Innovation & Funding Programs
8 programs
04
Defence Primes & Tier 1 Contractors
15 companies
06
Innovation Ecosystem
7 organizations
+ 4 more areas
View full map →
Defence Readiness Snapshot

Find Out Where You Stand — In Five Days

Not sure if your company is ready for defence — or whether defence is the right move at all? A structured expert assessment of your company's defence applicability, delivered within 5 business days. Clear, honest, and specific to your situation.

What you receive:

  • 1
    Capability Summary

    A clear, defence-relevant restatement of what your company actually does, in language that resonates with military buyers and programme offices.

  • 2
    Defence Applicability Rating

    Assessment across four dimensions: technical fit, procurement accessibility, organizational readiness, and competitive differentiation.

  • 3
    Top 2–3 Realistic Opportunities

    Specific programs, vehicles, or customer types most likely to be accessible given your current position. A prioritized view of what is actually within reach.

  • 4
    The Critical Gap

    The single most important thing standing between your company and defence market entry. Named directly, so you can act on it.

  • 5
    Recommended Next Step

    A specific, actionable recommendation — which may or may not involve Martello Advisory. The Snapshot is designed to be genuinely useful regardless.

Start with clarity.

Before committing time or resources to pursuing the defence sector, get a clear, expert-validated view of whether and how defence market entry makes sense for your company.

Request Your Snapshot Learn how we work first

Martello Advisory works with a select number of clients at any time. If you're considering defence market entry, earlier is better — both for positioning and for availability.