Cybersecurity and Enterprise AI: Silicon Valley Canadian Technology Accelerator

Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) are driving the future of enterprise transformation. If you're building in these spaces, there's no better launchpad than Silicon Valley, the global epicenter of innovation.

Led by the Consulate of Canada in Palo Alto, this Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) is your gateway to the United States (U.S.) market. This high-impact program is designed to help Canadian startups fast-track their growth through industry exposure and access to enterprise buyers, strategic investors, and world-class innovation partners. 

• Be in the room where it happens: The CTA is anchored around RSA Conference 2026 (March 23 to 26 in San Francisco), the world’s largest cybersecurity event. You’ll be where the industry’s biggest decisions are made.
• Meet real buyers and partners: Through curated business-to-business (B2B) meetings, you’ll connect with enterprise buyers, investors and innovation partners that are actively scouting for solutions like yours.
• Learn from the best: Our virtual workshops and expert-led sessions will sharpen your U.S. go-to-market strategy and help you navigate enterprise sales cycles.
• Pitch with impact: Showcase your startup in a high-energy pitch competition judged by industry leaders, with live feedback from a Bay Area audience.

If you're ready to break into the U.S. market, build strategic relationships, and raise your startup to the next level, this program is the perfect launchpad.

This CTA is tailored for Canadian companies developing scalable cybersecurity and enterprise AI solutions that address the real-world needs. The program focuses on high-demand areas such as: 

• AI-enhanced identity and access management (IAM) 
• AI-powered threat detection and cloud security 
• AI-driven governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) 
• intelligent observability and AIOps 
• zero-trust orchestration and behavioral analytics program format

• One-on-one mentorship: Tailored advisory on U.S. go-to-market strategy, fundraising, enterprise sales and partnerships
• Expert-led workshops: Cybersecurity trends, market readiness, compliance, procurement and messaging
• Roundtables: Venture capital (VC) trends plus enterprise procurement insights (invite-only)
• Actionable feedback: On product-market fit and go-to-market strategy
• Curated B2B: Meetings with enterprise buyers, innovation scouts, VCs, etc.
• Warm introductions: Warm introductions to active corporate venture capitals (CVCs) and pilot-ready corporate partners, post-event lead-flow tracking
• Exposure at RSA Conference 2026: Participate in world’s leading cybersecurity event
• Post-pitch follow-up: Audience feedback and event leads will be shared with founders

We invite applications from Canadian companies that: 

• offer validated, deployable cybersecurity solutions 
  
• are revenue-generating or have strong early traction 
  
• have a committed leadership team with clear U.S. market-entry goals 
  
• are ready to engage with enterprise buyers and strategic investors 
  
• can fully participate in both virtual and in-market components

Virtual program (February to March 2026): Weekly sessions (2 hours per week) covering topics including:

• how to leverage compliance to sell
• market intelligence
• pitch development
• enterprise readiness 
  

In-market track: 

• RSA Conference – San Francisco (March 23 to 26, 2026): Includes curated B2B meetings, roundtables, pitch competition and networking events facilitated by the Consulate General of Canada in Palo Alto.

The highlight of our in-market track will be the pitch competition! In addition to an expert panel of judges, all attendees will be able to submit feedback for our founders and share contact details for follow-up. Additional program elements such as developer challenges or thematic workshops may be added to further engage participants and showcase Canadian innovation.

This is a non-equity, no-cost initiative. Selected companies are responsible for their own travel and accommodation for the in-market portion. Cohort members must commit to a minimum three-day visit to Silicon Valley, including attendance at the RSA Security Conference.

Learn more about this program by contacting: