7 Islands Defense & Intel (7i) is a boutique advisory supporting technology companies and selected organizations operating in complex, regulated, and geopolitically sensitive environments—where credibility, assurance, and judgment shape outcomes.
7i is not built on a simplistic split between “commercial” and “institutional” markets. Most real markets—especially in cybersecurity—are commercial in budget and contracting, but institutional in constraints, risk posture, and decision mechanics. That overlap is where 7i operates.
7i helps clients move from technical merit to market traction by addressing what is usually underestimated:
We do not generate volume. We reduce friction—between technology and adoption, between product reality and institutional constraints, and between strategic intent and durable execution.
7i is selective by design. We do not operate as a standardized deliverables shop.
Our engagements emphasize:
We often work upstream—before formal procurement or large-scale deployment—because early choices determine whether later stages remain viable.
7 Islands Defense & Intel was founded by Nicolas Duguay, a senior ecosystem builder and strategic operator with extensive experience across cybersecurity, defense-adjacent security, and institution-facing market environments.
Before founding 7i, he led the development of Canada’s national cybersecurity ecosystem, building long-term relationships across public and private stakeholders and delivering multiple large-scale international market-development and ecosystem missions. His work required sustained interaction with complex governance structures, multi-jurisdictional coordination, and environments where credibility and accountability are decisive.
Earlier in his career, he spent over a decade as a journalist with CBC/Radio-Canada, working in public-interest contexts that demanded rigor, judgment, and decision-making under scrutiny. He also worked in private intelligence and security advisory settings supporting lawful, institutionally mandated efforts in diverse markets.
This combined experience informs 7i’s approach: pragmatic, grounded, and oriented toward outcomes that hold under constraint.
7i does not resell technologies, distribute products, or operate as a volume-driven market-entry firm.
We are not positioned as a transactional intermediary or a visibility-first advisory focused on generic outreach, lead generation, or short-term market testing.
Our work is centered on situations where credibility, judgment, and execution under constraint materially affect outcomes. We can support exploratory phases—but we are most effective when there is a credible path from positioning to execution, even if timelines are uncertain.
Our focus remains on relevance, trust, and results that can be sustained beyond a single transaction or engagement.
7i operates across multiple regions where these dynamics are most pronounced, with sustained activity in Canada and Europe, and regular engagements involving Asia and the MENA region.
Our work supports:
Geography is not treated as a fixed perimeter, but as a contextual variable — engagement scope is defined by relevance, risk posture, and the institutional environments involved.
© 7 Islands Defense & Intel Inc.
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