SO EVERYTHING IS A  
WELL-OILED MACHINE.
MB: Yes, but regarding export read-
iness, it’s challenging when you’re 
dealing from a distance — in terms 
of being there and building the rela-
tionships you need. It’s extraordi-
narily challenging as an SME to land 
in a specific geography and establish 
business relationships and an office. 
So we’ve taken a bit of a different 
approach, where it’s been by request 
and by invitation… through the 
Canadian Trade Accelerator Program 
and the Trade Commissioner’s office.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT 
CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY IS 
EMBEDDED IN A HIGH-TECH, 
AI-DRIVEN COLLABORATION?
MB: Almost all of our staff have 
completed the OCAP (Ownership, 
Control, Access and Possession) prin-
ciples certificate course in Canada. 
Dean Bittner, my co-founder, CTO, and 
majority shareholder, is Indigenous, 
as is our capital partner, Raven 
Indigenous Capital Partners. As a part 
of that, we’ve always had a commit-
ment towards a deep respect in 
dealing with sensitive data around 
Indigenous populations, their land 
and their environment, and that’s how 
we govern those agreements when 
we walk into those rooms. 
Depending on where you go in the 
world, the experience with coloni-
zation has been different, so we are 
always there to learn, to share, and to 
build the data frameworks that they 
need to be able to utilize their data.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’VE 
LEARNED ABOUT PREPARING 
INDIGENOUS-LED IP OR  
TECHNOLOGY FOR GLOBAL 
MARKETS THAT YOU MIGHT  
SHARE WITH OTHER  
INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURS?
MB: The principles of OCAP are really 
important and foundational when we 
look [at] how we consider the data: 
how it’s been generated, where it’s 
stored, how it’s being used, the gover-
nance around that data, and the recip-
rocal relationship opportunities that 
need to be built whenever you are 
utilizing that data.
I also think there’s always an oppor-
tunity to walk into those rooms and 
be prepared to learn as well, because 
there are other communities that have 
incredibly different relationships with 
data, including Taiwan. They have very 
unique agreements when it comes to 
the permissions that need to be sought, 
how data needs to be stored, for what, 
why and for whom. So, I think it’s impor-
tant to always go with the expecta-
tion that you’re going to have that 
learning process.
DO YOU POSITION YOUR COMPANY 
DIFFERENTLY IN LIGHT OF POLIT-
ICAL AND TARIFF PRESSURES?
MB:  Absolutely. We made a choice 
because the customers we had in the 
U.S. were large agencies and national 
labs, and their landscape became very 
insecure. Rather than continuing to wait, 
push and develop markets in the U.S., 
we wanted to let that dust settle. Their 
landscapes have changed dramatically, 
and so has their approach to data, and 
the understanding, significance and 
housing of that data. As a result, we’ve 
increased our efforts to reinvigorate 
the work we’ve been undertaking in 
Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia, 
because there are some really impor-
tant markets there. They’re more diffi-
cult to reach, and the time zone differ-
ences can be punishing, but they have 
more secure, earnest and understand-
able landscapes now.
WHAT DOES “EXPORT-READY” 
MEAN FOR INDIGENOUS  
ENTREPRENEURS CONSIDERING 
GLOBAL EXPANSION?
MB: For us, it’s about a commit-
ment, having the capability to access 
resources that you need, and to set up 
for success ahead of time, and then to 
make the most out of when you need to 
be in market. Those trips can be really 
expensive and extensive, but [you need 
to] do the most preparation work that 
you can when you’re entering a new 
market, so that when you are in-market, 
you can have the most impact possible. 
There’s just a lot of work to be done, a 
lot of relationships to be built.  
Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT   41
TRADE & EXPORT
Management Consulting Services
Office Relocation Services
Indigenous Participation Planning (IPP)
A PROUD MEMBER OF
info@nattiq.ca
WWW.NATTIQ.CA
With over 23 years of trusted client partnerships, 
NATTIQ delivers an integrated approach to advancing your project goals. 
Our tailored services are designed around your needs—because your success drives everything we do.
Proudly serving clients from coast to coast to coast. Connect with us today.
A PROUD MEMBER OF

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.