U.S. and Canadian Intelligence Partners Issue Guidance to Protect Western Tech Startups from Exploitation in International Pitch Competitions

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ODNI News Release No. 28-25
September 04, 2025

U.S. and Canadian Intelligence Partners Issue Guidance
to Protect Western Tech Startups from Exploitation
in International Pitch Competitions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's (ODNI) National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) and its U.S. and Canadian intelligence partners issued new guidance today to protect Western technology startups from potential exploitation in international pitch competitions.

While international pitch competitions can offer tech startups exposure and funding opportunities, the new bulletin explains how they can also be exploited by foreign entities to acquire Western innovation and skills for economic and military advantage. NCSC issued the bulletin with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and the ODNI's Office of Economic Security and Emerging Technology (OESET).

"International pitch competitions should be a nurturing ground for innovation, not a hunting ground for foreign threat actors and competitors to coopt Western technology and talent for their own benefit. Western tech startups face significant risks when participating in international pitch competitions organized by entities affiliated with the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party," said James Cangialosi, NCSC Acting Director. "Working with our U.S. and Canadian partners, today we're arming Western tech startups with information on the risks associated with these events and basic steps they can take to protect themselves."

The joint bulletin provides a detailed overview of the threats, as well as mitigation strategies and where to report incidents.

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