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Five Questions with Dan Adamson, Cyber Challenge Program Founder

Dan Adamson is the co-founder of AutoAlign, which is now in stage two of Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst’s Cyber Challenge go-to-market program. AutoAlign provides powerful generative safety and performance solutions for powerful AI models. Using highly contextualized Alignment Controls, their product – “Sidecar” – mitigates critical issues such as data hallucinations, biased content, jailbreaks, and other harms.

Learn more about AutoAlign on their website: AutoAlign.ai

  1. Pitch your startup to us as if we’re an individual or organization that thinks cybercrime is “someone else’s problem.”

Generative AI tools are transforming industries, but they’ve also introduced new vulnerabilities: new risk vectors for data leakage, misuse of personal information, misleading or factually incorrect content, and even harmful content.

These risks aren’t theoretical — they’re real, and they’re growing. Whether you’re using AI today or plan to in the future, protecting your business, customers, and reputation isn’t optional.

That’s where AutoAlign comes in. Our Sidecar technology is the first dynamic AI Supervisor built to interact with, and adapt to, the rapid evolution of large language models (LLMs). Think of it as your AI supervisor for your generative AI initiatives… Sidecar actively monitors, adjusts, and safeguards your AI systems in real-time.

  1. What’s the best question you’ve been asked about your startup?

“Why not just trust the base model providers or hosts of these models?”

It’s like asking why we need antivirus or firewalls. It just doesn’t make sense to trust one actor. As we scale the usage of AI, we will need independent controls that make AI safe and effective.

  1. How is the Cyber Challenge helping you right now?

The Cyber Challenge is helping us with guidance on our market entry into healthcare. With the help of top mentors, we’ve worked on our Ideal Customer Profile. We’ve completed a sales bootcamp and done several rounds of practice on our messaging and pitch. The Cyber Challenge is helping us streamline our sales processes.

  1. What impact do you hope to see in 2030 from the work your startup is doing?

By 2030, we hope to see Generative AI used in a trusted, safe, and seamlessly integrated way in every industry. The work we’re doing at AutoAlign aims to create an environment where businesses no longer see AI adoption as a risky proposition but as an opportunity to innovate boldly, knowing that the right safeguards are in place to protect them.

We want to contribute to a significant reduction in the misuse of AI, from cyberattacks to misinformation, helping to create a digital landscape where individuals and organizations alike feel secure in the tools they use.

  1. What makes Cyber Challenge unique compared to other innovation programs, incubators or accelerators you’ve come across?

The Cyber Challenge stands out because it goes beyond the standard playbook of innovation programs, incubators, or accelerators. What truly differentiates the Cyber Challenge is its combination of mentorship with a targeted emphasis on client acquisition.

While many programs provide guidance or networking, the Cyber Challenge ensures that participants are not just learning but actively building relationships that lead to real-world impact. This dual approach of expert mentorship and client-centric strategy equips startups with the tools to thrive.

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View Panel & Webinar: For executives and technical leaders

Noemi Chanda

Noemi is a Partner in Deloitte’s Data Protection and Privacy practice in Toronto. She provides privacy, data protection, and cyber strategy services for organizations seeking to deliver new and better services for their clients and the community, advising in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection, information privacy, and risk management. She specializes in serving technology, healthcare, retail, and public sector clients participating in new initiatives that involve the collection or use of personal information.

Prior to Deloitte, she articled at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and was a Visiting Researcher at the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab, where she looked at privacy in the context of the Internet of Things, AI, connected and autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Noemi holds a BA from the University of Waterloo, a Master’s in Economic Policy from McMaster University, and a law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Ontario.

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Melissa Carvalho

Melissa heads the Strategic Services group, providing cyber solutions for RBC’s 96,000 employees, subsidiaries, and 17 million clients. A results-driven leader, she excels in high-risk project delivery for large organizations. With extensive IT management experience, she’s skilled in needs assessments, software development, and infrastructure. Melissa fosters productivity and stakeholder relationships. Throughout her career, Melissa has developed identity strategies, implementing them across Canada’s top banks and consulting on 50+ IAM programs in North America. As WiD Global Board Vice Chair, she merges her passions for advancing people and tech, aiming to eliminate biases. A diversity advocate, Melissa leads LGBTQ+ efforts at RBC. She is a frequent speaker at global events and is the recipient of awards including Globe and Mail Best Executives 2022, Women In IT awards, and IT World Canada Top 20 Women in Cyber Security 2021.

Imran Ahmad

Imran advises clients across all industries on a wide array of technology-related matters, including outsourcing, cloud computing, SaaS, strategic alliances, technology development, system procurement and implementation, technology licensing and transfer, distribution, open source software, and electronic commerce. As part of his cybersecurity practice, Imran works with clients to develop and implement strategies related to cyber threats. He advises on legal risk assessments, compliance, due diligence, security, and data breach incident preparedness and response. Imran often acts as “breach counsel” in the event of a cybersecurity incident, and has extensive experience in managing complex cross-border security incidents. He also provides representation in the event of an investigation, enforcement action or litigation. Imran is the author of Canada’s first legal incident preparation and response handbook Cybersecurity in Canada: A Guide to Best Practices, Planning, and Management, 2nd Edition (LexisNexis, March 2021).

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