On November 12, 2025, Pow Wow Pitch and Invest Ottawa proudly came together to host the Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards through a Mentorship & Watch Party event, uniting Indigenous entrepreneurs, mentors, and community supporters for an inspiring evening of connection, learning, and celebration.
The partnership brought together Pow Wow Pitch’s community of Indigenous entrepreneurs and Invest Ottawa’s local expertise and resources to create a powerful platform for growth and recognition. The event blended mentorship, networking, and celebration, giving entrepreneurs the space to share stories, gain insights, and watch as Indigenous excellence was honoured on a national stage through the Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards.
Held in Ottawa, the event opened with a mentorship session featuring esteemed business leaders and community champions, including Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa; Cynthia Desjardins, Sr. Relationship Manager of Indigenous Markets and Not-for-Profit at RBC; Erin McLean, Branch Manager at RBC; Meagan Thompson, Director of Corporate Proposals at Altis Recruitment; and Katya Valiquette, Founder of KV Marketing. The mentors provided personalized guidance, expert insights, and encouragement, helping participants strengthen their confidence and business strategies.
These mentorship conversations were followed by the live watch party of the 2025 Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards, where participants gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Indigenous business leaders from across Turtle Island.
The Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards, hosted annually by Pow Wow Pitch, celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional innovation, leadership, and positive influence within their communities. By working alongside Invest Ottawa, this year’s event amplified the voices of Indigenous business owners in the region and strengthened the local support network available to them.
In the spirit of celebration, Pow Wow Pitch also hosted multiple giveaways throughout the evening of their Pow Wow Pitch Box and gifted entrepreneurs laptops and phones courtesy of Mastercard.
This collaboration between Pow Wow Pitch and Invest Ottawa reflects the growing movement to create space for Indigenous entrepreneurship. Together, they demonstrated that fostering inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem requires more than recognition, it requires meaningful collaboration and continued investment in community.
“Our collaboration with Invest Ottawa made this event a true celebration of community,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “It was incredible to see Indigenous entrepreneurs come together to share stories, receive mentorship, and celebrate the achievements of Indigenous business leaders from across Turtle Island. The evening showed what’s possible when we lift each other up, when mentorship, celebration, and cultural pride come together in one space. We were honoured to share that space with supporters like Invest Ottawa, whose generosity and partnership made the night so meaningful.”
“It was an absolute honour to celebrate the achievements and leadership of Indigenous entrepreneurs alongside Pow Wow Pitch,” said Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa. “These entrepreneurs are not simply building businesses. They are strengthening community, fostering belonging, and creating the kind of lasting change that lifts all of us. Every conversation was filled with courage, creativity, and purpose. After more than six years of collaborating with Pow Wow Pitch, we remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from, support, and honour these remarkable leaders. They are shaping a more inclusive, vibrant future for our entire region, and we are committed to celebrating and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship in meaningful and enduring ways.”
About Pow Wow Pitch
Pow Wow Pitch is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, with the co-presenting support of Mastercard and RBC. Our vision is to create a world where Indigenous entrepreneurs thrive, feeling supported, safe, and encouraged to develop their ideas and build businesses that create a positive cycle of growth. With a mission to provide resources and mentorship, we empower Indigenous entrepreneurs while amplifying their stories to inspire future generations and foster a more inclusive world.
For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.
About Invest Ottawa
Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital Region, facilitating economic growth and job creation in Ottawa. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognized, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion and talent programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. These include small business training, mentorship, acceleration for technology firms, foreign business and investment attraction, local business retention and expansion in targeted sectors, commercialization and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life. Invest Ottawa also manages Bayview Yards, Ottawa’s innovation hub and one-stop business acceleration shop; and, founder and operator of Area X.O, the R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity technologies. Since 2017, Invest Ottawa has supported and delivered $3.7 billion in GDP impact, 29,343 jobs, and $622 million in government revenues.
For more information, visit investottawa.ca.