2026 VIRTUAL JUDGE SUPPORT
Thank you for being a Judge for the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Competition! This webpage is designed to provide you with everything you need to know to have a successful judging experience supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs participating in the Pow Wow Pitch Competition.
ABOUT THE PITCH
Pow Wow Pitch is a pitch competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island to shine the spotlight on powwow vendors, artists, business builders and innovators from all backgrounds and industries, whether just starting or looking to grow to the next level.
SEMI-FINAL RECORDING DATES
*All times are provided in Eastern Time (Toronto), please be aware of the recording time for your time zone.
August 4, 2026:
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET: Not-for-Profit
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Tourism
August 5, 2026:
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET: Knowledge Services
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Consumer Products & Retail
August 6, 2026:
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET: Health & Wellness
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Sustainability
August 11, 2026:
11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. ET:
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Professional Services & Trades
August 12, 2026:
11:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET: Food & Drink
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Creative
August 13, 2026:
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET: Youth
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Startup
August 14, 2026:
11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. ET: Technology
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Fashion
October 1, 2026:
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET: Grand Finale
View the Semi-Final category descriptions here.
THE ROLE OF JUDGES
During the Pow Wow Pitch Semi-Finals, judges listen to and evaluate the pitches presented by entrepreneurs. To ensure a thorough understanding of each entrepreneur's business and potential, judges ask questions and engage in discussion.
Following the presentation, judges score each pitch based on predetermined criteria. However, the scoring process isn't the only way judges provide support. In addition to scores, judges also provide constructive feedback to each entrepreneur, regardless of the outcome of the competition.
This feedback aims to help entrepreneurs improve their business by identifying areas of strength and opportunities for growth. The judges' goal is to provide meaningful and actionable feedback that will benefit each entrepreneur, regardless of whether they advance to the next stage of the competition.
HOW THE ENTREPRENEURS WILL BE EVALUATED
PRESENTATION
Has the entrepreneur communicated their product/service, value proposition and a pathway to sustainability and success?
EXECUTION
Has the entrepreneur convinced the judges that they will follow through on their business goals?
MOTIVATION
Has the entrepreneur clearly communicated how they will use the money to start or take that next step?
COMMUNITY UPLIFT
Has the entrepreneur demonstrated they have uplifted or have plans to uplift their community as part of their business model and mandate?
ABOUT THE PITCH
Pow Wow Pitch is a pitch competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island to shine the spotlight on powwow vendors, artists, business builders and innovators from all backgrounds and industries, whether just starting or looking to grow to the next level.
Grand Finale Recording Date: October 1, 2026, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Check out the 2025 Finalists and pitch schedule.
TIMELINE
ONBOARDING EMAIL
ORIENTATION WEBINAR
July 14 & 15
SEMI-FINAL JUDGING
AUGUST 4 - 13
EPISODE RELEASE DATES
AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 9
Semi-Finalist episodes will be published on our website every evening at 6:00 PM ET September 2 - 11.
GRAND FINALE SHOW FILMING
GRAND FINALE WATCH PARTY
JUDGE SUPPORT
As a judge, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the adjudication process, or have difficulty connecting on the day of the recording, please contact naomi@powwowpitch.org. Please include JUDGE in your subject line to ensure your email receives priority.
SHARE THE NEWS
We invite you to spread the news on social media. Feel free to use the post below for inspiration and download the graphics and frame to promote your involvement!
I am so proud to be a Judge for Pow Wow Pitch and to support and encourage Indigenous entrepreneurs as they share their business ideas and take steps to grow their businesses. Wishing all the pitchers the best of luck - you got this! ❤️
TIPS FOR ADJUDICATING
Judges will have 10 minutes per entrepreneur to listen to their 1 minute business pitch and ask 2 minutes of questions. After the entrepreneur has completed their pitch and Q&A, the judges then complete their evaluation forms for each entrepreneur. The judge will assess approximately 10-15 pitches in a pre-recorded session that will be edited for content to be shared online.
Ask concise questions that will help you understand the business and the entrepreneur. With only time 2 minutes of Q&A, lengthy questions can take away valuable time for responses and other judges' questions.
If you feel an entrepreneur didn't have time to speak to a particular aspect of their business, you can help them by asking a question to give them a platform to provide you with additional information.
This is a very intimidating experience for many entrepreneurs. Visual cues like smiling and nodding help them feel reassured. For most, this is their first time pitching.
Our entrepreneurs come from diverse backgrounds and are at different stages in their journeys. Please tailor your questions to match their level of experience and ensure they are accessible and supportive.
Avoid jargon and acronyms like MVP, ROI, etc. Many of the entrepreneurs are in the early stages of their business journey and may be unfamiliar with business terminology.
GET INSPIRED
Hear some of the feedback from judges who took part in past Pow Wow Pitches.
IDEAS FOR QUESTIONS
Please find below possible questions you may wish to ask during the 2 minute Q&A portion of the Pow Wow Pitch.
Presentation
- We’d love to hear who you are, where you’re from, and what you’re building.
- Can you walk us through what products or services you’re offering and who it’s designed for?
- How are you currently promoting or introducing your product/service to your audience?
- What makes your product or service stand out? What unique value does it offer?
- What drives you to pursue your idea or business?
Execution
- What concrete steps have you taken so far to move your business from idea to action? Or how do you plan to bring your business idea to action?
- What key milestones have you achieved to date?
- What does success look like for the next 12 months?
- What helps you stay focused and committed to following through on your business goals?
Motivation
- Can you clearly outline how you would use the $25,000 to take the next step in your business?
- What specific activities or milestones would this funding support in the short term or long term?
- How will this funding help move your business forward in a meaningful way?
- What progress have you made so far, and how will this funding support your next steps?
- What are your immediate and longer-term goals, and how does this funding help you move toward them?
Community Uplift
- Can you describe the specific positive changes your business has created, or aims to create, for you, your family or your community?
- How are Indigenous values, knowledge, or cultural practices meaningfully integrated into your business model and decision-making?
- In what ways do you actively engage, support, or collaborate with your community and/or communities through your business?
- What legacy do you hope to leave?
- Who supports you in your business, do you have a team, mentors, family, or community members helping you?
- What changes have you seen in your family or community because of your business?
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS
All Judges are encouraged to connect with the Pow Wow Pitch team to ensure their video, audio and Internet quality are good to go before participating in the recording sessions. To ensure consistency and avoid technical issues, we ask that you set up in advance (computer equipment and internet connection at the location you will be for the recording session) and ensure that the technical setup will remain the same setup for use on the day of the session. Changing the setup may result in unexpected technical problems.
Setup YOUR TECHNOLOGY IN ADVANCE
Desktop computer or laptop
Desktop computer or laptop with a charged battery plugged into a power outlet (personal computers on personal networks work best, as sometimes highly secure office computers and networks may have firewalls that prohibit proper Internet connection. Do not use a mobile device.
Webcam
Webcam (clean the lens to ensure no fingerprints).
USB microphone
USB microphone with earbuds or a USB headset with an attached microphone.
Wired internet connection
Wired Internet connection (do not use WiFi as wireless is not reliable). A participant's recording will reside online into the foreseeable future. Participants need to ensure the brands they represent will be presented in the highest quality possible. A dedicated wired connection to the internet ensures you will not have poor video or audio quality or dropouts.
IMPORTANT: It is imperative participants use a reliable internet connection as re-recording, editing or re-scheduling at a later date will not be possible.
Location
Quiet, indoor location free from clutter, people, pets or copyrighted materials, i.e. art in the background.
Lighting
Well-lit space. Turn on all lights and open window blinds. Position yourself in front of light sources, avoid major key light sources coming from behind.
PROFESSIONAL TIPS
Easy yet powerful tips to keep in mind
In some cases session clips may end up in television broadcasts or other professional outlets. Here are some simple DIY tips to ensure your recording remains professional.
TIP 1: It is not flattering to look up someone's nose. Notice that on a desktop computer your webcam is located on top of your monitor and is already close to your eye-level height. If you are using a laptop, elevate your laptop and webcam position so that the lens is at eye-level (avoid upward/downward angles with your webcam). You may have to use a tall stack of books to achieve this.
TIP 2: Come close enough to the webcam so that the top of your head touches the top of your webcam video. Do not sit far away from your camera. Stay centred and in the middle of your webcam video. Pay attention to your body posture and avoid slouching or leaning off to either side.
TIP 3: Speak clearly and project your voice. Business casual wardrobe is recommended.