REGIONAL WINNERS & FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 POW WOW PITCH
Emerging Indigenous Entrepreneurs Selected to Pitch up to $25,000 in Prizes
Ottawa, ON – October 7, 2020 | Today, Pow Wow Pitch, Canada’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced it’s top 25 Finalists selected to pitch at the 2020 Pow Wow Pitch Finals, presented by RBC with the support of Shopify, Canada Post, BDC, and NACCA, taking place October 20, 2020.
Last week, 100 Indigenous entrepreneurs went head-to-head pitching to panels of judges, to earn a spot in the 2020 Pow Wow Pitch Finale. The judges selected 25 entrepreneurs to move onto the Final Pitch event. Out of the 25 Finalists, the judges also recognized 10 Regional Winners, each receiving $500 toward their business goals. All 25 Finalists will be pitching on October 20, 2020 for their chance to win $25,000 in prizes to start-up and scale-up their businesses.
Announcing the 2020 Pow Wow Pitch Finalists & Regional Winners
NATIONAL FINALISTS REGIONAL WINNERS & PEOPLE'S CHOICE
NL - KAYLA STRIDE, FIRE CERAMICS
PE - JEFF BRANT, N2N.NET
NS - CHEYENNE ISAAC GLOADE, L’NU’K CLOTHING CO.
NB - PAIGE POLCHES, KWEY BEAUTY
QC - GAVIN DECONTIE, DECONTIE CLEANING
ON - KERI GRAY, SHADES OF GREY INDIGENOUS PET TREATS
MN - SONYA BALLANTYNE, CODE BREAKER FILMS
SK - JODY WHITEDUCK, WHITEDUCK WILD RICE
AB - JOEL DUBOIS, BLUERING MEDIA
BC - CASS SPENCE, SACRED SAUNAS
NWT - TYRA MOSES, DENE MEDIA
NU - BERNICE CLARKE, UASAU SOAP
PEOPLE’S CHOICE - LYNN-MARIE ANGUS, SISTERS SAGE
NATIONAL FINALISTS
MYA BEAUDRY, KOKOM SCRUNCHIES
REID COUTURE, TIMBER & FINS
CHRISTIAN EMOND, YOIL TECHNOLOGIES
KIAWENTONTEH (CASEY) SWAMP, 3TK FITNESS
KAREN MACAULAY, INDIGECATION
LEIGH JOSEPH, SKWÁLWEN BOTANICALS
DAWN ANGELIQUE WILSON, BACK TO OUR ROOTS INDIGENOUS MEDICINE
ERICA DANIELS, KEJIC PRODUCTIONS
TASHA POWER, KANATAN HEALTH SOLUTIONS
TAWNYA BRANT, YAWÉKON BY CHEF TAWNYA BRANT
HOLLY SMITH, INDIGENOUS WELLNESS SERVICES
CASS SPENCE, SACRED SAUNAS
“Congratulations to the Regional Winners and all of the Finalists moving on to the 2020 Pow Wow Pitch Finale,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder and CEO of the Pow Wow Pitch. “Your resilience, creativity and commitment to celebrating and sharing our diverse Indigenous culture while making an impact is a testament to how our unique style of business can and will create a better future for us all.”
“What an incredible experience this has been for us at RBC,” said Dale Sturges, National Director, Indigenous Financial Services at RBC. “Pow Wow Pitch is more than a competition - it's a celebration of Indigenous innovation and creative spirit, which the world desperately needs in order to effect positive change. Congratulations to the Regional Winners and Finalists”.
Ready, set, pitch!
Join the 2020 Pow Wow Final event live through the Pow Wow Pitch Facebook Page and participate using #PowWowPitch on October 20th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET. Celebrate alongside event Co-Hosts Sunshine Tenasco, CEO of Pow Wow Pitch, and Ashley Callingbull, the first Indigenous woman in Canada to win the Mrs. Universe title.
Sunshine Tenasco
Founder, Pow Wow Pitch
819-665-2150
About Pow Wow Pitch
Pow Wow Pitch is an entrepreneurship program for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, which provides a safe, supportive, collaborative, empowering and culturally supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurs and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs. Pow Wow Pitch enhances, develops and accelerates the growth for current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources. Community leadership through volunteerism is promoted as a reflection of respect and reciprocity as the foundation of the Pow Wow Pitch. Creating opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to shine. For more information, visit https://www.powwowpitch.org/.
About RBC Indigenous Financial Services Group
For more than 100 years, RBC has been building strong relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. We are committed to serving Indigenous governments, communities, organizations, businesses and individuals by creating opportunities for sustainable economic development through access to banking and capital, community and social development, employment, education and training and procurement. RBC also provides donations and grants that support Indigenous interests. More information is available at rbcroyalbank.com/indigenous.