2021 POW WOW PITCH MENTOR BRIEFING
Thank you for being a Mentor for the 2021 Pow Wow Pitch Competition! This webpage is designed to provide you with everything you need to know to have a successful Mentorship 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 pow wow vendors, artists, business builders and innovators from all backgrounds and industries, whether just starting or looking to grow to the next level.
This year, more than 1,000 Indigenous entrepreneurs pitched their businesses online for a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $500 to $25,000 CAD. We screened the applications and selected the top entrepreneurs in each region for the 2021 Semi-Final round.
The top four entrepreneurs from each region will move onto the Grand Finale and will pitch for the top 3 prizes: 3rd Prize $5,000, 2nd Prize $10,000 and 1st Prize $25,000.
THE ROLE OF MENTORS
At its core, being a mentor is being a trusted advisor. It can mean many different things, but it all boils down to making yourself available to support and advise someone when they need it, delivering that support in a way that makes sense to them, and always keeping that person's best interests in mind.
Your role as a Mentor is to meet with 3 to 4 entrepreneurs for 1-hour mentorship sessions, which you will book at a convenient time for both you and your mentee to take place August 16th, 17th or 18th. During the session, you will get to know them and their business, listen to their pitch and provide feedback, advice and mentorship to help them to strengthen their pitch for the Semi-Final competition the following week and ultimately strengthen their business.
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?
TIMELINE
MENTOR ONBOARDING EMAIL
MENTOR ONBOARDING CALL
AUGUST 4 & 11
MENTORS CONNECT WITH ENTREPRENEURS
MENTORS MEET WITH ENTREPRENEURS
August 16 - 18
FEEDBACK
MENTOR SUPPORT
As a mentor, if you have any questions or concerns, or have difficulty connecting with your entrepreneur, please reach out to us as soon as possible. Our Executive Producer is very happy to support you. She can be reached at victoria@powwowpitch.org. Please include MENTOR 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 volunteering for Pow Wow Pitch this year to mentor Indigenous entrepreneurs as they prepare to pitch to win funds and support to start up and take their business ideas to the next level! Good luck to all of the entrepreneurs! 🏹 ❤️ ✨ 🌱 Check out this year’s lineup of mentors! https://www.powwowpitch.org/pitch/mentors/
PREPARE TO MENTOR INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURS
We invite you to watch this webinar with a former Pow Wow Pitch Mentor and Mentee to learn about effective mentorship, particularly for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
THIS VIDEO COVERS:
- What is mentorship?
- What is business mentorship?
- What is unique about mentorship for Indigenous entrepreneurs?
- How does the Pow Wow Pitch mentorship process work?
- What does a first-time meeting with a mentor look like?