PARTNER SUPPORT
Thank you for your support of the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Program. This page is a hub for information and coordination of Pow Wow Pitch partners as we navigate through the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Program. This page is updated in real-time as details are confirmed and is the most up-to-date source for information.
LAST UPDATED March 26, 2025
PART 1 - COMMUNICATIONS
LOGO & BRAND GUIDELINES
Click here to access our Brand Guidelines and Logo.
BOILERPLATE
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.
eNEWSLETTER DEADLINES
Partners are welcome to submit content for inclusion in our monthly eNewsletter, with more than 40,000 subscribers. Content should include
- A high-res image (width - 1030px, height 515px - 1030px).
- A short title.
- Approximately 50 words of text.
- A web link to learn more.
Content submitted will also be promoted through the Pow Wow Pitch social media channels as appropriate. Please fill out this eNewsletter Content Submission Form or email keely@powwowpitch.org with any content by the dates below.
| eNewsletter Content Deadline | eNewsletter Release Date |
|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2025 | Mar 6, 2025 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | April 3, 2025 |
| May 1, 2025 | May 8, 2025 |
| May 29, 2025 | June 5, 2025 |
| June 26, 2025 | July 3, 2025 |
| July 31, 2025 | Aug 7, 2025 |
| Aug 28, 2025 | Sept 4, 2025 |
| Sept 25, 2025 | Oct 2, 2025 |
| Oct 30, 2025 | Nov 6, 2025 |
| Nov 27, 2025 | Dec 4, 2025 |
PART 2 - PARTNER BRAND ENTITLEMENTS
ACTION 1: LOGOS & BRAND GUIDELINES
Please check out our Partners Page and confirm your logo is correct. If you are a new partner, please email your logo, brand guidelines, website link, social media links and boilerplate by March 24, 2025.
ACTION 2: PARTNER PAGES
Many of our partners are entitled to have a partner page on our website to showcase your support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and Pow Wow Pitch.
If you had a Partner Page from 2024, please review your page and provide revisions by email.
If you do not yet have a partner page and are entitled to one, please provide the content to us by email and allow for two weeks for implementation. Generally, Partner Pages include a logo, website link, social media handles, and a boilerplate summary of how your organization supports and serves Indigenous entrepreneurs. You can also have Indigenous-focused stories, resources, or calls to action relevant for Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs.
Pow Wow Pitch promotes these pages throughout the programming season through our newsletter and social channels.
Please email revisions to keely@powwowpitch.org by March 24, 2025.
ACTION 3: PARTNER ANNOUNCEMENTS
We love to kick off our Programming Season year with Partner Announcements. All partners are entitled to Partner Announcements, including a post on our website and a dedicated social media recognition for the partnership. Pow Wow Pitch will draft the announcement for your review, develop the social copy and artwork. Dates are on a first-come basis. Please review your announcement and release date and provide approvals by March 31, 2025 to naomi@powwowpitch.org.
| Release Date | Partner | Release Date | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | RBC | TBC | JEDI |
| March 6, 2025 | Mastercard | TBC | NAFC |
| March 10, 2025 | Sklar Wilton & Associates | TBC | MINI TIPI |
| March 12, 2025 | BDC | TBC | ANTCO |
| March 17, 2025 | Futurpreneur | TBC | CFDC of CIFN |
| March 18, 2025 | CIRA | TBC | Wabanaki Maple |
| March 19, 2025 | Best Buy | May 8, 2025 | EDC |
| March 20, 2025 | Jelly Academy | ||
| March 24, 2025 | NACCA | ||
| April 2, 2025 | Altis | ||
| April 7, 2025 | Northforge | ||
| TBC | Raven Indigenous Capital Partners | ||
| TBC | Aritzia |
PODCAST
The Co-presenting Partners of Pow Wow Pitch are entitled to have a Podcast Advertisement at the top of the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast. All podcast episodes for the year are recorded and produced in January and February. The Podcast episodes are dropped once a month, on the first Wednesday, starting March 5 until December 3, 2025.
PART 3 - PROGRAMMING
This Year, Pow Wow Pitch will release 13 Virtual Semi-Finals and host 4 In-Person Pow Wow Pitch events, leading to a Grand Finale Pow Wow Pitch on October 22, 2025. We have a very ambitious year ahead, a fantastic lineup of Judges and Mentors, and more than $100,000 in cash prizes. The year will be topped off with the 5th Annual Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards, and the Pow Wow Pitch Box.
Registered Judges and Mentors will receive a briefing email and calendar invitations by June 17. In July, Judge and Mentor profiles will be added to the website.
Judge Registration | Judge Briefing (Deadline June 6, 2025)
Mentor Registration | Mentor Briefing (Deadline June 6, 2025)
3.1. VIRTUAL POW WOW PITCH JUDGING
Co-Presenting partners are entitled to one Judge seat per Semi-Final category and the Grand Finale. All other judge seats are indicated in partner agreements. Where possible, we welcome Indigenous peoples who have sector-specific experience.
| Category | Judge Orientation & Tech Checks | Recording Date | Release Date | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not-for-profit | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 5, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 2 | Co-Presenting |
| Tourism | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 5, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Sept 2 | Co-Presenting + ITAC |
| Knowledge Services | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 6, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 3 | Co-Presenting |
| Consumer Products & Retail | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 6, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Sept 3 | Co-Presenting |
| Health & Wellness | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 7, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 4 | Co-Presenting |
| Innovation | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 7, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Sept 4 | Co-Presenting |
| Professional Services & Trades | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 11, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 8 | Co-Presenting |
| Food & Drink | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 11, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Sept 8 | Co-Presenting |
| Creative | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 12, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 9 | Co-Presenting |
| Youth | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 12, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Sept 10 | Co-Presenting + Best Buy |
| Startup | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 13, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 10 | Co-Presenting |
| Tech | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 13, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Sept 11 | Co-Presenting |
| Fashion | July 15 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) or July 16 (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET) | Aug 14, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET | Sept 11 | Co-Presenting + Aritzia |
| Grand Finale | Individual orientation by request | Oct 2, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET | Oct 22, 6:00 p.m. ET | Co-Presenting |
3.2. VIRTUAL POW WOW PITCH MENTORSHIP
- Mentor Registration deadline is June 6, 2025
- The Mentor Orientation with Sunshine Tenasco takes place July 15 at 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET or July 16 at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Mentors will be matched with their Mentee(s) on July 21, 2025
- 1-1 Mentorship of the Semi-Finalists should be booked at mutually convenient times between July 22 - 31, 2025.
3.3. INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEUR STARTUP PROGRAM: LUNCH & LEARN WEBINARS
On June 11 and June 18, Pow Wow Pitch will partner with Co-Presenting Partners and bespoke Partners to host webinars with Pow Wow Pitch applicants and alumni. The sessions will be recorded and available for on-demand access after that to the Indigenous entrepreneurs of Pow Wow Pitch.
3.4. POW WOW PITCH FINALIST BOOTCAMP & MENTORSHIP
The Finalist Bootcamp takes place on September 23, from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET involving co-presenting and bespoke partners.
Finalist Mentorship with Skar Wilton & Associates takes place between September 24 to October 1, in preparation of their final pitches on October 2, 2025.
3.5. IN-PERSON PARTNER PARTICIPATION
Partner Entitlements
Several partnership packages include opportunities to judge and mentor at select in-person Pow Wow Pitch events across Canada. Partners should coordinate participation at powwows in accordance with partnership agreements with naomi@powwowpitch.org.
| Date | Event | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2025 | Manito Ahbee Festival | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Full event |
| June 13-14, 2025 | Sitansisk (St. Mary's First Nation) Powwow | Fredericton, New Brunswick | Full event |
| June 28, 2025 | Kamloopa Powwow | Kamloops, British Columbia | Full event |
| TBD | Alberta or Ontario |
3.6. INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
The Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards are co-presented by RBC and Mastercard, and in partnership with EDC, ITAC & Sklar Wilton & Associates.
Pow Wow Pitch will shortlist the Award nominations and applications and present them to our Partners, who will have the opportunity to submit their preferences of who they wish to present an award to. We will send you the names of the entrepreneurs and their profiles on July 17 for you to submit your rankings within 2-weeks.
Please provide the name of your presenter by June 5. Upon introduction, we will onboard the Presenter and coordinate their involvement.
Partners are invited to have a video advertisement play before their presentation. Ads are due by September 26.
Video ad requirments:
We are looking to incorporate a short video that would play at the awards ceremony that you would provide us. The video is a general message about how your organization supports (Indigenous) entrepreneurs. Please see an example here for entrepreneurs more generally from UPS. We are looking for a short 20-30 sec video that is 1920x1080 in resolution in either a .mov or .mp4 video format. Please send along anything you already may have that would fit these criteria. We are NOT looking for a video ad for a specific product or service. We are looking for a culture and identity-building piece and how you support entrepreneurs.
| Awards Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| April 1 | Launch |
| June 3 | Application deadline |
| June 5 | Partner deadline to provide name of Award presenter |
| Jul 17 | Provide partners with short list of Award nominees |
| Jul 31 | Partner deadline to rank Award recipients they wish to present an Award to |
| Aug 18 - 21 | Partner presentation recordings |
| Sept 26 | Partner deadline to submit video ad |
| Nov 12 | Digital Gala airing online |
PART 4 - OTHER ENTITLEMENTS
4.1. POW WOW PITCH BOX
If you would like to secure additional Pow Wow Pitch Boxes, please inform Naomi by June 30, as we have limited quantities. To arrange shipping, kindly provide the following details:
| Full Name | Mailing Address | Number of Boxes | Phone Number |
Please send this information to Naomi@powwowpitch.org
Each box costs $225 + HST, inclusive of shipping within Canada. The contents inside the box have a retail value of more than $250.
4.2. ADVISORY COUNCIL
Co-presenting partners are entitled to have a seat on the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council will meet on:
April 24, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
July 31, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
October 16, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
December 4, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET