Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, is proud to unveil its five-year strategic plan, developed by the Board of Directors and guided through the expert collaboration of Sklar Wilton & Associates. This strategic plan will guide Pow Wow Pitch from 2025 to 2030, ensuring sustained growth, deeper community engagement, and an even greater impact on Indigenous entrepreneurship across Turtle Island.
As Pow Wow Pitch celebrates its 10-year anniversary, the organization has also set its sights on reaching new goals and expanding its reach. Creating a strategic plan is a milestone achievement for any organization, but for Pow Wow Pitch, it is a testament to its growth, commitment, and dedication to Indigenous entrepreneurship. This plan reflects years of learning, collaboration, and engagement with the community, ensuring that the organization remains aligned with the evolving needs of Indigenous business leaders. By establishing clear priorities and structured goals, Pow Wow Pitch strengthens its ability to provide long-term support, mentorship, and funding for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
At the heart of the strategic plan is Pow Wow Pitch’s vision: 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. This vision fuels the organization’s ambitious goal of funding $1 million annually to 100 Indigenous entrepreneurs, a transformative commitment that will accelerate business success and economic empowerment in Indigenous communities.
Strategic Imperatives to Drive Change
To achieve its mission of providing resources and mentorship while amplifying the stories of Indigenous entrepreneurs to inspire future generations, Pow Wow Pitch has identified five key strategic imperatives:
Sustainable Funding Model – Developing a sponsorship-driven funding model, with additional support from government and alumni, to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Connected Communities – Strengthening the Pow Wow Pitch community by creating more opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and thrive.
Strong Presence and Stories – Expanding the reach of Pow Wow Pitch through increased events, brand visibility, and storytelling to highlight the collective impact of Indigenous entrepreneurship.
Great Talent and Culture – Investing in a team with the right skills and expertise to support long-term growth and success.
Effective Governance – Establishing clear processes and roles to enhance transparency and ensure sustainable decision-making.
Guided by core values of respect, relationships, reciprocity, responsibility, love, courage, and fun, Pow Wow Pitch is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and empowering ecosystem for Indigenous entrepreneurs. This plan calls on the entire Pow Wow Pitch community—including entrepreneurs, advisors, partners, government, and the general public—to play an active role in building a future where Indigenous businesses thrive.
“I am filled with gratitude and enthusiasm as we launch this strategic plan to guide Pow Wow Pitch’s next phase of growth, while celebrating 10 years of evolution from a sole proprietorship to a thriving non-profit organization. This plan reflects the collective wisdom, leadership, and dedication of our inaugural Board of Directors: the late Karen, alongside Jessica, Matthew, and Michaelee. Grounded in our shared values, this plan will help us empower more Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island by providing the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive. Together, we are building a future where Indigenous entrepreneurs create lasting impact for generations,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder and Chair of Pow Wow Pitch.
“This strategic plan marks an exciting and important milestone for Pow Wow Pitch. It sets a bold path forward, ensuring that we continue to grow and expand our reach to serve more Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. By focusing on sustainable funding, strengthening community connections, and amplifying the stories of Indigenous entrepreneurs, we are building a solid foundation for long-term success. I am honoured to be part of this journey and look forward to working alongside our incredible community of partners and entrepreneurs to bring this vision to life,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch.
This strategic plan sets the stage for the next chapter of Pow Wow Pitch’s journey. By aligning resources, relationships, and storytelling with a focused mission, Pow Wow Pitch is poised to create an even greater impact, ensuring Indigenous entrepreneurs have the support they need to succeed and inspire future generations. The future of Indigenous entrepreneurship is bright—and Pow Wow Pitch is empowered to lead the way.
Learn more about us at powwowpitch.org/about.
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Remembering Karen Green
As we look to the future, we also honour the life and work of our Vice-Chair, the late Karen Green, who has made her journey into the spirit world in January 2025. Karen’s leadership, wisdom, and dedication to Indigenous peoples were invaluable to Pow Wow Pitch and to everyone who had the joy of working with her in her many leadership roles. Her impact will be felt for generations and we are forever grateful for the profound contributions she made to our community.