Timiskaming First Nation business based in East Gwillimbury, ON, wins $1,000 and advances to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale
On September 8, 2026, Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that hosts Turtle Island’s premier Indigenous Business Pitch Competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC and Mastercard, announced Stephanie King, the Timiskaming First Nation Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather, a business based in East Gwillimbury, Ontario, as the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Startup Semi-Final Winner. Stephanie has won $1,000 and is advancing to the Grand Finale for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.
More than 120 Indigenous entrepreneurs from across Turtle Island were selected as Semi-Finalists in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch. Each received training and mentorship to prepare for their semi-final pitch to the Judges, competing for the chance to advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale. Ten Startup Semi-Finalists had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas in one-minute for their chance to win an industry prize and a spot in the finals.
Judges included Riley Bonshor, Relationship Manager Intern, Commercial Financial Services at RBC; Ruchie Raj Kumar, Manager, Product Management at Mastercard; and Holly Atecoutay, Head, Inclusive Impact & Director, Indigenous & Northern Entrepreneurs at Futurpreneur.
“I was honestly surprised, excited and really proud. Fin & Feather is still a very new business, and I’ve put so much into getting it off the ground in a short amount of time,” said Stephanie King, Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather. “Winning my Semi-Final category felt like validation that I’m building something people believe in and that all of the long days, travelling, learning and figuring things out as I go are leading somewhere.”
Stephanie King, Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather, is an entrepreneur from Timiskaming First Nation building a new food business in East Gwillimbury, Ontario. Drawing on 20 years of experience in the food service industry, Stephanie launched Fin & Feather after an injury forced her to rethink her career and create something of her own. Serving barbecue, dirty sodas, and loaded brownie cups at powwows and festivals, Fin & Feather has quickly grown from a new idea into a busy event-based business with plans to continue expanding.
In her pitch, Stephanie shared that winning the $25,000 Grand Prize would help her invest in cold storage and faster equipment, allowing Fin & Feather to serve larger crowds and work toward operating year-round. As the business grows, she also plans to create paid, hands-on opportunities for Indigenous youth to join her along the powwow trail and gain experience working in a growing business.
“Don’t wait until everything is perfect before you start. I definitely didn’t have everything figured out when I started Fin & Feather. A lot of it has been learning by doing, listening to customers, making changes and trying again. Starting can be scary, but you learn so much once you actually put your idea out into the world. Believe in what you’re creating, but also be willing to adapt” shared Stephanie King.
The judges commended Stephanie for bringing her years of food service experience into a new business with a clear vision for growth and a commitment to creating opportunities for Indigenous youth.
“Congratulations to Stephanie King on advancing to the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Through Fin & Feather, Stephanie is building a business that brings together her experience, her love of food and her connection to community. We are excited to celebrate what she has accomplished in such a short time and see where she takes Fin & Feather next.”
Alongside selecting a winner, the judges also acknowledged the Runner Up for the Startup industry category. John Hawke, Founder of Zaasaakwe, the judges appreciated his vision for creating an Indigenous news and culture broadcast that provides space for grassroots stories and perspectives. Through Zaasaakwe, John is training and employing local storytellers to share community voices, while building a model supported by radio subscriptions, advertising and sponsorships with plans to expand across Ontario.
“We’re committed to playing a role in paving a path forward for Indigenous entrepreneurs, exemplified by our support of Pow Wow Pitch,” said Brittanee Laverdure, Director, Truth and Reconciliation Office, RBC Origins. “Pow Wow Pitch offers a holistic support system to power the next generation of Indigenous innovators across Turtle Island, including this year’s participants and semi-finalists.”
“The creativity, determination, and ambition demonstrated by this year’s Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs have been truly inspiring,” said Jennifer M. Sloan, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement at Mastercard, Canada. “We’re proud to work alongside partners like Pow Wow Pitch by mentoring pitchers, representing Mastercard’s commitment to help remove barriers and open pathways to growth and economic opportunity. Congratulations to all the pitchers for sharing their business ideas, entrepreneurial journeys, and stories, and a special congratulations to Stephanie King for advancing to the next round.”
To watch Stephanie King’s winning pitch, click here. To watch the Startup Semi-Final episode, click here.
Stephanie will now advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000, which broadcasts online on October 21, 2026. Register to watch the 2026 Grand Finale at powwowpitch.org/register.