“Doing this Pow Wow Pitch was amazing,” said First-Place Winner Tara Hall, Founder of The Indigenous Kitchen. “It was my first try, so I want to say ‘Give it a try and it was worth a shot.’” Tara shares her advice to other entrepreneurs, “Somebody said that the worst case scenario was that someone was going to say ‘No’ to me but to just keep on trying, so that’s what I did.”
Jenn believes that generational healing is possible, and she has transformed herself into a new person who can handle things in a much healthier way. Jenn says, “We are the only ones in charge of seeking healing.”
“We could not be more proud of Erica and her team,” said Sunshine Tenasco, founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Erica’s resilience and passion truly shines and watching her grow from a pitcher to a collaborating partner has been an incredible experience. We are so proud to welcome Kejic Productions and can’t wait to see them work their magic.”
“As Canada’s economy continues to evolve, it’s essential that we provide ample opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to succeed,” said Dwayne Bird, CEO of IndigPro. “We understand that starting a profitable, sustainable business is no easy feat, especially for those facing unique obstacles related to family, community, and culture. However, we are proud to be partners with Pow Wow Pitch as we work towards our shared goal of supporting and removing barriers to growth for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Our collaborative efforts will help build strong, vibrant brands that embody the spirit of winners.”
“We are so pleased to work with the Indigenous-led team at Pow Wow Pitch to provide important support to creative and tourism entrepreneurs,” said Keith Henry, President and CEO of ITAC. “As we begin our recovery for the Indigenous tourism industry, it is critical we include Indigenous creators to bring our vibrant Indigenous cultures to life from coast to coast to coast.”
Danielle Doiron, General Manager, Marketing, at Canada Post, said, “As part of our commitment to investing in the success of small business and strengthening communities across Canada, including underserved northern and Indigenous communities, we are proud to once again sponsor Pow Wow Pitch. We are honoured to enable Indigenous entrepreneurs across the country and help them start and grow their businesses.”
Trisha and Mélanie, the founders of MINI TIPI, are business partners but they are also close friends. For them, “entrepreneurship is not just about creating a business. It’s about creating a legacy,” said on the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast.
“At Mastercard, we are proud to invest in establishing and growing Pow Wow Pitch as a sustainable and scalable solution to foster Indigenous entrepreneurship and empowerment,” said Sasha Krstic, president of Mastercard in Canada. “Seeing the impact Pow Wow Pitch has had on Indigenous entrepreneurs is truly inspiring. We are excited to extend our partnership and continue the important work of empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs.”
“Mitacs and Pow Wow Pitch share a vision for the future of innovation and the important role Indigenous researchers and organizations play in ensuring Canada’s economic success. We are proud to partner with Pow Wow Pitch as a Community-Level Sponsor and to continue working together to empower Indigenous innovation, research, and entrepreneurship,” said John Hepburn, CEO of Mitacs Inc.
Pow Wow Pitch has announced the opening of applications and nominations for the 3rd Annual Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards. Applications close on June 21st, 2023.
Pow Wow Pitch has announced the opening of its eighth annual competition to Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. The competition is presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard and offers more than $200,000 in cash prizes.
On April 29th, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier business pitch competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard, announced Angie Gillette, Owner and Founder of White Corn Wear from the Great MHA Nation of North Dakota, as the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch Gathering of Nations Winner. Angie has won $1,000 and is advancing to the Turtle Island Pow Wow Pitch Finals for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.
Kahentawaks believes that language revitalization is an important tool for cultural preservation and empowerment, saying, “Our language is so important. It holds everything, it holds the teachings, it holds the stories, it holds our knowledge.”
“From the very beginning, the Build Native team at Shopify has been a trailblazer within our global scale-up, and our partnership with Pow Wow Pitch has enabled us to lend our expertise and support to rise to the opportunity of Indigenous rising,” said Kyle St-Amour Brennan, Build Native Indigenous Entrepreneur Program Manager at Shopify.
“Pow Wow Pitch is a shining example of the brighter future that can be collectively built when Indigenous entrepreneurs are supported and recognized, and RBC is incredibly proud to support this shared mission,” said Michael Ferencich, Senior Vice President, Business Financial Services, RBC.