Jenn Harper, the founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, is an Anishnaabe woman and member of the Northwest Angle 33 First Nations in Kenora, Ontario. She has had an incredible journey of healing and growth and her story is inspiring for those who have struggled with addiction, trauma, and self-doubt. Jenn has not only overcome her own struggles but also created a thriving business that supports Indigenous youth education, promotes Indigenous representation, and sets the example for sustainability in the beauty industry.

Jenn’s journey began with her battle with addiction and her realization that she needed to change her life. She paid attention to others who had overcome addiction and realized how important it was to share her own story. She believes that her vulnerability is part of her strength in her journey.

Jenn’s healing journey has been a constant practice that she does every single day. She wakes up and starts her day with prayer, meditation, and fitness. She tries to get outside in nature every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Jenn understands the importance of connecting with nature and the Creator, and this has been an essential part of her healing and addressing generational trauma.

In addition to her personal healing journey, Jenn has also built a successful sustainable beauty brand, Cheekbone Beauty. The brand is committed to creating products that are ethically made and environmentally friendly. The brand’s ethos is grounded in Indigenous values and culture, which are central to Jenn’s identity.

Jenn’s commitment to her own healing and the healing of her community is evident in everything she does. Cheekbone Beauty donates 10% of its profits to Indigenous youth education. 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.”

In conclusion, Jenn Harper’s story is one of perseverance, healing, and growth. Her journey is a reminder that it is never too late to change your life, and that healing is a daily practice. Jenn’s story is inspiring, and her commitment to her own healing and the healing of her community is a testament to the power of the human spirit.

Hear more of Jenn’s inspiring story on the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast now, on your favourite platform at powwowpitch.org/podcast.

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Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced a partnership with Raven Indigenous Capital Partners to support early-stage Indigenous-owned businesses access growth and impact investment opportunities.

Pow Wow Pitch is uniting and rallying a trusted ecosystem of partners around Indigenous entrepreneurs to accelerate access to the support and resources. 

Both Indigenous-led organizations, Pow Wow Pitch and Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, honour the Seven Sacred Teachings, operate from the perspective of an Indigenous worldview, follow traditional Indigenous protocols, work for the wellbeing of people and the planet, and acknowledge shared responsibility to the next generations.

“As the Indigenous entrepreneurship ecosystem matures, it is important to build and maintain linkages with trusted partners to support the ongoing growth of Indigenous-owned business beyond start-up,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Our partnership with Raven will help us connect Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs with purpose-driven and culturally grounded seed and growth capital.” 

Raven’s Indigenous Impact Fund of $25M invests in innovative, scalable, purpose-driven Indigenous-led and Indigenous-owned enterprises, with a target investment size of $250K to $2M. As part of its first cohort, CheekBone Beauty, founded by Pow Wow Pitch Alumni and Advisory Council Member Jennifer Harper, is one of Raven’s current portfolio companies.

“Our vision for this partnership is to support more businesses like Cheekbone Beauty to move from a start-up with Pow Wow Pitch to scale up with Raven Indigenous Capital Partners,” said Tenasco.

“As entrepreneurs grow their businesses, our challenges and needs change. And for Indigenous entrepreneurs, sometimes the type of support we need can be very specific,” said Jennifer Harper, CEO of Cheekbone Beauty. “As a Pow Wow Pitch Alumni and a current part of the Raven Indigenous Capital Partners portfolio, I love that these Indigenous-led organizations are working together to help support Indigenous entrepreneurs from seed to scale.”

 The partnership between Raven Capital and Pow Wow Pitch involves education on accessing growth capital, engaging its employees as mentors, adjudicating the pitch competition, and contributing prize dollars for winning entrepreneurs. 

“We’re thrilled to be in partnership with Pow Wow Pitch,” said Jeffrey Cyr, Managing Partner of Raven Indigenous Capital Partners. “Our relationship will allow emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs to access the right support at the right time from organizations they trust. We are hopeful that this nascent support network will help Indigenous entrepreneurs achieve the success and impact we know they’re capable of.”   

To learn more about the partnership between Pow Wow Pitch and Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, visit powwowpitch.org/raven-capital-partners.

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