Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard, announced its new partnership with the Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow to put the spotlight on Indigenous entrepreneurs in New Brunswick.

The 23rd annual Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow takes place at the Pow Wow grounds on Riverview Road East on the Natoaganeg – Eel Ground 1st Nation, overlooking the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, from July 15-16, 2023. This year, Natoaganeg has invited Pow Wow Pitch to host a Pow Wow Pitch Competition to uplift Indigenous entrepreneurs, vendors, creators, and innovators.

Vendors and attendees will have the opportunity to pitch to win cash prizes to take their ideas and businesses to the next level.

To enter, vendors and entrepreneurs can pre-register their business or business idea at powwowpitch.org/natoaganeg. To participate, entrepreneurs will have 1-Minute to Pitch their ideas or businesses live, in front of a panel of judges for a chance to win!

The top 10 pitchers will be paired with mentors before pitching in front of the judges and the Natoaganeg community. Prizes include $5,000 for 1st Place, $2,500 for 2nd Place, $1,000 for 3rd Place, $500 for the Youth Prize and $500 for the Fan Favourite. In addition, the 1st Place Winner will also get a Golden Ticket to the Turtle Island Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000. 

Pow Wow Pitch is proudly presented at the Natoaganeg Tradition Pow Wow by Joint Economic Development Initiative – JEDI and Women In Business New Brunswick. Their work in collaboration with Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow Community Organizers are to thank for making Pow Wow Pitch’s presence possible. Together, our mission to bring opportunities to the Indigenous entrepreneurs of New Brunswick is a milestone!

“We are so excited to bring Pow Wow Pitch to New Brunswick for the first time,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “This is the farthest East we will have taken Pow Wow Pitch and can’t wait to meet the community members and to hear their ideas! We also couldn’t be more thankful to be welcomed by the powwow organizers and our presenting partners, JEDI and Women In Business New Brunswick, together, we’re championing Indigenous innovation and resilience.” 

“We are excited to announce the first ever New Brunswick Pow Wow Pitch Competition in partnership with Pow Wow Pitch, Women in Business New Brunswick, and Natoaganeg (Eel Ground First Nation) to increase economic opportunities to the Indigenous entrepreneurs in New Brunswick,” said Stanley Barnaby, CEO of JEDI. “The Indigenous Business Pitch competition will not only give New Brunswick Indigenous entrepreneurs a chance to win cash prizes towards their start-up or existing business, but it gives them the chance to enter the Turtle Island Pow Wow Pitch Competition and get exposure on a national level. Effective partnerships like these with the focus on increasing Indigenous representation within the New Brunswick economy is paving the way to what true economic reconciliation is.”

Women in Business NB collaborate with JEDI to bring Powwow Pitch to New Brunswick Indigenous Entrepreneurs. Women in Business NB is proud to collaborate with JEDI to bring Pow Wow Pitch to the 2023 Natoaganeg Powwow. There are so many talented entrepreneurs here in NB and we wanted to invite Powwow Pitch to come and celebrate each one of them at this year’s gathering. “I want to take this moment to acknowledge all those who are coming forward to share their ideas and hopefully take their venture to the next level with Powwow Pitch’s support,” said Natasha Martin-Mitchell, Development Officer for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs.

Regardless of whether they make it to the Top 10, all those who audition will still have a chance to advance to the Pow Wow Pitch digital semi-finals and join the Pow Wow Pitch community. All pitchers will get access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, gain access to tools and support, and have the chance to have their products and services featured in the Pow Wow Pitch annual Mailer Box and on the Pow Wow Pitch Marketplace launching later this year for socially-conscious customers looking to ‘Buy Indigenous.’

To learn more and pre-register for Pow Wow Pitch at Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow, visit powwowpitch.org/natoaganeg.

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