Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, co-presented by Mastercard and RBC, proudly announces its continued partnership with the Manito Ahbee Festival. This year, Pow Wow Pitch and the Manito Ahbee Festival come together to celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurship while marking two significant milestones: Pow Wow Pitch’s 10th anniversary and the Manito Ahbee Festival’s 20th anniversary. Taking place in Treaty 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 17, 2025.

The Manito Ahbee Festival, held May 16-18, 2025 at the Red River Exhibition Park, celebrates Indigenous arts, culture, and music, featuring new events and partnerships. As part of the Manito Ahbee Festival’s 20 Year Anniversary Celebration, attendees can expect a dynamic pitch competition, networking, and an opportunity to support and invest in Indigenous-owned businesses. This partnership not only honours tradition but also propels Indigenous entrepreneurs forward, ensuring that culture and economics go hand in hand. 

This year’s incredible lineup of events celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage makes Manito Ahbee the perfect place to showcase your business. 

How It Works

To enter, vendors, attendees and entrepreneurs can pre-register for limited spots here: powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee, with a few spots reserved on the lottery for those who just turn up and want to showcase their business. To pitch, entrepreneurs will have 1-minute to present their ideas or businesses for a chance to win! 

The top 10 pitchers will be paired with mentors to refine their final pitch before presenting to the judges and will also advance to the Turtle Island Semi-Finals where they will have another chance to pitch for the $25,000 Grand Prize. Prizes at Manito Ahbee 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. The 1st place winner will also receive a Golden Ticket to the Turtle Island Finale. 

In addition, North Forge will award a one-year membership to their Fabrication Lab—valued at $1,980—to an Indigenous entrepreneur at the Manito Ahbee Pow Wow Pitch.

Beyond awarding prizes to Indigenous entrepreneurs, the collaboration with the Manito Ahbee Festival strengthens the Indigenous community and empowers entrepreneurs to thrive. Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch, shares her excitement: “As Pow Wow Pitch celebrates its 10th anniversary, we are thrilled to celebrate alongside the Manito Ahbee Festival as they mark 20 years of honouring Indigenous culture and excellence. Together, we’re uplifting and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs, igniting the spirit of innovation, and creating opportunities for this generation while inspiring the next.”

“Manito Ahbee has always been a space for Indigenous excellence and cultural celebration. By partnering with Pow Wow Pitch, we are honouring our legacy of Indigenous economy. For two decades, the Manito Ahbee Festival has been a gathering place where we share our stories, and uplift our people. We are proud to collaborate with Pow Wow Pitch to support Indigenous entrepreneurs in Manitoba and beyond. This partnership represents the strength of our community and celebrates the power of Indigenous innovation.” said Lisa Meeches, Executive Director of the Manito Ahbee Festival. 

Join us at the Manito Ahbee Festival and pitch your business to win cash prizes of up to $5,000! This is your opportunity to showcase your talent, share your story, and inspire our community. Register now and be a part of the celebration!

All Indigenous entrepreneurs that pitch will be welcomed into the Pow Wow Pitch community and gain access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, have the opportunity to have their products and services be considered to be featured in the annual Pow Wow Pitch Box, and will receive a free .CA domain courtesy of CIRA.

Purchase your ticket for the 2025 Manito Ahbee Festival here and visit powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee to learn more and pre-register to pitch.

Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada and the United States are also welcomed to pitch for the Turtle Island Pow Wow Pitch Competition held online at powwowpitch.org/pitch until June 3, 2025.

The post Manito Ahbee Festival & Pow Wow Pitch unite for 20-year anniversary celebration appeared first on Pow Wow Pitch.

Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that empowers and supports Indigenous entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentorship, training, and support, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard Canada, announces its collaboration with the Manito Ahbee Festival taking place in Treaty 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 18, 2024. 

The Manito Ahbee Festival, held May 17-20, 2024 at the Red River Exhibition Park, celebrates Indigenous arts, culture, and music, featuring new events and partnerships. Hybrid Virtual events will continue in 2024 which will include Spirit Visions 48 hour film challenge. 

This year’s incredible lineup of events celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage makes Manito Ahbee the perfect place to showcase your business. 

How It Works 

To enter, vendors, attendees and entrepreneurs can pre-register for limited audition spots here: powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee, with a few spots reserved on the lottery for those who just turn up and want to pitch. To audition, entrepreneurs will have 1-minute to Pitch their ideas or businesses for a chance to win! 

The top 10 pitchers will be paired with mentors before pitching to the judges and the Manito Ahbee 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. 

North Forge is set to support Pow Wow Pitch at the Manito Ahbee Festival by providing a winning Indigenous entrepreneur participating in the Manito Ahbee Pow Wow Pitch with a 1-year membership to their Fabrication Lab, a prize valued at $1,750.

In addition to awarding prizes to Indigenous entrepreneurs, this partnership is supporting the Indigenous community and empowering entrepreneurs to thrive. Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch comments, “I am thrilled to be bringing Pow Wow Pitch back to Treaty 1 Territory, and collaborating with our esteemed partners in creating a platform to empower and support Indigenous entrepreneurs. Together, let’s ignite the spirit of innovation and celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurship.”

“Supporting our entrepreneurs through Pow Wow Pitch and the Manito Ahbee Marketplace connects our people to the traditional trade economies of our ancestors,” said Lisa Meeches, Executive Director of the Manito Ahbee Festival. “The Manito Ahbee Sacred site is home to the original trade route, it’s our hope that we walk in those same footsteps our ancestors did. Manitoba is home to many well-established and growing Indigenous businesses, and this competition is an amazing opportunity for up-and-coming entrepreneurs to share their ingenuity and gain the tools needed to make it happen. We are so thrilled to welcome Pow Wow Pitch back to Treaty 1 Territory for a third year and are so excited to witness the talent of our community in this year’s competition.”

Join us at the Manito Ahbee Festival and pitch your business to win cash prizes up to $5,000! This is your opportunity to showcase your talent, share your story, and empower our community. So register now and be a part of the celebration!

All Indigenous entrepreneurs that pitch will also be automatically entered into the Turtle Island (North American) Pow Wow Pitch competition and will be welcomed into the Pow Wow Pitch community. All pitchers will get access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, have the opportunity to have their products and services be considered to be featured in the annual Pow Wow Pitch Box and on Pow Wow Market for socially-conscious customers looking to ‘Buy Indigenous,’ will receive a free .CA domain courtesy of CIRA, and a 60-day free Shopify Trial.

Visit powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee to learn more and to pre-register to pitch.

The post Pow Wow Pitch returns to the Manito Ahbee Festival to celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurship appeared first on Pow Wow Pitch.

On Saturday, May 20th, 2023, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify,and Mastercard, announced Tara Hall, from Pinaymootang First Nation, founder of The Indigenous Kitchen, as the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch Manito Ahbee Festival Winner. Tara has won $5,000, a $20,000 value package in digital marketing from IndigPro, and is advancing to the Finals for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.

Thirty Indigenous entrepreneurs pitched their businesses live at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for their chance to win cash prizes and advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Finals. 

Host Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch, emceed the action-packed program, where Indigenous entrepreneurs had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas and businesses in one minute for their chance to win prizes and support to make their dreams a reality. 

This past weekend’s events were also covered by last year’s Manito Ahbee Festival winner, Erica Daniels, Founder of Kejic Productions. Erica’s team followed Sunshine Tenasco and the Pow Wow Pitch team for a mini-documentary.

Following a first-round open pitch on the morning of Saturday, May 20th, judges Noah Wilson, Senior Business Development Manager at Futurpreneur Canada, Yvette Shang, Senior Advisor in Business Development of Mitacs, Melanie Gamache, Founder of Borealis Beading, Nermin Sa’d, Global Entrepreneurship Specialist of North Forge Technology Exchange, and Sage Lacerte, Founder and CEO of Sage Initiatives, shortlisted the ‘Top 11’ entrepreneurs to advance to round two. 

The Top 11 entrepreneurs were paired with mentors from Futurepreneur Canada, Mitacs, North Forge Technology Exchange, Sage Initiatives, and IndigPro to help them polish their presentations before they pitched one last time to judges Erica Daniels, CEO of Kejic Productions, Sean Rayland Bourbar, CEO of Red Rebel Armour, Dwayne Bird, CEO of IndigPro, and Clarissa Cruz, CEO of Bare Body Sugaring.

“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.”

Tara’s business, The Indigenous Kitchen, is a local food truck in Winnipeg that specializes in traditional Indigenous food. The Indigenous Kitchen was a vendor at the Manito Ahbee Festival and celebrated a sold-out weekend on top of bringing home the Pow Wow Pitch First-Place Prize. Tara shared in her pitch that she has goals to turn her food truck into a fine dining experience inspired by her traditional meals. “I want to showcase the foods that I grew up eating and to elevate them into a fine dining setting with new techniques that everyone can love and enjoy.”

The Second-Place $2,500 Prize Winner was Jordan Smith, Founder of Renterii, a rental share app that allows users to rent out items, spaces, and experiences. “I’m beyond appreciative for this opportunity to put a spotlight on what I’m doing,” said Jordan. “This is going to help me with the start-up side of my business and to keep marketing and development going forward.”

The Third-Place $1,000 winners were Dana Conolly, Shauna Fontaine, and Brittany Grisdale, co-Founders of Pitâw Mīno Muskiki, a fully women and Indigenous owned marketplace, specializing in uplifting handmade products. Shauna Fontaine commented. “We are excited to use this money to continue to help build relationships with youth, and to be able to help pay them honorarium for helping out as volunteers at our markets.” Dana Conolly continues, “And we are really excited about this opportunity to continue to be able to host our Indigenous handmade markets and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship.”

In addition to Second and Third Place Prize money, both Renterii and Pitâw Mīno Muskiki will each receive a $5,000 value brand development package courtesy of IndigPro.

The Youth Prize of $500 and Fan Favourite Prize of $500 both went to Simon Monteith, a.k.a Simon the Scientist, who is inspiring the younger generation through science experiments on his YouTube channel. Simon shared his wisdom beyond his years to any entrepreneurs who may be thinking about pitching in the future, “Nervousness is just excitement for something that hasn’t happened yet.”

“Congratulations to Tara Hall on her Golden Ticket win to advance to the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch Finals,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Lines for her food truck could be seen all weekend long and we applaud her success and passion!  We can’t wait to see where she grows from here and what delicious meal she creates next!”

“Pow Wow Pitch is a tremendous showcase of Indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship, and the stories and achievements of this year’s semi-finalists are a testament to their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Michael Ferencich, Senior Vice President, Business Financial Services, RBC. “We’re so proud of all our participants and semi-finalists, and we will continue to support their growth and success in the future.”

All those who pitched at the Manito Ahbee Festival Pow Wow Pitch will receive a free .CA domain name courtesy of CIRA, a 60-day free Shopify trial, and will join the Pow Wow Pitch community for ongoing support.

“Being involved in Pow Wow Pitch is not just an honor, it’s a privilege to witness the creativity and innovation of Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Kyle Brennan Shàwinipinesì, Senior Lead for Indigenous Entrepreneurship at Shopify. “It’s a reminder of the resilience and strength of our communities and the power of entrepreneurship to create positive change. Shopify has played a proud role in supporting Pow Wow Pitch, so it is exciting to see how things have grown over the years. What an incredible opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs!”

“At Mastercard, we’ve been inspired by the innovative thinking and solutions brought forward by all the Indigenous entrepreneurs involved in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch,” said Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard in Canada. “The future is brighter when Indigenous entrepreneurship is recognized, supported and celebrated, and we are honoured to play a role in continued success and growth of these entrepreneurs. Congratulations to all the pitchers and congratulations to Tara on advancing to the next round.”

“This year the Manito Ahbee Festival was a success with record breaking attendance. With our new programming Red Road Runway, jig n jam, partnerships with Treaty 2, MICEC ( big bingo) and Anishiinaabek Odaminoang – Manito Ahbee Cup Hockey tournament people from all over turtle island came out and supported,” said Candice Hart, Program & Pow Wow Manager, Manito Ahbee Festival. “Also returning this year was our Indian Horse Relay was a big success with Elite Indian Horse Relay Association. Without all our managers and volunteers we would not be able to run this festival without them.” 

“Congratulations to winners Tara Hall at the Indigenous Kitchen, Jordan Smith at Renterii.com , and the ladies of Pitâ Mīno Muskiki for winning top three spots, and for everyone who entered,” said Lisa Meeches, Executive Director, Manito Ahbee Festival. “The Manito Ahbee Festival is so proud to support young Indigenous entrepreneurs and future leaders. Chii miigwetch to Sunshine Tenasco and her team for their work to support growing Indigenous businesses and I can’t wait to see these innovative people flourish and inspire more Indigenous creators.”

Tara will now advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Finals to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000, which broadcasts online on October 19, 2023. Visit www.powwowpitch.org for more information.

The post Tara Hall, The Indigenous Kitchen, wins 2023 Manito Ahbee Pow Wow Pitch appeared first on Pow Wow Pitch.

On May 19th, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition and non-profit organization supporting emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced its newest partnership with Kejic Productions, as a local presenting partner at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Kejic Productions is a Winnipeg-based company owned and operated by Cree/Ojibway Producer and Director, Erica Daniels. Erica has been an entrepreneur for several years and founded the company in 2017. Kejic Productions creates, develops and produces films, community and corporate videos; as well, provides event photography and marketing services.

Last year, Erica Daniels won her first pitch competition at the Manito Ahbee Festival. She later went on to win the Pow Wow Pitch Finale and took home the grand prize of $25,000 to grow her company. Erica pitched several times before and her resilience is worth celebrating with this partnership.

This year, Pow Wow Pitch is proud to welcome Erica and her company as a local presenting partner at the Manito Ahbee Festival. Kejic Productions will spearhead the video production covering interviews with mentors, judges, entrepreneurs, and sponsors. Kejic Productions will also be working on a mini-documentary project at the event for Pow Wow Pitch. Erica will also be featured as a judge in the round one pitches at Manito Ahbee Festival.

“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.” 

“I am so grateful for Sunshine and the entire Pow Wow Pitch family for not only supporting the growth of Kejic Productions but for their dedication to uplifting Indigenous entrepreneurs all across Turtle Island,” said Erica Daniels. “I’m so excited to be able to give back in a way that is most special to me, by helping tell the story of Powwow Pitch and highlighting Indigenous entrepreneurs here in Manitoba! I look forward to seeing all the amazing pitches this year!” 

Read more about Erica’s inspiring story 

Award-winning Cree/Ojibway filmmaker, Erica Daniels is a documentary director, producer, entrepreneur and a proud mother of three from Peguis First Nation. Based in Winnipeg,

Erica’s media company, Kejic Productions (est. 2017), emerged from her passion to share the stories of her community through an Indigenous lens. She values heart-centered stories that amplify Indigenous voices, while focusing upon healing, cultural revitalization, knowledge preservation, education and social change. Erica’s journey began in JUST TV, a multimedia program for at-risk youth in Winnipeg’s inner city. 

Through this program, she was able to better her life and gain extensive skills in the media industry. In turn, Erica continues to pursue her commitment of uplifting Indigenous youth by helping them reclaim their cultural identity. Erica currently runs a cultural program at the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre and is the co-creator and facilitator of Spirit of the Story, a film training program for Indigenous youth.

Inspired by the resilience of her community and the beauty of her culture, Erica shares her gift of storytelling through filmmaking. She embraces the important role of sharing Indigenous history, and values the preservation of cultural teachings shared by Elders in her community, in hopes to reach and inspire future generations.

About Kejic Productions

Kejic Productions is a multi-award-winning production company that is Indigenous owned and operated. We are located on an Urban Reserve in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Established in 2017 by Cree/Ojibway Director and Producer, Erica Daniels, Kejic Productions specializes in producing high-end, cinematic documentaries, and community and corporate and videos, music videos and live streaming; as well as marketing and event photography. We are dedicated to creating engaging, powerful stories and strive to deliver captivating and effective digital video content from an authentic Indigenous lens.

At Kejic Productions, we are dedicated to training the next generation of Indigenous storytellers. Through mentorship, we encourage and train Indigenous youth by providing on-the-job training opportunities such as working on a live set as well as post-production with industry-standard equipment.

Here at Kejic Productions, we believe that Indigenous stories should be told through an Indigenous lens. That way, we are ensuring that our culture, language and heritage is shared authentically in collaboration with the community to honour stories and protocol respectfully and truthfully.

The post Pitcher to Partner: Pow Wow Pitch Partners with Kejic Productions at Manito Ahbee Festival appeared first on Pow Wow Pitch.

IndigPro is an Indigenous owned digital marketing agency and is an award-nominated company renowned for their Indigenous digital marketing expertise. IndigPro is a leading example of uplifting Indigenous excellence and is dedicated to creating innovation and positive change to Indigenous communities.

IndigPro is set to support Pow Wow Pitch at Manito Ahbee Festival by contributing to the 1st Prize winnings with $20,000 in value digital marketing support and website development. This includes a thorough analytics setup as well as a tailored comprehensive marketing plan to equip the winner with everything they will need for a stellar website setup. Contributions to 2nd and 3rd place winners also include a $5,000 value brand development package.

In addition, IndigPro will also be present at Manito Ahbee Festival as mentors to the Top 10 pitchers, offering insight and expertise on how to strengthen pitches. Register now to enter your pitch for the Manito Ahbee Festival at powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee/.

“Partnering with Indigenous powered enterprises is what we strive for at Pow Wow Pitch,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “IndigPro’s dedication to creating positive and impactful work to Indigenous entrepreneurs is exactly what we want to bring to our Pow Wow Pitch community. We are excited to see this partnership grow!”

“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.”

Join the ranks of Indigenous entrepreneurs converging to network, engage in lively fireside chats and sharpen your pitch skills at Neechie Nights in Winnipeg, sponsored by Mino Dawaa, an affiliate of IndigPro. On Friday, May 19th, 2023, you’re cordially invited to a special edition featuring Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. Don’t miss the opportunity to register via EventBrite and hone your pitch for the upcoming Manito Ahbee Pow Wow Pitch event – an opportunity you won’t want to miss!

The post Pow Wow Pitch Partners with IndigPro for Manito Ahbee Festival Pitch Winners appeared first on Pow Wow Pitch.

Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, Meta and Mastercard, announced the opening of its eighth annual Pow Wow Pitch competition to Inuit, Métis and First Nations entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. 

Through Pow Wow Pitch, Indigenous vendors, artists and entrepreneurs from Canada and the United States can pitch their businesses and business ideas virtually and live at pow wows and Indigenous festivals for their chance to join the Pow Wow Pitch Accelerator program and win more than $200,000 in cash prizes.

“Pow Wow is a place to meet, dance, sing, honour our culture and trade,” said Pow Wow Pitch Founder, Sunshine Tenasco. “Indigenous people have the ideas to make a difference in their communities, and Pow Wow Pitch is our platform to support one another as a community.”

How it works

Virtual: Between April 6th and June 21st, Indigenous entrepreneurs can submit a 1-minute video business pitch at www.powwowpitch.org/pitch as their entry into the Pow Wow Pitch Competition, or they can sign up and pitch live on Instagram through InstaPitch. Pow Wow Pitch will shortlist the top 80 Indigenous entrepreneurs as semi-finalists to receive mentorship, pitch training and compete in the virtual semi-final broadcasts for their chance to win $60,000 cash prizes and advance to the Grand Finale in October. 

In-Person: Pow Wow Pitch will also be on-site for Indigenous entrepreneurs to pitch live at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg on May 21st, the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Ottawa on June 25th, and other major Indigenous powwows and festivals across Canada and the United States.  Entrepreneurs can pitch their business or idea for one minute to win cash prizes and advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale. 

The Finals: On October 19th, the top entrepreneurs from the virtual and live semi-finals will pitch to a panel of judges at the Grand Finale for the chance to win the top prizes: Alumni Prize ($5,000), People’s Choice Prize ($5,000), 3rd Prize ($5,000), 2nd Prize ($10,000), and 1st Prize ($25,000).  

All entrepreneurs who enter the pitch competition will join the Pow Wow Pitch community, get access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, access more than $1,000 worth of free technology, tools and support, and have the chance to have their products and services featured in the Pow Wow Pitch annual Mailer Box to 2,500 customers and on the Pow Wow Pitch Marketplace launching later this year for socially-conscious customers looking to ‘Buy Indigenous.’

Last year’s Winner, Smudge the Blades, used the competition to grow awareness and forge new collaborations. 

“Winning Pow Wow Pitch helped me get traction with major sports stores and distribution partners across Canada, gain coverage in news articles and Sportsnet, led to awesome collaborations with NHL Teams like the Edmonton Oilers, with new plans to work with the Shopify Build Native Team to revamp our website,” said Harlan Kingfisher, Founder of Smudge the Blades. “Through Pow Wow Pitch, I found friends and feel famous-even. People are recognizing the brand and me, which is helping us grow! It was an incredible experience and an amazing community.”

Powered by Partnerships 

To scale the Indigenous-led pitch competition across Turtle Island, Pow Wow Pitch is working with industry leaders who believe in the power of Indigenous entrepreneurship. RBC, Shopify, Meta and Mastercard have signed on with significant multi-year support as Co-Presenting Sponsors of the initiative to allow Pow Wow Pitch to rise to its ambition to support every Indigenous entrepreneur.

“Shopify aims to bring more voices to entrepreneurship, and Pow Wow Pitch allows Indigenous entrepreneurs from all stages and intersections to share their dreams, beliefs, culture, and expressions of economic self-determination,” says  Kyle St-Amour-Brennan, Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program Manager at Shopify. “Pow Wow Pitch has built one of the greatest Indigenous entrepreneurial showcases anywhere, and we’re privileged and excited to continue our ongoing partnership and shared mission to empower more Native entrepreneurs from communities everywhere.”  

“Indigenous entrepreneurs drive innovation and change in their communities and across Canada,” said Garrick Tiplady, VP and Country Director at Meta in Canada, “We are proud to continue supporting Pow Wow Pitch and their incredible community of entrepreneurs through educational resources and funding.” 

“At Mastercard, we are committed to fostering an inclusive economy that benefits everyone, including the Indigenous community,” said Sasha Krstic, president of Mastercard in Canada. “We recognize that Indigenous entrepreneurs face disproportionate barriers and, in partnership with Pow Wow Pitch, we are proud to address some of their unique barriers and challenges to help amplify the success of Indigenous entrepreneurs across the country.”

For the 2022 Pow Wow Pitch Season, Pow Wow Pitch is also supported by Silver Sponsors BDC, Canada Post, Export Development Canada, Futurpreneur, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Jelly Academy and NACCA, in collaboration with Seed Sponsors Best Buy, CIRA, MITACS, MNP, Sklar Wilton & Associates and the Women Entrepreneurs Knowledge Hub. 

“Entrepreneurship is an important tool supporting reconciliation, and it takes all hands on deck to support Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Tenasco. “We are proud to continue our relationship with RBC, Shopify and Meta and kick-start our partnership with Mastercard as we build an ecosystem for Indigenous-owned vendors, startups and entrepreneurs.”

To learn more about the 2022 Pow Wow Pitch competition, visit www.powwowpitch.org/pitch/. 

To book an interview with Pow Wow Pitch Founder Sunshine Tenaco, or for more information, please contact hello@powwowpitch.org.

About Pow Wow Pitch 

Pow Wow Pitch is an entrepreneurship program for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, which provides a safe, supportive, collaborative, empowering and culturally supportive environment that addresses the challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. Pow Wow Pitch enhances growth through programs and resources. Community leadership through volunteerism is promoted as a reflection of respect and reciprocity. For more information, visit www.powwowpitch.org.

About RBC Indigenous Financial Services Group

For more than 100 years, RBC has been building relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada. We are committed to serving Indigenous governments, communities, organizations, businesses and individuals by creating opportunities for sustainable economic development through access to banking and capital, and individuals. RBC also provides donations and grants that support Indigenous interests. More information at rbcroyalbank.com/indigenous.

 About Shopify

Shopify is a leading global commerce company, providing trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for reliability, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers everywhere. Proudly founded in Ottawa, Shopify powers over 1.7 million businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Manitobah Mukluks, Cheekbone Beauty, Sisters Sage, Herbraids, Tania Larsson, and many more. For more information, visit www.shopify.com. 

About Meta

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

The post Calling all Indigenous Entrepreneurs, Artists, Vendors and Businesses appeared first on Pow Wow Pitch.