MINI TIPI is a Canadian lifestyle brand that designs and manufactures its products locally in Gatineau, Canada, with a dedicated team of 18 employees. The brand stands apart as a leader in creating authentic Indigenous designs, offering both signature in-house designs and meaningful collaborations with Indigenous artists across Turtle Island. Through these designs, MINI TIPI ensures thoughtful representation while celebrating Indigenous arts and cultures. With its artist royalty program and giveback initiatives, the brand has become recognized for its strong artistic partnerships, community involvement, and commitment to local manufacturing.   

As part of this ongoing collaboration, MINI TIPI will contribute to Pow Wow Pitch programming by participating in the Indigenous Entrepreneur Bootcamp, sharing knowledge and guidance with emerging entrepreneurs. Co-Founder Trisha Pitura will also return as an Alumni Choice judge during the Semi-Finals, helping select a finalist to advance to the Grand Finale.

Trisha Pitura, Co-Founder of MINI TIPI, shared, “We’re excited to be part of Pow Wow Pitch again this year. Having pitched ourselves, we understand how valuable this experience can be. Pow Wow Pitch creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to step forward, share their ideas, and grow in ways that stay with them long after the competition.”

Mélanie Bernard, Co-Founder of MINI TIPI, added, “Our continued partnership with Pow Wow Pitch reflects our commitment to supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and contributing to a strong and connected business community. It’s important to us to stay involved and give back in ways that support others on their journey.”

Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch, shared, “Working with our alumni in this way speaks to the strength of the community we are building together. We’re grateful to Trisha and Mélanie for continuing to show up and support others. MINI TIPI represents what it means to grow and give back.”

Together, Pow Wow Pitch and MINI TIPI continue to create opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to build, connect, and share their stories. This collaboration reflects the value of Indigenous-led partnerships and the strength that comes from supporting one another.

About Pow Wow Pitch

Pow Wow Pitch is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, with the co-presenting support of Mastercard and RBC. Our vision is to create a world where Indigenous entrepreneurs thrive, feeling supported, safe, and encouraged to develop their ideas and build businesses that create a positive cycle of growth. With a mission to provide resources and mentorship, we empower Indigenous entrepreneurs while amplifying their stories to inspire future generations and foster a more inclusive world.

For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.

About MINI TIPI

MINI TIPI is a Canadian brand which operates and manufactures its products locally in Gatineau, Canada with their team of eleven. Setting themselves apart by being leaders in creating authentic Indigenous designs and collaborating with Indigenous artists to create proper representation and celebrating Indigenous arts and cultures. Through their artist royalty program and giveback initiatives, MINI TIPI has become leaders in artistic collaborations, community involvement, and local manufacturing.

For more information, visit minitipi.ca.

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MINI TIPI is an Indigenous lifestyle brand that operates and manufactures its products locally in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, with the purpose of addressing the lack of authentic Indigenous-designed textiles. MINI TIPI is a brand that also collaborates with Indigenous artists to create exclusive designs ensuring proper representation in the textile industry. Through their artist royalty program and giveback initiatives, MINI TIPI became a leader in Indigenous designed textiles, artistic collaborations and community involvement.

In alignment with MINI TIPI’s give back initiatives, they will be contributing to Pow Wow Pitch’s mission to support and empower Indigenous entrepreneurs by participating in the Indigenous Entrepreneur Bootcamp to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Additionally, Trisha Pitura will also be welcomed back as an Alumni Choice judge in the Pow Wow Pitch Semi-Finals to select an outstanding pitcher to move into the Grand Finale for this year’s competition.

Trisha Pitura, Co-Founder of MINI TIPI, shared her excitement about being part of Pow Wow Pitch: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved with Pow Wow Pitch for another year. We’ve pitched three times ourselves as entrepreneurs, and the growth we’ve experienced thanks to the opportunities from Pow Wow Pitch has been incredible. We truly believe in and support everything they do to uplift entrepreneurs—giving them a platform to shine, dream big, and share their stories.”

Mélanie Bernard, Co-Founder of MINI TIPI, echoes Trisha’s statement, sharing, “MINI TIPI is committed to partnering with Pow Wow Pitch as a way to help strengthen the supportive community for Indigenous entrepreneurs. This partnership is a reflection of our dedication to supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship and contributing to the growth of a vibrant ecosystem that supports Indigenous entrepreneurs.”

Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch, highlighted the importance of collaborating with alumni, saying, “Partnering with our Pow Wow Pitch Alumni represents the kind of growth we aim to achieve. We’re incredibly grateful to Trisha and Mélanie for giving back to the community in such a meaningful way. MINI TIPI truly embodies the spirit of reciprocity and the importance of empowering the next generation.”

Pow Wow Pitch and MINI TIPI are fostering a vibrant ecosystem where Indigenous entrepreneurs can thrive. This partnership exemplifies the power of Indigenous-led collaborations in advancing Indigenous entrepreneurship—creating space for Indigenous entrepreneurs to shine, share their stories, and build successful, sustainable businesses.

About Pow Wow Pitch

Pow Wow Pitch is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, with the co-presenting support of Mastercard and RBC. Our vision is to create a world where Indigenous entrepreneurs thrive, feeling supported, safe, and encouraged to develop their ideas and build businesses that create a positive cycle of growth. With a mission to provide resources and mentorship, we empower Indigenous entrepreneurs while amplifying their stories to inspire future generations and foster a more inclusive world.

For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.

About MINI TIPI

MINI TIPI is a Canadian brand which operates and manufactures its products locally in Gatineau, Canada with their team of eleven. Setting themselves apart by being leaders in creating authentic Indigenous designs and collaborating with Indigenous artists to create proper representation and celebrating Indigenous arts and cultures. Through their artist royalty program and giveback initiatives, MINI TIPI has become leaders in artistic collaborations, community involvement, and local manufacturing.

For more information, visit minitipi.ca.

The post Pow Wow Pitch partners with MINI TIPI to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs 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, and Mastercard, announced a new partnership with the Mana Up to put the spotlight on Indigenous entrepreneurs in Hawai‘i, USA.

Mana Up is a local accelerator for Hawai‘i-based consumer brands scaling to global markets  through multiple programs such as the Mana Up Product Accelerator, House of Mana Up shop -including four brick-and-mortar locations and e-commerce, and the Mana Up Venture Fund.

The Mana Up Showcase is an annual celebration of Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurs and rising talent with in-person events in Honolulu on November 8th and 9th and a global livestream on November 19th. The featured entrepreneurs are from Mana Up’s latest entrepreneur growth accelerator, a 6-month program during which local companies get connected to mentors, workshops, sales channels, and resources to help them grow their businesses. 

This year the Mana Up Showcase has expanded the event lineup to include with the first-ever Hawai‘i Pow Wow Pitch competition held on November 8th at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, offering the opportunity for Indigenous and Native-identifying entrepreneurs to win cash prizes, get a “golden ticket” for the 2024 Turtle Island Pow Wow Pitch Finals competition and more.

To enter, participants and entrepreneurs can pre-register their business at powwowpitch.org/manaup. To participate, entrepreneurs will have 1-Minute to Pitch their businesses live, in front of an audience and panel of judges for a chance to win!

The top six pitchers will be paired with mentors before pitching in front of the judges and the Mana Up community. Prizes include 5,000 USD for 1st Place, 2,500 USD for 2nd Place, 1,000 USD for 3rd Place, 500 USD for the Youth Prize and 500 USD for the Fan Favourite. In addition, the 1st Place Winner will also get a Golden Ticket to the 2024 Turtle Island Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000. 

Bringing Pow Wow Pitch to Hawai’i through Mana Up marks a significant milestone in bridging Indigenous communities. This collaboration not only celebrates cultural unity but also amplifies Indigenous entrepreneurship on a broader scale. Together, Pow Wow Pitch and Mana Up have created a powerful synergy, opening new horizons for Indigenous business endeavors spanning borders.

“We’re honored to introduce Pow Wow Pitch to Hawai’i,” expressed Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “This expansion beyond our borders not only fosters unity among Indigenous communities but also enriches our collective entrepreneurial spirit. Our gratitude to Mana Up for joining hands with us on this remarkable journey is immeasurable.”

“The Mana Up Showcase is our annual opportunity to celebrate Hawai‘i’s incredible talent and invite our community to be part of their success. We feel very fortunate that Pow Wow Pitch selected Hawai‘i as the location to debut its pitch competition within the US/Canada region, amplifying the message that Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurs are part of a global movement that honors culture, sustainability and other shared values,” says Meli James, Mana Up co-founder. 

All entrepreneurs who pitch, regardless of whether they advance to the Top Six,  will have a chance to advance to the 2024 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.’

The event’s local partner will be Vertaccount, a Hawai‘i-based accounting and bookkeeping services company. Mana Up Pow Wow Pitch is part of the Mana Up Showcase 2023 that is presented by King’s Hawaiian, and supported by Bank of Hawaii, Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water, Shopify and Hawaiian Airlines. 

To learn more and pre-register for the Mana Up Pow Wow Pitch at the Mana Up Showcase, visit powwowpitch.org/manaup. To attend the Mana Up Pow Pow Pitch as a viewer, visit manaupshowcase.com. 

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 unique challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurs and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs. Pow Wow Pitch enhances, develops, and accelerates the growth for current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources. In addition, community leadership through volunteerism is promoted to reflect respect and reciprocity as the foundation of the Pow Wow Pitch. For more information, visit https://www.powwowpitch.org/.

About Mana Up

Mana Up is an accelerator and venture fund for Hawaiʻi-based products growing to markets globally, with the mission to increase economic opportunity and jobs for the people of Hawaiʻi. To date, 85 local companies have participated in the six-month accelerator program that provides expansion opportunities and helps solve business challenges. For more information about the accelerator program, visit www.manauphawaii.com, and to shop House of Mana Up, visit https://houseofmanaup.com.  

Mana Up is supported by Kamehameha Schools, Castle & Cooke Hawai’i, Bank of Hawaii, ALTRES, Hawaiian Airlines, Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i, Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation, Innovate Hawai’i, American Savings Bank, Ulupono Initiative, Young Brothers, UHA Health Insurance, Pineapple Tweed, Shopify, Foodland and Dole.

About Vertaccount

Vertaccount is a boutique Finance and Accounting Outsourcing provider with offices and affiliates in Hawaii, New York, Singapore, Australia, Philippines.

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