The partnership brought together Pow Wow Pitch’s community of Indigenous entrepreneurs and Invest Ottawa’s local expertise and resources to create a powerful platform for growth and recognition. The event blended mentorship, networking, and celebration, giving entrepreneurs the space to share stories, gain insights, and watch as Indigenous excellence was honoured on a national stage through the Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards.

Held in Ottawa, the event opened with a mentorship session featuring esteemed business leaders and community champions, including Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa; Cynthia Desjardins, Sr. Relationship Manager of Indigenous Markets and Not-for-Profit at RBC; Erin McLean, Branch Manager at RBC; Meagan Thompson, Director of Corporate Proposals at Altis Recruitment; and Katya Valiquette, Founder of KV Marketing. The mentors provided personalized guidance, expert insights, and encouragement, helping participants strengthen their confidence and business strategies.

These mentorship conversations were followed by the live watch party of the 2025 Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards, where participants gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Indigenous business leaders from across Turtle Island.

The Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards, hosted annually by Pow Wow Pitch, celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional innovation, leadership, and positive influence within their communities. By working alongside Invest Ottawa, this year’s event amplified the voices of Indigenous business owners in the region and strengthened the local support network available to them.

In the spirit of celebration, Pow Wow Pitch also hosted multiple giveaways throughout the evening of their Pow Wow Pitch Box and gifted entrepreneurs laptops and phones courtesy of Mastercard.

This collaboration between Pow Wow Pitch and Invest Ottawa reflects the growing movement to create space for Indigenous entrepreneurship. Together, they demonstrated that fostering inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem requires more than recognition, it requires meaningful collaboration and continued investment in community.

“Our collaboration with Invest Ottawa made this event a true celebration of community,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “It was incredible to see Indigenous entrepreneurs come together to share stories, receive mentorship, and celebrate the achievements of Indigenous business leaders from across Turtle Island. The evening showed what’s possible when we lift each other up, when mentorship, celebration, and cultural pride come together in one space. We were honoured to share that space with supporters like Invest Ottawa, whose generosity and partnership made the night so meaningful.”

“It was an absolute honour to celebrate the achievements and leadership of Indigenous entrepreneurs alongside Pow Wow Pitch,” said Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa. “These entrepreneurs are not simply building businesses. They are strengthening community, fostering belonging, and creating the kind of lasting change that lifts all of us. Every conversation was filled with courage, creativity, and purpose. After more than six years of collaborating with Pow Wow Pitch, we remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from, support, and honour these remarkable leaders. They are shaping a more inclusive, vibrant future for our entire region, and we are committed to celebrating and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship in meaningful and enduring ways.”

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 Invest Ottawa

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital Region, facilitating economic growth and job creation in Ottawa. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognized, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion and talent programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. These include small business training, mentorship, acceleration for technology firms, foreign business and investment attraction, local business retention and expansion in targeted sectors, commercialization and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life. Invest Ottawa also manages Bayview Yards, Ottawa’s innovation hub and one-stop business acceleration shop; and, founder and operator of Area X.O, the R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity technologies. Since 2017, Invest Ottawa has supported and delivered $3.7 billion in GDP impact, 29,343 jobs, and $622 million in government revenues.

For more information, visit investottawa.ca.

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This year, Invest Ottawa will support Pow Wow Pitch as a local co-presenting sponsor of the Summer Solstice Pow Wow Pitch  and by engaging its employees as mentors and judges. 

“We are committed to becoming a better ally, supporting sustainable change, and empowering diverse entrepreneurs from every walk of life who drive our economic growth,” said Sonya Shorey, Interim President and CEO, Invest Ottawa. “We know the path to Truth and Reconciliation includes acknowledging the injustice and harm done to Indigenous people, past and present, and addressing the inequities and systemic barriers that persist. We are honoured to collaborate with Sunshine and Pow Wow Pitch to support community-led action, and help fuel the growth and success of Indigenous entrepreneurs today and tomorrow.”

“I am so proud Invest Ottawa is supporting Pow Wow Pitch to reach and support more Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Having the hometown support of our community helps us stand taller as entrepreneurs so we can grow confidently knowing our community is rallying for the success of Indigenous entrepreneurs.”  

By investing in Pow Wow Pitch, Invest Ottawa aims to contribute to the allyship of the Indigenous entrepreneurship and support local entrepreneurs with their expertise. This partnership exemplifies how corporate entities can support Indigenous entrepreneurship and work towards economic reconciliation in Canada.

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. Community leadership through volunteerism is promoted as a reflection of respect and reciprocity as the foundation of the Pow Wow Pitch.

For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.

About Invest Ottawa

Invest Ottawa helps accelerate your growth and success, leverage the best programs, people and places, and make your mark in Ottawa, a global tech hub and collaborative business community. We are a multifaceted organization ready to help you in venture development, global expansion, talent programs and services, research and development, and innovation collaboration.

For more information, visit investottawa.ca.

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Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced Invest Ottawa as a Seed Sponsor to support Indigenous entrepreneurs access training, mentorship, funding and a platform to showcase and celebrate their stories.

Pow Wow Pitch launched seven years ago at the Ottawa Summer Solstice Pow Wow, founded by local Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg entrepreneur Sunshine Tenasco, with the support of local mentors, judges and sponsors. 

In 2020, with pandemic cancellations of pow wows, Pow Wow Pitch moved online to reach hundreds of Indigenous entrepreneurs across every province and territory. This year, Pow Wow Pitch is scaling across Turtle Island, expecting more than 1,000 pitchers from across the continent. 

Pow Wow Pitch Founder Sunshine Tenasco and Invest Ottawa have a longstanding relationship to support Indigenous entrepreneurs in the National Capital Region; including, bootcamps, programs and mentorship services, and International Women’s Week (IWW) events as part of the Digital Main Street Future Proof Program delivered by Invest Ottawa.

Invest Ottawa is building on its relationship with Sunshine to extend its support to Pow Wow Pitch as an Indigneous-led community-driven initiative. 

“We are committed to becoming a better ally, supporting sustainable change, and empowering diverse entrepreneurs from every walk of life who drive our economic growth,” said Sonya Shorey, Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Communications, Invest Ottawa, Bayview Yards and Area X.O. “We know the path to Truth and Reconciliation includes acknowledging the injustice and harm done to Indigenous people, past and present, and addressing the inequities that persist. We are honoured to collaborate with Sunshine and Pow Wow Pitch to support community-led action, and help fuel the growth and success of Indigenous entrepreneurs today and tomorrow.”

“I am so proud Invest Ottawa is supporting Pow Wow Pitch to reach and support more Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Having the hometown support of our community helps us stand taller as entrepreneurs so we can grow confidently knowing our community is rallying for the success of Indigenous entrepreneurs.”   

Invest Ottawa will help adjudicate the Ontario Semi-finals, provide the top 25 Finalists with an Accelerator workshop, and contribute prize dollars for winning entrepreneurs through this partnership. 

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