On July 27, 2024, 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, and in collaboration with Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI), Wabanaki Maple, and Food & Beverage Atlantic, announced Amber Solomon, Founder of Immerse Collective, from the Bilijk First Nation as the 2024 Tobique Pow Wow Pitch Winner. The Indigenous-owned business has won $5,000 for their business and will advance to the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale where they will get the chance to win the grand prize of $25,000.

On Saturday, 15 Indigenous entrepreneurs pitched their businesses live at the Tobique Powwow in Neqotkuk First Nation (Tobique, New Brunswick), for their chance to win cash prizes to advance their businesses.

Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch, and Keely Thompson-Cook, Communications Coordinator of Pow Wow Pitch, co-hosted 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.

Following a first-round open pitch on the morning of Saturday, July 27th, judges Holly Brown Bear, Economic Development Officer, JEDI; Jason McDonald, Business Development Manager, Futurpreneur; Natasha Martin-Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer, Martin-Mitchell Designs; Tammy Brideau, Executive Director, Food & Beverage Atlantic; Candice Perley, Owner, MC Metal Fabrication; and Siquin Bear, Owner, Party Bear Rentals, shortlisted the ‘Top 10’ entrepreneurs to advance to round two. 

The Top 10 were paired up with mentors from JEDI, Futurpreneur, Indigenous Tourism Association of New Brunswick, Party Bear Rentals, MC Metal Fabrication, Women in Business New Brunswick, and Martin-Mitchell Designs, to help them polish their presentations before they pitched one last time to judges Laura Englehart, Economic Development Manager, JEDI; Jolene Johnson, Founder & CEO, Wabanaki Maple; Tiffany Perley, Economic Development Officer, Tobique First Nation; and Jeanette Bear, Budget Control Officer, Tobique First Nation.

“Winning first place today is a major accomplishment for me,” said Amber Solomon, Founder of Immerse Collective and 1st Place Winner of Tobique Pow Wow Pitch. “Growing up I was always super shy so being able to come up here today to pitch my business and show how far I’ve grown with it in front of everyone has been amazing and I’m so grateful for all of the support.”

Immerse Collective is an extension of Amber’s creativity and talent that sells custom graphics, embroidered apparel, and accessories. Amber is a multifaceted artist from beadwork, quillwork, basketry, digital design, and visual art. Immerse Collective was inspired to promote mental health awareness and now holds a variety of apparel. One of Amber’s most popular designs is her ‘You Are On Wolastoq’ product line to show pride in her territory and community. Amber shared in her pitch that she would like to purchase the equipment necessary to transform her production in-house to bring opportunities to her community. Amber shares her advice for Indigenous entrepreneurs, “find your passion and what you love, just dive in and the rest will come.”

The 2nd Place $2500 Prize Winner was Asha Bear, Founder of Bear Beadwork and soon-to-be Bear Productions. Asha pitched to extend her current business, Bear Beadwork, into film making under a new name, Bear Productions. Asha’s experience in working in film has inspired her to take new direction in telling Wolastoq stories and experiences of her people. “I am so honoured and happy to be able to pitch and win in my community,” shared Asha. “I am so glad that my community and the judges see something in me that maybe I don’t see in myself. My experience today was really positive, I felt really prepared and supported by everyone.”

The 3rd Place $1000 Prize Winners were Krista and Barry Nash, Founders of Nash Athletics, a family-owned athletic brand working to promote healthier lifestyles in Indigenous communities through programming, training, and nutrition. Nash Athletics also creates athletic wear and equipment with designs directly from Indigenous artists. Krista and Barry shared in their pitch that they would use the funds to expand their reach through marketing and development. “Our Pow Wow Pitch experience was absolutely amazing,” shared Krista. “We were just looking to connect and to get our name out there and to reach as many First Nations communities as possible. We recommend anyone to participate in Pow Wow Pitch because there is so much support, positive feedback, and they are a real motivator to keep it up!” 

The Fan Favourite $500 Prize Winners were Sara Saulis and Sheena Davenport, Founders of Straight Out Of Neqotkuk (Design Space), a crafts, accessories, and apparel based business. Sara and Sheena shared in their pitch that they would use the funds to purchase printing equipment to continue providing products for their community with hopes to expand to other communities as well. “This has been really exciting for me.” started Sara Saulis. “I wasn’t expecting to do this when I came to the powwow but it has been a great opportunity and I’m glad to take part in it to share some of the hard work my friend and I have been doing.” Sheena Davenport continues, “as Sara said, we came here just to have fun and be a vendor, we didn’t expect to pitch anything, but it definitely has us thinking about where we can move forward with our business.”

The Youth $500 Prize Winners were May Martial and Dayna Dedam, Founders of May & Dayna’s Mechanic Shop, a startup and business idea to open their own automotive shop, inspired by May’s father. May and Dayna shared in their pitch that they want to go to school and get certification to begin taking their first steps. “This means alot to me because I grew up learning from my Dad who was a mechanic,” shared May. “It makes me want to move forward and to follow his path. I’m really excited that we got this opportunity.” Dayna continues, “We didn’t know what we were doing but we just signed up and gave it a try and I’m really glad that we did.”

The recipient of the 1-year membership to Food & Beverage Atlantic was Amy Pelletier, Founder of KWEYcuisine, an Indigenous food catering and take-out business and soon-to-be restaurant based on Madawaska Maliseet First Nation. KWEYcuisine is focused on providing food programming to elders and creating a space to connect with culture through food. Amy shared in her pitch that the funds will go into her ongoing plans to open her restaurant space and develop her food program. “What an awesome experience at the Neqotkuk (Tobique) 2024 Powwow,” shared Amy. “I was able to participate in the Pow Wow Pitch and won a 1 year free membership to Food and Beverage Atlantic. I am very grateful to have been chosen and can’t wait to see what is in store for KWEYcuisne with the help of Food and Beverage Atlantic.”

“Congratulations Amber, Asha, Krista, Barry, Sheena, Sarah, May, Dayna, and Amy,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “You are shining examples of what can be accomplished with vision, dedication, and perseverance. You are already role models to aspiring entrepreneurs in your communities, demonstrating how to pursue dreams and make positive impacts. We are incredibly proud of each of you and look forward to following your journeys toward continued entrepreneurial success.”

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the Tobique Pow Wow Pitch Competition,” said Julien Moulton, Director of Tobique Powwow Committee, Tobique First Nation. “Your achievements not only exemplify entrepreneurial excellence but also symbolize the resilience and innovation within our community. Through initiatives like this, we’re not just fostering economic opportunities; we’re forging pathways towards lasting empowerment for Indigenous entrepreneurs in New Brunswick.”

All those who pitched are automatically entered into the Turtle Island (North American) Pow Wow Pitch competition and will be welcomed into the Pow Wow Pitch community for ongoing support. All pitchers have gained access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, 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,’ and will receive a free .CA domain courtesy of CIRA, and a 60-day free Shopify Trial.

For media inquiries, please contact Pow Wow Pitch at hello@powwowpitch.org.

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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, announced its new partnership with Tobique Powwow, and local partners Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) and Wabanki Maple, to put the spotlight on Indigenous entrepreneurs in Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick, on July 27, 2024.

The 20th Annual Tobique Powwow is taking place July 27-28, 2024 in the traditional Neqotuk Territory in Tobique First Nation, to celebrate and honour the community’s vibrant Indigenous culture through dancing and singing.

Tobique First Nation is hosting Pow Wow Pitch for the first time ever to celebrate and give prominence to Indigenous vendors, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, creators, and innovators of New Brunswick. Vendors and attendees will have the opportunity to pitch to win $10,000 in cash prizes to take their ideas and businesses to the next level.

The Tobique Pow Wow Pitch is co-presented locally with the Joint Economic Development Initiative and Wabanaki Maple, their partnership enables $10,000 in cash prizes and on-site mentoring, judging, and ongoing support for participants.

How It Works 

To enter, vendors, attendees and entrepreneurs can pre-register for limited audition spots here: powwowpitch.org/tobique, 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 Tobique 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. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Pow Wow Pitch and hold the first Tobique Pow Wow Pitch Competition, aimed at enhancing economic opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs in New Brunswick,” said Julien Moulton, Band Councilor, Committee Lead for the Tobique Powwow. “This Indigenous Business Pitch competition offers New Brunswick’s Indigenous entrepreneurs the chance to secure cash prizes for their start-up or existing ventures, as well as the opportunity to participate in the Turtle Island Pow Wow Pitch Competition for national exposure. These strategic partnerships, focused on bolstering Indigenous representation within New Brunswick’s economy, pave the path towards genuine economic reconciliation.”

“We are honoured to bring Pow Wow Pitch back to New Brunswick,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “We are so proud to continue growing our impact with First Nation communities in support of celebrating incredibly talented Indigenous entrepreneurs of New Brunswick. This is the first time we have been welcomed into Tobique First Nation, and we are so excited to meet the community members and to hear their business ideas! We are truly grateful to be welcomed by the powwow organizers and our local presenting partners, JEDI and Wabanaki Maple. Together, we’re championing Indigenous innovation and resilience.”

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 Powwowmarket.ca, will receive a free .CA domain courtesy of CIRA, and a 60-day free Shopify Trial.

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

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Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard, announced their partnership with Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) and in collaboration with Women in Business New Brunswick (WBNB) to expand the reach of opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to New Brunswick. 

Hosted by the Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow in Eel Ground First Nation, Pow Wow Pitch is able to bring its live Indigenous Business Competitions to New Brunswick for the first time. Set to support more than 2,500 Indigenous entrepreneurs, JEDI and WBNB will also be providing mentorship and judging both in person at the Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow in July and through virtual programming in the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch Competition.

The Natoaganeg Traditional Pow Wow Pitch will be Pow Wow Pitch’s first time in New Brunswick and in Atlantic Canada. This milestone is made possible by the teams at JEDI and WBNB, through their collaboration and partnership, Pow Wow Pitch can now reach the Indigenous entrepreneurs of Eel Ground First Nation. Reaching this goal is a mark of accomplishment for Pow Wow Pitch to be able to extend its reach to more communities every year. 

JEDI and WBNB have gone above and beyond to bring Pow Wow Pitch to New Brunswick by taking part in the planning and organization of the Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow. They organized a working group that meets weekly in order to ensure that Pow Wow Pitch is working closely with the Eel Ground First Nation community to bring this opportunity to local Indigenous entrepreneurs. 

WBNB recommended two local judges to select the winners of the first Natoaganeg Pow Wow Pitch, Jolene Johnson, Founder of Wabanki Maple and Jenna White, Founder of Jenna’s Nut-Free Dessertery. Both of these entrepreneurs have growing businesses that attribute to their sense of community and support to being part of Women in Business New Brunswick, the JEDI community, and Pow Wow Pitch. They are shining examples of the ecosystem in action to support Indigenous entrepreneurs.

“The support of an ecosystem is so important for entrepreneurs looking to take action on their ideas,” said Jolene “Organizations like Women in Business New Brunswick, JEDI and Pow Wow Pitch have been so formative to my journey as an entrepreneur, and I am so happy to now be in a position to give back and support the next generation of East Coast entrepreneurs by being a judge at the Natoaganeg Pow Wow Pitch.” 

Natasha Martin-Mitchell, Development Officer for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs at WBNB, played a key role in organizing with Laura Englehart, Economic Development Manager at JEDI, to unify the two organizations along with Cheryl Ward, Director of Natoaganeg Community Development Centre to be able to bring Pow Wow Pitch East.

“We are so excited to reach this milestone,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Thanks to JEDI and WBNB we are able to expand our reach to more Indigenous entrepreneurs, especially to a community that has shown us so much support and love. We can’t wait to meet all of the Indigenous entrepreneurs and support them in reaching their goals!” 

The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) has been actively working closely with Pow Wow Pitch, WBNB, and the Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) Pow Wow Committee to be able to fully support Pow Wow Pitch’s first event in New Brunswick.

 “Working with the Pow Wow Pitch team has been such an exciting and rewarding experience,” said Laura Englehart, Economic Development Manager at JEDI. “We have been wanting to bring Pow Wow Pitch to New Brunswick for some time and are ecstatic to see our collaborative efforts become a reality through strengthening our partnerships. We cannot wait to see our New Brunswick Indigenous entrepreneurs shine at the upcoming Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) Pow Wow and where they will grow and the succeed from there!”

Women in Business NB collaborate with JEDI to bring Pow Wow 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.

To pre-register your business to pitch at the Natoaganeg Powwow, visit powwowpitch.org/natoaganeg/.

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