New partnership to support Indigenous youth to start businesses
Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition and non-profit organization supporting emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced a partnership with Best Buy for its 2022 Pow Wow Pitch Program.
Set to support more than 2,500 Indigenous entrepreneurs in 2022 with mentorship, funding, training, marketing and a safe and trusted community of support, this new partnership will support Pow Wow Pitch to scale support for Indigenous youth through funding, mentorship, education and technology grants.
As a Seed Partner, Best Buy is backing the Youth Category of Pow Wow Pitch and will be providing mentors to support Indigenous youth, age 19 and under, to prepare for their pitch. Best Buy will also adjudicate the Youth Category and help determine the $1,000 Youth Prize winner, who will move on to compete at the Grand Finale for $25,000.
As part of the Partnership, Indigenous youth from across Canada starting up businesses can visit powwowpitch.org/tech-4-youth to submit a ‘Request for Tech’ to ask for the technology they need to start and run their businesses. Pow Wow Pitch and Best Buy will review and assess the requests to support Indigenous youth to take action on their dreams.
Best Buy Canada is committed to positively impacting the community with programs and partnerships that support connecting youth with technology to advance opportunities. Their goal is to build brighter futures through technology, and they aim to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of their business. They are driving change by expanding opportunities for Indigenous youth across Canada through mentorship, technology grants, and hands-on technology experience. For more information on how Best Buy is giving back to their communities, visit bestbuy.ca/socialimpact.
“We are proud to be partnering with Best Buy to support young Indigenous entrepreneurs with the technology they need to start and grow businesses,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “A gift of technology, matched with mentorship and a community of support, can create boundless possibilities for Indigenous youth looking to take action on their ideas.”
“We are thrilled to be able to support Pow Wow Pitch by providing technology, mentorship, and funding for Indigenous youth as they prepare to be future entrepreneurs,” said Karen Arsenault, Best Buy Canada’s Social Impact Manager. “As a company, our purpose is to enrich lives through technology, and we are proud to be able to amplify the amazing work being done by Pow Wow Pitch to impact Indigenous youth across Canada.”
To learn more about the partnership between Pow Wow Pitch and Best Buy, visit www.powwowpitch.org/tech-4-youth.