Sicangu Lakota business based in Denver, Colorado, USA wins $1,000 and advances to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale
On September 3rd, Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that hosts a Turtle Island wide Indigenous Business Pitch Competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify and Mastercard Canada, announced Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand, the Sicangu Lakota Founder of Create áyA, a business based in Denver, CO, USA, as the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Not-For-Profit Semi-Final Winner. Kristina has won $1,000 and is advancing to the Grand Finale for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.
More than 300 Indigenous entrepreneurs from across Turtle Island (Canada and the United States) applied to Pow Wow Pitch this year for their chance to win cash prizes and advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale. From the 300 applicants, 100 were selected as Semi-Finalists and provided with training and mentorship to prepare for their semi-final pitch to the Judges.
Last night, six Not-For-Profit Semi-Finalists had the opportunity to pitch their organizations and community initiatives in one-minute for their chance to win an industry prize and advance as a finalist.
Judges included Tamer Gabbour, Senior Commercial Account Manager at RBC; Rob Stong, Incident Response Lead at Shopify; Helena Wade, Communications Manager at Mastercard Canada; Shehnila Sayeed, Senior Communications Specialist at CIRA; and Stacey Howse, President and CEO at First Light.
“I had heard of Pow Wow Pitch before and how great of a resource it is to give that extra push towards the goals of Indigenous creators,” shared Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand, Founder of Create áyA. “I am opening a maker’s space to provide a multi-generational facility, where creatives and community members can participate in art making, fun events and receive access to supplies and new techniques. This will also allow vendors from our annual festival the opportunity to test out new merch and learn new skills they can in turn apply to their own businesses.”
Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand founded Create áyA to create a community for Indigenous artists and creators through the shared passion for pop culture and art. Create áyA provides a Maker’s Space which is a collaborative environment where creatives and crafters of all skill levels can make, learn, explore, and share knowledge. Create áyA is equipped with an array of machinery and supplies, resources, and support to help any creator reach their artistic goals.
Create áyA also hosts the annual áyA Con, Denver’s largest Indigenous comic and arts festival, where hundreds of Indigenous vendors, panelists, and performances come together to share their culture and creativity. At áyA Con, they are able to provide a free table and professional development to its vendors in an effort to increase opportunities and growth for fellow entrepreneurs. Kristina pitched to win funds to purchase and maintain the existing equipment for the Maker’s Space and to provide compensation for new instructors and existing artists.
“The biggest lesson I learned is how difficult it is to sum up all of your experience, goals, connections and dreams into a one minute pitch!” reflected Kristina. “However, I am so glad I was able to gain this experience and new skills along the way.”
The judges congratulate Kristina for a job well done in her presentation and passion for creating opportunities for artists. Create áyA was selected for its potential and strong community impact.
“Congratulations to Kristina on her win to advance to the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Create áyA is an organization that is doing such important work to empower and equip artists with the opportunities and tools they need to thrive. We look forward to spotlighting Kristina and sharing more about Create áyA with the Pow Wow Pitch community and growing our impact together.”
Alongside selecting a winner, the judges also acknowledge the Runner Up for the Not-For-Profit industry category. Carey McBeth, Founder of HERO DAWGS Pet Therapy Society, was recognized for a stellar presentation, confidence, and scalable impact.
“Pow Wow Pitch is an incredible showcase of Indigenous trailblazers who are making a transformative impact on our communities with their resilience, ingenuity and unwavering commitment to success.” said Tracy Antoine, Senior Director of Indigenous Programs and Policies at RBC. “We’re so proud of all our participants and semi-finalists – their courage to participate leads to life achievements and their shared stories are truly inspirational. We are committed to supporting their growth and success in the future.”
“Being involved in Pow Wow Pitch is not just an honour, 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!”
“The innovative thinking and solutions brought forward by all the Indigenous entrepreneurs involved in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch have been truly inspiring,” said Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada. “At Mastercard, we’re committed to working with partners like Pow Wow Pitch to unlock access to resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs across the diverse communities we serve to power economies and empower people. Congratulations to all the pitchers and congratulations to Kristina on advancing to the next round.”
To watch Kristina’s winning pitch, click here. To watch the Not-For-Profit Semi-Final episode, click here.
Kristina will now advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000, which broadcasts online on October 23rd. Register to watch the 2024 Grand Finale at powwowpitch.org/register.