Maoli business based in Kailua, Hawai’i, USA wins $1,000 and advances to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale
On September 10th, 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 Tristin Manuel, the Maoli Co-Founder of MAOLI FARMS LLC, a business based in Kailua, HI, USA as the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Professional Services & Trades Semi-Final Winner. Tristin 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, 10 Professional Services & Trades 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 Chetan Singh, Manager of Product Management at Mastercard Canada; Melissa Gladue, Senior Business Development Manager at Futurpreneur Canada; and Darian Kovacs, Founding Partner at Jelly Digital Marketing & PR.
“Just try!” shared Tristin Manuel, Co-Founder of MAOLI FARMS LLC. “Avoid getting hung up on the details and stick to your mission or vision statements as your guide. If it doesn’t align, move on.”
MAOLI FARMS is a Native-urban farm located in Kailua, on the island of O’ahu in Hawai’i, USA specializing in plants and trees. MAOLI FARMS also provides backyard Native Growers a platform to reach a wider audience and promote sustainable agriculture.Tristin’s mission with MAOLI FARMS is to return the knowledge of the land back to the people and to reconnect with a culturally grounded way of living.
Tristin pitched to win funds to clear and open a secondary farm location to expand MAOLI FARMS’ efforts of restoring Native Hawaiian plant life and knowledge. Tristin’s overall goal is to be the largest exporter of Native Hawaiian herbs and to rejuvenate traditional farming knowledge, restoring native roots back to the ‘aina’ – land.
“I’d like to thank MAOLI FARMS Ohana [family] and the MF Crew,” shared Tristin, “Mahalo nunui o tupuna a me Ke Akua!”
The judges congratulate Tristin for her endeavors to replenish Hawaii’s native plant life and for clearly presenting the mission of MAOLI FARMS to become a leader in Hawaiian farming and herbal exportation.
“Congratulations Tristin on your Semi-Final win and for advancing to the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Tristin’s dedication to MAOLI FARMS’ mission to restore native plant life is truly inspiring. Your vision of reconnecting people to the land and restoring culturally-grounded traditional ways of living with the land is remarkable. We look forward to spotlighting Tristin and sharing more about MAOLI FARMS with the Pow Wow Pitch community and growing our impact together.”
Alongside selecting a winner, the judges also acknowledge the Runner Up for the Professional Services & Trades industry category. Tannis Smoke & Rayel Smoke, Co-Founders of Niña Waṡte Events, were recognized for clearly sharing their business goals and value proposition. The judges applaud their successes and leadership in making a positive impact in their community.
“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 Tristin on advancing to the next round.”
To watch Tristin’s winning pitch, click here. To watch the Professional Services & Trades Semi-Final episode, click here.
Tristin 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.