A Transformative Year to Celebrate

What a year! 2024 was all about transformation, growth, and new beginnings. In January, we proudly welcomed Naomi Sarazin as our new Executive Director. Naomi is an Anishinabekwe from the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and has been a visionary leader, bringing passion and purpose to her role. She worked diligently to establish our inaugural Board of Directors, esteemed professionals and entrepreneurial leaders who bring a wealth of expertise, diverse perspectives, and a deep commitment to good governance. Their strategic guidance is already shaping Pow Wow Pitch’s next chapter with clarity and purpose.

Throughout the year, the Board collaborated closely with our partners at Sklar Wilton & Associates to develop Pow Wow Pitch’s first-ever 5-year strategic plan. Taking effect from 2025 to 2030, this strategy will provide a roadmap for sustainable growth, deeper impact, and expanded opportunities as we continue empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs and amplifying their stories to inspire future generations.

Here’s to the exciting journey ahead as we work together to turn our vision into reality!

Sunshine Quem Tenasco

Founder & Chair, Pow Wow Pitch

2024 Pow Wow Pitch Competition

In 2024, Pow Wow Pitch had over 300 Indigenous entrepreneurs participate in its virtual and live events at the Manito Ahbee Festival, Kamloopa Powwow, Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, and Tobique Powwow, providing over $100,000 in cash prizes. 

Throughout the virtual and in-person Pow Wow Pitch events, over 140 Indigenous entrepreneurs received one-on-one mentorship and had the opportunity to participate in bootcamps to enhance their business skills and pitch development. Our program thrives with the support of our partners’ employee volunteerism, as they generously provide skilled individuals to serve as Mentors and Judges for Pow Wow Pitch events, empowering the growth and success of Indigenous entrepreneurs. This year, nearly 100 Judges supported 13 Industry categories across our virtual competition and live events, while over 150 Mentors shared their expertise, helping Indigenous entrepreneurs refine their pitches and providing valuable guidance to drive their business growth.  

Throughout the competition, more than 10,000 people voted for the People’s Choice prize awarded to Esther Maud. In addition, more than 2,500 people watched the episodes for the Semi-Finals and Grand Finale live watch party.  

Our 20 Finalists received expert mentorship by our partners at Sklar Wilton & Associates in preparation for the Grand Finale, and emerged more confident and empowered, ready to lead their businesses to new heights and inspire others along the way. Every entrepreneur who pitched this year will proudly join our Pow Wow Pitch Alumni Network, a vibrant and growing community of over 2,000 Indigenous innovators and changemakers.

Thank you to all of our incredible Partners for providing esteemed Mentors and Judges who made this year such a success. A huge congratulations to the Semi-Finalists, Finalists and Winners - your passion, vision, and creativity is inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs!

Thank you to all of our esteemed Mentors, and  Judges, and congratulations to the Semi-Finalists, Finalists and Winners!

2024 Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards

The Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards celebrate excellence in Indigenous entrepreneurship, recognizing leaders for their perseverance, growth, impact, and example. This year, the Awards received more than 150 applications and nominations, highlighting the remarkable achievements of Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada.

At the 4th Annual Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards, Pow Wow Pitch announced 10 Award recipients from across various Nations. The Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards was co-presented by RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard Canada, and in partnership with Export Development Canada, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Sklar Wilton & Associates, and Raven Indigenous Capital Partners. 

The award nominees, applicants, and recipients were honoured by Inuit throat singers, Tamara Takpannie and Janice Oolayou, from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Each Award recipient received an Official Medallion, designed and hand-created by Angel Aubichon, Founder and CEO of Indi City. They also received a plaque featuring a limited edition print of the artwork ‘Envisioning our World’ by Inuk Artist, Yurak, from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Each of their plaques are engraved with their name and recognition. Watch the 2024 Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards and explore the incredible stories of this year’s Award recipients — read the full story for all the details.

2024 Pow Wow Pitch Box

This year's curated Pow Wow Pitch Box showcases a collection of fourteen products and digital experiences spanning bath, body, and stationery, to apparel, home, and food products. Highlighting Indigenous talent, the box features captivating artwork by renowned artists: Steven Paul Judd’s ‘All My Relations’ mosaic piece, and Tenille K. Campbell’s ‘What If’ poem written for Indigenous entrepreneurs. 

The 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Box was co-presented by RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard Canada, and in collaboration with Canada Post and the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation. This year, we proudly procured 225 units of products from Pow Wow Pitch Alumni, driving over $30,000 in direct support to their businesses. This program not only contributes to their growth but also introduces their unique products to new customers, expanding their reach and impact. This program showcases how collaboration can uplift and celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurship.

Alumni Leading the Way Forward

The Pow Wow Pitch Alumni Network is a community of Indigenous entrepreneurs who have participated in Pow Wow Pitch, coming together to empower the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs. In 2024, the Alumni Network made a significant commitment of both time and financial resources to support Pow Wow Pitch’s mission of supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship. By dedicating countless volunteer hours as mentors, judges, and advocates, and contributing funding to support the success of our programming, the Alumni Network continues to grow year after year. Their unwavering commitment strengthens the Pow Wow Pitch community and inspires others to join in building a brighter future. 

Alumni Engaged Initiatives: 

• • Welcomed Pow Wow Pitch Alumni Matthew Nahdee and Michaelee Lazore to the inaugural Board of Directors. 
  • Alumni Trisha Pitura of MINI TIPI and Pow Wow Pitch Founder attended  a special reception at the Senate of Canada to share and highlight Pow Wow Pitch’s work in advancing Indigenous economic reconciliation through the promotion of Indigenous entrepreneurship.
  • Mastercard Canada invited Pow Wow Market Alumni to a Toronto Maple Leafs Game and were featured on the big screen as part of their Indigenous Celebration Night.
  • Alumni Jenn Harper of Cheekbone Beauty attended The Globe and Mail’s first roundtable to discuss how to foster the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs alongside our partners at Mastercard Canada. 
  • Alumni Alex Manitopyes of SACRD THNDR and Trisha Pitura of MINI TIPI were invited to Aritzia’s panel event ‘Celebrating Indigenous Futurity, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship’ to speak about their experiences and journeys with a corporate audience.
  • MINI TIPI was a first-time sponsor of the Ottawa Summer Solstice Pow Wow Pitch.
  • Wabanaki Maple was a first-time sponsor of the Tobique Pow Wow Pitch.
  • Alumni Artist collaborations with Amber Asp-Chief and Angel Aubichon throughout the Pow Wow Pitch programming to honour and highlight achievements. 
  • Participated in the growth of the Indigenous brands featured on Pow Wow Market and the Alumni Fund.
  • Alumni fully integrated as speakers for Pow Wow Pitch Startup Programs and Bootcamps.
  • Alumni fully integrated as Judges and Mentors throughout Pow Wow Pitch programming, in-person and online.
  • Created an Alumni panel of judges consisting of Cece Meadows of Prados Beauty, Trisha Pitura of MINI TIPI, Bernice Clark of Uasau Soaps, Anthony Wingham of Nuez Acres, and Alana Cook of Walking Like Warriors to support the selection of the Alumni Choice Prize for the Semi-Finals, which was awarded to Simon the Scientist.
  • Past two Pow Wow Pitch winners, Ashley Michel of 4 Generations Creations and Erica Daniels of Kejic Productions, were welcomed to the Grand Finale judges panel to select the 2024 Alumni Choice Prize Winner, Lisa Vicaire of Algonquin Acres.

Sharing Knowledge and Stories to Build Community

Our impact strategy centers on knowledge sharing and storytelling as key drivers of community building. Through strategic partnerships and an expanding digital network, Pow Wow Pitch has collaborated with Jelly Marketing to amplify its presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. These platforms play a pivotal role in fostering community growth, celebrating success stories, and connecting Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs with broader audiences.

The 5th season of the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast was a huge success, attracting nearly  2,500 listeners. This season featured 14 incredible guests from the Pow Wow Pitch community, who shared their journeys, lessons learned, and triumphs.  Our monthly e-newsletters also gained popularity, reaching over 40,000 subscribers. Additionally, our social media channels have seen significant growth, now boasting more than 27,000 followers. Social media engagement also grew in 2024 thanks to social campaign initiatives such as Motivation Monday’s and Tuesday Tips where Alumni were spotlighted for their encouraging advice and thoughtful business tips. This year, Pow Wow Pitch and our entrepreneurs have garnered considerable media attention, with over 15 mentions across television, radio, print newspapers, and digital press. These mentions have ranged from brief acknowledgments to full-blown stories and series. Pow Wow Pitch has also published 8 stories, sharing the experiences and lessons of the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs.