Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the extension of its partnership with Futurpreneur through 2024. Futurpreneur is Canada’s only national non-profit organization devoted to empowering young entrepreneurs, ages 18-39, by offering loans with mentorship and resources. Futurpreneur’s investment in Pow Wow Pitch is supporting more Indigenous entrepreneurs, across Canada, through loans with one-on-one mentorship, business planning, financial and marketing resources, as well as, a safe and trusted community of support from individuals with lived experience.
This year, Futurpreneur will support Pow Wow Pitch as a Silver-Level Sponsor and engage its employees as mentors, trusted advisors, and judges for virtual pitch competitions and on the ground at powwows across Canada.
The partnership is centred around enhancing financial knowledge among young Indigenous entrepreneurs. Pow Wow Pitch aims to serve as a key conduit, directing young Indigenous entrepreneurs, located in Canada, towards Futurpreneur’s Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP). This collaboration seeks to provide access to culturally sensitive, safe and inclusive financial literacy workshops, mentorship, business planning supports, and loan financing crucial for starting, buying and scaling small and growing Indigenous businesses.
Additionally, Futurpreneur will be showcased on the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast and Tuesday Tip Series.
“This collaboration aims to provide Indigenous entrepreneurs with access to valuable resources, mentorship, and opportunities for growth with support from individuals with expertise and lived experience,” said Holly Atjecoutay, the Director of Futurpreneur’s Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP). “Young Indigenous entrepreneurs nationwide benefit greatly when Indigenous service providers partner together with the common goal of championing and supporting Indigenous entrepreneur success.”
“We are so thrilled to continue our partnership with Futurpreneur to ensure that Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs have the opportunity to access ongoing support, mentorship and funding as they grow,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Futurpreneur is playing an important leadership role within the Indigenous entrepreneurship ecosystem. We are excited to continue to grow together.”
By investing in Pow Wow Pitch, Futurpreneur aims to contribute to the growth of the Indigenous business ecosystem for a more prosperous future of empowered Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities. This partnership exemplifies how organizations can collaborate to support Indigenous entrepreneurship and work towards economic reconciliation in Canada.
About Pow Wow Pitch
Pow Wow Pitch is an entrepreneurship program for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, which provides a safe, supportive, collaborative, empowering and culturally supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurs and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs. Pow Wow Pitch enhances, develops and accelerates the growth for current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources. Community leadership through volunteerism is promoted as a reflection of respect and reciprocity as the foundation of the Pow Wow Pitch.
For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.
About Futurpreneur’s Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program
At Futurpreneur, we believe in building trust and leveraging lived experience to support Indigenous young entrepreneurs. The Futurpreneur Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP) works with young and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs, ages 18-39, to launch, buy or grow their own small businesses. Offering access to a loan up to $60,000 with expert mentoring and resources, Futurpreneur is here to help young Indigenous entrepreneurs reach their business goals and strengthen their communities.
For more information about the Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program, visit https://futurpreneur.ca/en/offering/indigenous-entrepreneur-startup/