Supporting the Growth Of Indigenous Entrepreneurs
Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced a two-year partnership with Mastercard that will provide Indigenous-owned businesses the additional support needed to help them grow.
As part of its mission of fostering an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere, the Mastercard partnership includes a $500,000 investment and significant employee volunteerism to help grow the Pow Wow Pitch Program’s reach and impact in supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs. Mastercard will also be a Co-Presenting Partner for its 2022 and 2023 Programming.
In addition to its support of Pow Wow Pitch Programming, Mastercard has also invested an additional $25,000 in the Pow Wow Pitch Alumni network to support Alumni to foster entrepreneurship in their communities across Canada.
“We are thrilled and honoured to welcome Mastercard into the Pow Wow Pitch family,” said Sunshine Tenasco, the Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Mastercard shares our vision for Indigenous empowerment through entrepreneurship and their willingness to jump in to support us to grow our impact for Indigenous people in Canada and globally gives us great hope and the momentum we need to scale our impact.”
Set to support more than 2,500 Indigenous entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, training, marketing and a safe and trusted community of support, this partnership supports Pow Wow Pitch’s impact on the ground in communities across Canada and its global expansion activities in the United States and New Zealand.
“Small businesses serve as the foundation of our economy and the pillars of our communities across Canada. As Indigenous entrepreneurs look to build and grow their businesses, Mastercard’s commitment to empowering this community for long-term growth is stronger than ever,” said Sasha Krstic, president of Mastercard in Canada. “Together with our partners, like Pow Wow Pitch, with tools and resources, data, and mentorship, we hope to make a positive impact on individuals, their businesses and their future success.”
Through its contribution to Pow Wow Pitch, Mastercard is building on its commitment to understanding the ongoing needs and challenges individuals face and taking steps towards advancing equal opportunities for all.
To learn more about the partnership between Pow Wow Pitch and Mastercard, visit www.powwowpitch.org/mastercard.
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 Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
Emilija Businskas, Vice President, Communications
Mastercard
emilija.businskas@mastercard.com
437-244-6282