Mitacs signs on as Seed Sponsor of Pow Wow Pitch to provide access to commercialization, R&D and support for Indigenous entrepreneurs
Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced Mitacs as a Seed Sponsor to support Indigenous entrepreneurs access training, mentorship, funding and a platform to showcase and celebrate their stories.
As part of Pow Wow Pitch’s concerted effort to rally Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to build a circle of support for Indigenous entrepreneurs, today’s announcement with Mitacs brings access to resources and support.
“It’s important to ensure the ecosystem is working together and that Indigenous entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of universities, colleges and all available resources to help them succeed,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Pow Wow Pitch Founder. “We are so proud to be working with Mitacs to support the next generation of Indigenous innovators to connect with Mitacs programming and the wider university and college community.”
Mitacs has a longstanding commitment to working with Indigenous communities and creating equitable access to its programs. For example, the Indigenous Pathways Program supports Indigenous-owned organizations and organizations that hire Indigenous interns with access to talent, grants and subsidies.
“Mitacs is extremely proud to sponsor the Pow Wow Pitch to support Indigenous businesses,” said Dr. John Hepburn, Mitacs CEO and Scientific Director. “As we support inclusive innovation, we are delighted to provide indigenous entrepreneurs with skills training, networking, mentorship, and resources such as access to funding and talent.”
Mitacs will help adjudicate the Québec Semi-finals, provide the top 25 Finalists with a workshop, and contribute prize dollars for winning entrepreneurs through this partnership.
For more information on how Mitacs supports Indigenous innovators and entrepreneurs, visit https://discover.mitacs.ca/indigenous/.
To learn more about the partnership, visit powwowpitch.org/mitacs.