Indigenous entrepreneurs, pre-register now to pitch in Ottawa on June 24, 2023
Are you an Indigenous entrepreneur in Ottawa looking to take action on an idea or grow your business? The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival and Pow Wow Pitch are teaming up for the eighth year to spotlight and celebrate Indigenous vendors, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, creators, and innovators June 21-25, 2023, in Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario.
Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard, announced its new partnership with the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival to put the spotlight on Indigenous entrepreneurs.
The 28th annual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival takes place at Mādahòkì Farm, Indigenous Experience’s property located in Ottawa’s Green Belt. It is Canada’s only Indigenous Agri-tourism destination and working farm. Summer Solstice Festival features many Indigenous People’s Day celebrations, powwow performances, and many other events that celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples!
For the 8th year, Summer Solstice has invited Pow Wow Pitch to come to celebrate and put the spotlight on Indigenous vendors, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, filmmakers, and innovators attending the powwow.
Vendors and attendees will have the opportunity to pitch to win cash prizes to take their ideas and businesses to the next level.
To enter, vendors and entrepreneurs can pre-register for limited audition spots here: powwowpitch.org/summer-solstice, with a few slots reserved on the lottery for those who just turn up and want to pitch. To Audition, entrepreneurs will have 1-Minute to Pitch their ideas or businesses for a chance to win!
The top 10 pitchers will be paired with mentors before pitching on the Storytellers and Elders
Stage in front of the judges and the Summer Solstice Community. Prizes include $5,000 for 1st Place, $2,500 for 2nd Place, $1,000 for 3rd Place, $500 for the Youth Prize and $500 for the Fan Favourite. In addition, the 1st Place Winner will also get a Golden Ticket to the Turtle Island Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000.
“We are so thrilled to bring Pow Wow Pitch back to the Ottawa Summer Solstice Festival, every year we are so inspired by all the vendors and artists,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Together, we’re not just creating a platform, we’re shaping a movement that champions Indigenous innovation and resilience.”
“The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is thrilled to be hosting Pow Wow Pitch once again,” said Trina Mather-Simard, Executive Director & Producer of the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival. “This incredible opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs started right here on our Storytellers and Elders Stage. Each year we are blown away by the brilliance of our Indigenous community and love to watch them confidently pitch and ultimately grow their idea into a successful business.”
Last year’s First-Place Winner, Paul Owl, Founder and CEO of TreeTeas Brewing, comments on his experience at the Ottawa Summer Solstice Festival, “Pow Wow Pitch is about taking that risk and taking that opportunity to get yourself out there to promote your business. Even if I didn’t win today, people who can support and help me with my business now know who I am. I am a bit emotional that I won because this is my third attempt at pitching. I am really happy that my business struck a chord this year.”
Regardless of whether they make it to the Top 10, all those who audition will still have a chance to advance to the Pow Wow Pitch digital semi-finals and join the Pow Wow Pitch community. All pitchers will get access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, get more than $1,000 worth of free technology, tools and support, and have the chance to have their products and services featured in the Pow Wow Pitch annual Mailer Box to 2,500 customers and on the Pow Wow Pitch Marketplace launching later this year for socially-conscious customers looking to ‘Buy Indigenous.’
To learn more and pre-register for Pow Wow Pitch at Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, visit: powwowpitch.org/summer-solstice.