Calling all Indigenous entrepreneurs in Manitoba Indigenous youth to start businesses
Are you an Indigenous entrepreneur in Manitoba looking to take action on an idea or grow your business? The Manito Ahbee Festival and Pow Wow Pitch are teaming up for the second year to spotlight and celebrate Indigenous vendors, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, filmmakers, and innovators May 19-21, 2023, in Treaty 1 Territory – Winnipeg, Manitoba.
With an incredible lineup of events that includes the Manito Ahbee Pow Wow, Manito Ahbee Marketplace, and many other events celebrating Indigenous arts, culture, and music, Manito Ahbee is the perfect place to showcase your business.
Plus, thanks to Pow Wow Pitch’s partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch your business for a chance to win cash prizes of up to $5,000 to take your business to the next level on May 20, 2023.
To enter, vendors and entrepreneurs can pre-register for limited audition spots here: powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee, with a few spots 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 to the judges and the Manito Ahbee 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.
But it’s not just about the prizes. This partnership is about supporting the Indigenous community and empowering entrepreneurs to thrive. Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch, said, “Entrepreneurship is an important tool for reclamation. By sharing our stories, ideas, and businesses, we can grow the Indigenous economy together.”
Lisa Meeches, Executive Director of the Manito Ahbee Festival said, “We are beyond thrilled that Pow Wow Pitch is joining the Manito Ahbee Festival for the second year, and this is a great fit for our new and exciting Kinship program for 2023. The Manito Ahbee Sacred Site was also home to one of our traditional trade economies – in that same spirit, we aim to duplicate the footprints of our ancestors and replicate that, and we thank everyone involved for supporting our Tradeshow and the Indigenous Marketplace.
Manitoba is home to many well-established and growing Indigenous businesses, and this competition is an awesome opportunity for up-and-coming entrepreneurs to share their ingenuity and gain the tools needed to make it happen. We are proud to support our Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, and relatives throughout the province, and we can’t wait to hear all the pitches for new and innovative concepts this year.”
Last year’s Manito Ahbee Pow Wow Pitch winner Erica Daniels, Founder of Kejic Productions, went on to pitch at the Pow Wow Pitch Finals and took home the grand prize of $25,000 at Pow Wow Pitch! Sean Rayland Boubar, the founder of Red Rebel Armour, won the People’s Choice Award at Manito Ahbee and secured second place at the grand finale. Winnipeg entrepreneurs dominated the Turtle Island podium at Pow Wow Pitch, and this year, it could be you!
Join us at the Manito Ahbee Festival and pitch your business to win cash prizes up to $5,000! This is your opportunity to showcase your talent, share your story, and empower our community. So register now and be a part of the celebration!
All those who audition, regardless of whether they make it to the Top 10, will still have a chance to advance to the Pow Wow Pitch digital semi-finals and will join the Pow Wow Pitch community.
All pitchers will get access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, get more than $250 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 500 customers and on the Pow Wow Pitch Marketplace launching later this year for socially-conscious customers looking to ‘Buy Indigenous.’
Visit powwowpitch.org/manito-ahbee to learn more and to pre-register to pitch.