What is the Pow Wow Pitch?
The Pow Wow Pitch is a private program or competition administered by Pow Wow Pitch, available across Canada. Annual pitch competition awarding cash prizes to Indigenous entrepreneurs, artists and business innovators across Turtle Island.
Funding: $100,000 total prize pool.
How private program or competition funding works
Private programs and pitch competitions are run by companies and non-profits. Funding is competitive, awarded through an application or pitch with set deadlines, and usually works best as a supplement to government and lender capital.
How to prepare an application
- 01Confirm the current intake window, eligibility and funding amounts directly with Pow Wow Pitch on the official program page. These change from year to year.
- 02Gather proof of Indigenous ownership, membership or citizenship if the program requires it. Verification can take time, so start early.
- 03Prepare a clear project description, a budget showing every source of funds, and recent financial statements or a forecast.
- 04Line up the rest of the financing. Many programs fund only part of a project and expect the balance from equity, a lender or another program.
- 05Submit before the deadline, keep copies of everything, and report on the project as the funding agreement requires.
Combining it with other capital
Non-repayable funding works best when it is sequenced before debt. Grants and contribution agreements reduce how much a business needs to borrow, which can make the loan that follows smaller and easier to approve. Read why we stack non-dilutive capital before debt, or see how our grants and non-dilutive capital service works.