Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit dedicated to supporting early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs, has announced the winners of its 2025 Grand Finale, broadcast on October 22nd, 2025 to thousands of viewers across Turtle Island (North & Central America). Presented in partnership with RBC and Mastercard, the pitch competition drew more than 2,000 applicants and awarded $45,000 in prizes to four standout founders working at the intersection of innovation, culture, and community impact.

Hosted by Pow Wow Pitch Founder Sunshine Tenasco, the Grand Finale brought together entrepreneurs representing Nations including the Mohawk, Cree, Navajo, Anishinaabe, Métis, Inuit, Blackfeet, Maliseet, and Native Hawaiian. After a competitive semi-final round, the top 18 pitched live to a panel of judges from RBC, Mastercard, and past Pow Wow Pitch champions.

Meet the 2025 Winners

1st Place — $25,000: Kendal Garlow, SproutSync Ltd.

Six Nations of the Grand River, ON

The top prize went to Kendal Garlow, Co-Founder and CEO of SproutSync Ltd., an Indigenous-led greenhouse automation company focused on food sovereignty. By combining engineering with traditional knowledge, SproutSync designs user-friendly systems that help Indigenous communities grow food sustainably and independently.

“Winning Pow Wow Pitch is a huge reminder that our idea is worth pursuing,” Garlow said. “We want to make a difference in our community and other Indigenous communities, and being a Pow Wow Pitch winner helps us do so in more ways than one.”

Garlow plans to invest the $25,000 into accelerating SproutSync’s launch and developing the company’s proprietary AI system.

Website: sproutsync.ca

2nd Place — $10,000: Wendy Landry, Bebia Cho Foods Co.

Deh Gáh Got’îê First Nation | Based in Kelowna, BC

This year’s Second Place winner, Wendy Landry, is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about food innovators on the West Coast. Her company, Bebia Cho Foods, produces award-winning twisted apple chips that celebrate family tradition while addressing food waste and food security in Northern and remote communities.

Website: bebiachofoods.com

3rd Place — $5,000: Annie Pillaktuaq, Art Den by Annie

Iqaluit, Nunavut

Visual artist and designer Annie Pillaktuaq placed third for her multidisciplinary art and handcrafted sealskin accessories rooted in Inuit heritage. Her next goal is to establish a creative hub in Ottawa for Inuit and Indigenous artists to collaborate and exhibit their work.

Website: anniepillaktuaq.com

Alumni Choice Award — $5,000: Debbie Courchene, IndigE-girl Comedy

Sagkeeng First Nation | Based in Vancouver, BC

Debbie Courchene was recognized for her not-for-profit organization IndigE-girl Comedy, which empowers Indigenous women, queer, and non-binary performers through mentorship, workshops, and storytelling through humour.

Website: indigegirlcomedy.com

Spotlight on Second-Place Winner: Wendy Landry and the Rise of Bebia Cho Foods

While Pow Wow Pitch celebrated entrepreneurs from across dozens of Nations, one of this year’s most inspiring journeys belongs to Wendy Landry, who turned a personal health challenge into a thriving family business that is now attracting national attention.

A Business Rooted in Healing and Heritage

Landry started Bebia Cho Foods shortly after surgery, when she was on a restricted diet and returned to a childhood practice of drying fruits with her parents.

“I used to make dried fruits when I was younger with my parents, so I started making them again and playing around with ideas for my twisted apple chips,” she says.

She debuted her products at the Métis Rendezvous in June and, just one week later, won the Kamloopa Pow Wow Pitch, a win that propelled her into the national competition. Within only four months, her chips had already earned six awards in Kelowna.

That early success allowed her to shift from making snacks at home to producing them in a commercial kitchen.

A Life-Changing Pow Wow Pitch Journey

“Pow Wow Pitch has changed my life and opened doors to opportunities I did not think were possible,” Landry says. “After Kamloopa I was able to launch my business from just being a hobby at home to working in a commercial kitchen. We are constantly scaling up.”

The momentum also led Landry and her daughter to launch a family clothing line, The Bebia Cho Company, which recently walked the runway at International Indigenous Fashion Week. The brand is now preparing to show on a global stage in New York’s Times Square this coming Valentine’s Day.

What the Prize Means — and Where She’s Headed Next

Landry plans to use her $10,000 Mastercard prize to complete packaging and labeling requirements so her products can finally enter schools, Indigenous-owned retailers, and larger markets across Canada.

“We had a lot of businesses reach out,” she explains. “We’re making sure we have all the correct permits so our products can be sold everywhere.”

And with apple season in full swing in the Okanagan, the family is busy producing enough inventory to support both expansion and fundraising for their upcoming New York Fashion Week appearance.

Grounded in Dene Teachings

For Landry, business and culture are inseparable.

“I try to follow the Dene Laws — share, be humble, honour the land where I live and give back to my people back home,” she says. “This is my way to honour my grandma and teach my kids you don’t have to have much to make an impact.”

Her goal is to someday bring both her foods and fashion line to her home community in the Deh Cho for a special launch and celebration.

A Message for Future Indigenous Entrepreneurs

Landry’s advice is simple, and reflects her own path from kitchen hobbyist to nationally recognized entrepreneur:

“Network, reach out to people, sign up for free programs, take advantage of opportunities — you never know what they can lead to, what you may learn, or who you might meet.”

Pow Wow Pitch: Supporting Indigenous Entrepreneurship Across Turtle Island

Founded by Anishinaabe entrepreneur Sunshine Tenasco, Pow Wow Pitch provides mentorship, training, storytelling, and capital to emerging Indigenous businesses. Its vision: a future where Indigenous entrepreneurs feel supported, safe, and empowered to launch and grow enterprises rooted in culture and community.

“Indigenous entrepreneurs are driving innovation and strengthening the economic resilience of our communities,” said RBC’s Chinyere Eni in a statement supporting the 2025 winners.

With entrepreneurs like Kendal Garlow, Wendy Landry, Annie Pillaktuaq, and Debbie Courchene leading the way, that future is already unfolding.

To follow Pow Wow Pitch, check out their website.