Three years on since its inception, Futurpreneur’s targeted program continues to pave the way for economic resurgence and reconciliation, with direction from Cree-Saulteaux Director Holly Atjecoutay.
Toronto, Canada – June 27, 2022 – Budding Indigenous entrepreneurs, aged 18-39, in Canada who are seeking financial support, mentorship, and business-related resources can access all this and more through Futurpreneur’s Indigenous-focused startup program.
Now under the oversight of Cree-Saulteaux Director Holly Atjecoutay, the Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP) – which launched in 2019 – has continued to grow exponentially in size and scope, attracting young entrepreneurs from coast-to-coast for its tailored programming led by a team with lived experience and mentorship services that have helped turn hundreds of ideas into flourishing businesses.
Designed to guide young entrepreneurs through the intricate startup process, the IESP provides qualifying participants with financing (up to $60,000), access to resources and workshops, and matches them with an experienced mentor for up to two years.
The IESP has kickstarted over 100 young Indigenous entrepreneurs’ foray into the world of entrepreneurship and is one of several startup programs offered by Futurpreneur. Continuing to develop a robust offering that is Indigenous-centric remains a top priority for Atjecoutay, who along with her business qualifications also brings a combination of her lived experience and know-how as “a First Nations woman living within an urban center” to the program.
A combination of her personal lived experiences and the collective experiences of her Indigenous team of experts has allowed for curation of a dedicated program that addresses specific issues and challenges that Indigenous entrepreneurs face and provides solutions to help overcome them. This includes resources and workshops dedicated to the empowerment of Indigenous youth through improving their financial literacy and business management skills.
Through IESP, “we want to focus on the positive and what our young Indigenous entrepreneurs bring. That is their value proposition, niche, and unique business models so that we can amplify that and support them in various ways,” Atjecoutay said. She also notes that although young Indigenous entrepreneurs will encounter challenges that there are “networks and systems in place to support them,” with awareness of such environments being another such challenge.
Focus on individuals & community
Enrolled in the program is entrepreneur and marketing expert, Kaeden Merasty, a member of the Cree Flying Dust First Nation Band and founder of The Indigenous Marketing Company. Through his startup, Kaeden provides an array of marketing, copywriting, and digital media services to Indigenous businesses. After earning a Bachelor’s in Commerce, with a specialization in both marketing and international business, Kaeden began operating out of the Swan Lake First Nation offices in Headingley and quickly built up the company’s clientele and brand image. With an emphasis on empowerment and equal opportunity IMC’s goal is to support Indigenous communities, and individuals, who may otherwise be marginalized – in his own words he wants “to help as many Indigenous people as [he] can.”
Located just outside of Winnipeg, Cru Barber & Co. is a full-service barbershop supported by the IESP. Founder Mitch McLeod started practicing on his brothers as children before receiving a cosmetology diploma and completing his apprenticeship to become certified. After relocating to Niverville in 2021, McLeod wanted to focus on cultivating a community atmosphere through an inviting and relaxing in-shop experience and by providing clients with confidence through premium quality grooming services. There are nods to McLeod’s Cree heritage throughout the branding and design of the shop. Pieces such as a bison skull, sage and smudge shells can be found throughout the space and the “C” in the Cru logo is a sweetgrass braid. “These touches make our Indigenous clients feel especially welcome and invites curiosity from our non-Indigenous clients. It’s great to be able to share my culture with people that may not have been exposed to it otherwise,” he said.
The IESP helps young Indigenous entrepreneurs begin the process of achieving their dream, with a long-term outlook that every business helped will continue to reap benefits within Indigenous communities as a whole. A main goal of Atjecoutay and the IESP is to “foster collaboration between Indigenous businesses to support one another, which will eventually bolster the economic resurgence that we’re working toward.” The economic resurgence Atjecoutay refers to is necessary now more than ever as Canada re-emerges from the Covid-19 Pandemic, especially within Indigenous communities. A recent CCAB report notes that 66% of Indigenous businesses say the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted their business operations and that overall Indigenous firms have a less hopeful outlook over the next 12 months compared to other Canadian businesses.
However, as Canada re-opens there is reason for optimism, as well as change, in the form of the IESP, Atjecoutay, and the program’s business development managers (and other staffers) who highlight what options are available to new Indigenous entrepreneurs through their expertise and knowledge.
More details on Futurpreneur and the IESP program are available at https://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/indigenous.
