JEDI’s Incubator Pitch Day Showcases Eight New Indigenous Businesses
FREDERICTON— Savannah Simmons and her team work out of the kitchen of a one-bedroom apartment, where they make 900 wooden-wick soybean candles a season. As her company, Home and Co., grows, Simmons said she expects to be making many more.
“It is definitely the beginning of something beautiful,” said Simmons.
Simmons is one of the eight entrepreneurs that took part in JEDI’s Indigenous Business Incubator Program this fall. JEDI, or the Joint Economic Development Initiative is a Fredericton company that fosters Indigenous entrepreneurs and their involvement in New Brunswick’s economy.
“[JEDI’s program] gives you an intense oversight over the business in such a small time,” said Simmons. “But it also allows you that time to not only have the time to ask your questions in a way that you feel understood, but it gives you enough time to have that one-on-one with the mentors that you need.”
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The program consists of weekly training sessions where participants learn from industry leads and guest speakers. Paired with an aftercare program, the workshops help young businesses grow by giving them tools, knowledge, and confidence. Business leader Diane Swiatlowski and Frank Erschen, pitch coach at DMZ, lead the workshops week to week.
“They were able to hook me up with multiple different resources and explain business to me in a way that I could actually take that and benefit from it,” said Simmons.
During JEDI’s Incubator Pitch Day last Thursday, each entrepreneur gave a presentation on their business over zoom. Elder Donna Augustine started the day with an opening ceremony.
Entrepreneurs pitched businesses revolving around landscaping, tea-making, and welding. All the entrepreneurs shared different stories and are at varying stages in their business journey.
“Each entrepreneur leaves this program with a customized business support plan, connection to financial resources, and advice on how to raise capital,” said Alex Dedam, president of JEDI, in his opening remarks on pitch day.
Home and Co. is coming up on a year in business this November. Besides making money, Simmons wants to provide a platform for Indigenous knowledge. Simmons’ said this includes bringing in teachings and talking to elders.
“Being able to learn more about my own culture and being able to provide that to others has been really surreal,” said Simmons.
Home and Co. has their candles in six local shops in Bathurst and the surrounding areas, as well as in its online store.
This month, the company is also being featured on JEDI’s Indigeshop, along with the other seven participants. Indigeshop compiles all the products and services talked about on pitch day and gives businesses who don’t have an online shop yet a place to sell.
On pitch day, audience members were given an opportunity to browse the online marketplace after every participants gave their presentation. JEDI also raffled six $100 door prizes that can be used at the shop this month.
Indigeshop will be open until the end of October, but a Christmas market will reopen mid-November with more sellers.
Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier), a graduate of JEDI’s Indigenous Internship Program, spoke at the end of pitch day about her journey in the business world. She congratulated the participants on a job well done.
“I was getting kind of emotional hearing your presentations because it’s brave and it’s exciting,” said Cocahq. “You’re stepping into that first big step into your dream.”
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