Company News | October 15, 2025
Indigenous Entrepreneurs Awarded $35K at SREDA’s SOAR Pitch Finale
The 2025 SOAR Indigenous Entrepreneurship Competition, presented by PIC Investment Group, concluded last night with a Pitch Finale and cultural celebration at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Top finalists presented their businesses to a panel of expert judges, competing for $30,000 in prize money. In addition, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, our piyêsiw Sponsor, awarded the first People’s Choice Award of $5,000, chosen by the audience’s vote for their favourite entrepreneur.
Finalists also received a special gift, Mini Tipi blankets, and the first-place winners were presented with a custom Star Blanket made by Lora Daniels from the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation.
Open to majority Indigenous-owned businesses in the Saskatoon Region, the 2025 SOAR Indigenous Entrepreneurship Competition welcomed applications from entrepreneurs representing a wide range of industries. From these, ten semi-finalists were selected to participate in a series of five workshops designed to strengthen their business skills and prepare them for the Semi-Finalist Pitch Round. Following their pitches to a panel of business experts, the top finalists were chosen to advance to the 2025 SOAR Pitch Finale.
At the Pitch Finale, the top finalists each had five minutes to present their business idea, share their progress, and outline their growth plans. All four impressed the judging panel, with Anna Gagnon & Natashia Gagnon of PYT Studios taking home the top prize of $15,000. Paul Langlois of Langlois Electric earned second place with $10,000, while Honey Constant-Inglis of Honey Willow nêhiyaw Studio and Lance Arcand of North Indigenous Contracting shared third place, each receiving $2,500. The audience also had their say, awarding Honey Constant-Inglis the People’s Choice Award, which came with an additional $5,000.
Congratulations to the SOAR Finalists:
1st Place: Anna Gagnon & Natashia Gagnon
PYT Studios
Prize: $15,000
2nd Place: Paul Langlois
Langlois Electric
Prize: $10,000
3rd Place: Honey Constant-Inglis
Honey Willow nêhiyaw Studio
Prize: $2,500
People’s Choice Award: $5,000
3rd Place: Lance Arcand
North Indigenous Contracting
Prize: $2,500