Entrepreneur one of five finalists in international competition
- EFN Staff | November 01, 2014
Saskatchewan First Nations entrepreneur, Heather Abbey, named a finalist in “Get in the Ring” start-up pitch competition – now off to Kansas City for Regional Finals
Saskatoon’s Heather Abbey has been named one of five finalists in the “Get in the Ring” start-up pitch competition, a world-wide competition founded by the Netherlands-based Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Originally from Little Pine First Nation, this single mother impressed a panel of 18 judges (from Canada’s entrepreneurial community) with a video pitching her business shopindigenous.ca, an e-commerce site where First Nations artisans are able to sell their designs and creations to a global marketplace. In its first seven months of operation, shopindigenous.ca has seen sales to Egypt, Finland, Australia, Canada, and the USA.
As a “Get in the Ring” finalist, Heather will now represent Canada at the Regional Finals being held in Kansas City during Global Entrepreneurship Week November 6th and 7th where she will compete against start-ups from the USA and Mexico. The winner of the Regional Finals will move on to compete at the World Finals in the Netherlands for a cash prize of $1million euros.
Heather started shopindigenous.ca in 2013 when she noticed several Indigenous artists facing barriers to selling their products. She saw an opportunity to create an on-line platform where Indigenous artists can market their products 24/7 regardless of location.
“To have my business transition from launch to international exposure in its first year is life-changing,” Heather asserts. “Being named a finalist in the ‘Get in the Ring’ competition is massive. This is my shot. Everyone works for years and years to do something bigger. I am going to study as hard as I can and bring my A game to Kansas City.”
The event in Kansas City will be a high-profile spectacle that shines a bright light on North America’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs. “For Kansas City, I get to pick my own entrance music. That is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Heather is the only First Nations person among the five finalists from Canada. She will be moving from Saskatoon to Whitecap Dakota First Nation in November to establish the headquarters for shopindigenous.ca.