Meet 8 Indigenous startups joining us at Collision 2023

From educating companies about Indigenous culture and history to building ethical AI, these Indigenous startups are positively impacting their fields.

“The businesses showcased at Collision 2023 are beacons of inspiration for Indigenous entrepreneurs,” says Shannin Metatawabin, CEO of NACCA (the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association).

“By prioritizing digitization and connectivity in its programs and advocacy, NACCA is taking active steps toward realizing digital equity. By promoting such equity, we can ensure that Indigenous peoples have equal access to the transformative potential of technology. We too can thrive, contribute, and shape the future of Canada’s digital society.”

Shannin will be representing NACCA at the DMZ booth at Collision 2023 and encourages Indigenous persons who may be interested in becoming an entrepreneur to explore the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and its offerings, including the Indigenous Business Hub.

“We’re ecstatic to have Shannin take the stage at DMZ’s booth to highlight how we can bridge the digital divide and empower Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada,” adds Shane Flynn, director of alumni and special programs at DMZ.

“As one of the fastest-growing communities of entrepreneurs in the country, DMZ is committed to propelling the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs in partnership with NACCA. Check out Shannin’s session on Tuesday, June 27th, from 3:30-4:00pm at section #E281,” Shane advises.

Get ready to be inspired by eight Indigenous startups that are set to make waves at Collision 2023.

Nisto

Nisto is a social benefit reporting platform that empowers corporations and governments to have meaningful conversations about workforce diversity, social procurement and Indigenous community contributions.

The company is a team of passionate experts and partners aligned with a shared vision of a global economy at its fullest potential through socially conscious, data-driven actions.

Naheyawin

Naheyawin is a storytelling and educational social enterprise based in amiskwacîwâskahikan (or Edmonton, Alberta) and run by sister-and-brother team Jacquelyn and Hunter Cardinal.

They have developed Reconciliation Engine, a story-based, gamified learning experience that reimagines how your team engages with Indigenous knowledge to foster lasting, meaningful change.

Plato

Plato is a tech company that provides software testing, IT and consulting services to clients across North America.

Plato’s unique training program has trained more than 300 Indigenous software testers. Using a train-and-employ system, all successful graduates become paid apprentices and join the team as junior software testers.

kama.ai

There are plenty of AI-driven customer service chatbots out there. However, Indigenous startup kama.ai is unique because it has social and ethical values at its core to improve the quality and trust of the human AI experience.

These virtual agents can be deployed on websites, Facebook Messenger, or even via voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa.

Artemis

Artemis is changing the way teams interact with data.

Founded in 2022, the company is building a new modelling tool where teams can seamlessly combine data from hundreds of related tables, eliminating data silos and dramatically decreasing time to insight.

iDIG Rentals and Services

iDIG is an Indigenous-owned startup that allows oil, gas, mining and forestry companies in Canada to initiate conversation and collaboration with local Indigenous communities.

This matchmaking platform empowers Indigenous communities to take leadership roles in fossil fuel and resource extraction projects while being involved from the outset.

Indigenous Friends Association (IFA)

Indigenous Friends Association is a not-for-profit organization that helps Indigenous communities engage with and create through digital technologies while relying on ethical and communal values.

This organization directly responds to the Calls to Action 7 (youth programs) and 66 (educational gaps) of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Seeing Red Media

This Indigenous-owned media company is all about storytelling, whether this is through film, documentary or social media.

The company’s film division, Seeing Red 6 Nations, develops, produces and promotes original films and documentaries focused on Indigenous storytelling. It also collaborates with third-party producers, directors and partners to co-create film projects, including Asking for It starring Vanessa Hudgens.

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