Taking the first steps toward starting your own business might seem a lonely and daunting prospect. Lethbridge Polytechnic grad Kariza Manychief (Siipikkitstaki/Night Offering) takes comfort in knowing, however, she’s not taking that journey alone.
Inspired by a class project at the polytechnic, Manychief (Business Administration – Management 2024) has plans to launch Night Owl Games, the first Blackfoot board game company.
“One of my main motivations is seeing how many people have supported this idea, and also supported me,” says the Kainai Nation entrepreneur, now residing in Lethbridge. “It’s been really touching, and it’s helped me feel more secure knowing that if I have a problem and can’t figure it out on my own, I have all these people I can ask for help.”
Encouraged by the backing of family and friends, and and Entrepreneurship program, Manychief applied to Pow Wow Pitch. She was among more than 300 applicants for the online competition, which encourages Indigenous entrepreneurs from across North America to present their business ideas to a panel of judges. Cash prizes were available to turn those dreams into reality, and Manychief won $1,000 for making the semi-finals. Of those 100 semi-finalists selected, she earned one of 20 spots in the grand finale, streamed online on Oct. 23.
Although Manychief was unable to crack the top three in the final pitch and finish in the prize money, she says the experience was still a valuable one.
“I think getting into the finals out of 300 businesses was in itself a pretty big accomplishment. It was a great learning experience to figure out what things I might need to work on a little, so maybe I could talk about my business in more detail,” she says, adding the competition provided her with great exposure. It has also opened the door for networking with the other contestants, and possible mentorship opportunities with those who have already established their businesses.
The $25,000 first-place prize money would have covered the production cost of her first game. Manychief is determined, however, to have the game ready for purchase in 2025, with her “backup to backup” plans for financing including crowdfunding or grant applications.
When she enrolled at Lethbridge Polytechnic, she had aspirations of starting her own business one day. Her original focus on making and selling her beadwork and other Indigenous crafts changed, however, when Manychief was tasked with inventing a language-based game as part of a Blackfoot course she was taking. The “light bulb moment” occurred when she was bouncing ideas for her class project off her mother, a kindergarten teacher who asked if she could create a board game to reinforce Blackfoot culture and language for her students.
Fanning the flames of that familial inspiration was her discovery of the resources and support available through AgENT. The extracurricular program provides experiential learning opportunities for students to develop skills in innovation and entrepreneurship. Working with Josh Leith, AgENT program co-ordinator, Manychief learned how to develop her ideas into a business model. In addition to helping her prepare for the Pow Wow Pitch, Leith assisted her in two earlier competitions. Although Manychief failed to win either of those, she says the experience was invaluable.
“It’s helped me feel a lot more confident and comfortable talking about my business and myself. I come from a really humble background, where it was all about bringing less attention on myself, and trying to showcase other people,” she says.
Failing is all part of the learning curve for the students AgENT works with, says Leith, adding it’s better to fail and learn from mistakes at a point where their greatest investment has been time, and not money.
Manychief jumped at the opportunity when she learned of the Pow Wow Pitch, and took it as a sign when a post advertising the event popped up repeatedly on her social media feed. Gaining greater exposure for her business idea while making connections with other entrepreneurs were her primary goals in entering the competition, and Manychief says her advancement through to the finals was both “exciting and unexpected.”
In preparation for the grand finale, Manychief had access to a bootcamp and mentorship. A friend built a website for her fledgling company, and Manychief’s sister, Carlita Manychief, contributed artwork for the board game and has served as a sounding board.
“(Carlita) will be honest with me. She’s not afraid to tell me if my ideas are stupid, and you need that sometimes,” she says. “She’ll be like, ‘did you think about this, or did you think about that,’ and give me pointers. It’s not so much discouraging, but constructive.”
During her time at Lethbridge Polytechnic, Manychief encouraged other students with a business idea or “side hustle” to take advantage of all the resources available. As a student who used the support and encouragement of the AgENT program to launch a Highland cattle operation, Leith (Agriculture Sciences – Agriculture Business 2021, Agriculture Sciences – Animal Science 2020) hopes Manychief will inspire others to follow their dreams.
“I think Kariza is a prime example of taking that risk; taking the next step forward,” he says. “It’s almost like a proud parent moment, and it’s satisfying to know your work had an impact on them.”
