A group of Indigenous tech professionals sitting in a conference room, smiling, laughing and sharing, wearing conference badges, with some dressed casually and others casually stylish.

INDIGENOUS TECH CONFERENCE

Bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders to explore how technology can drive economic growth and community empowerment.

Join us on January 20th & 21st in Vancouver

SPEAKERS

  • Portrait of a young woman with black hair, smiling, wearing turquoise jewelry, and a black sleeveless top, leaning against a concrete wall.

    Althea WIshloff | Raven Indigenous Capital

    GENERAL PARTNER

  • A smiling man in a dark gray suit with a white shirt stands outdoors near a building with glass windows, arms crossed.

    Andrew Karesa | blueBell Village

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • Bill Hale | FetchGoat

    CO-FOUNDER & CEO

  • A woman with long dark hair, one braid, wearing a sheer blouse with colorful heart and swirl patterns, sitting on a brown velvet armchair against a dark background.

    Betsy Fore | Velveteen Ventures

    FOUNDING PARTNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR

  • Bobbie Racette | Virtual Gurus

    FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

  • Dean Bittner | RUNWITHIT Synthetics

    FOUNDER

  • Denis Carignan | Plato Tech

    CEO

  • Jeff Ward | Animikii

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • Joshua Nilson | Maskwa Games

    CEO

  • A man with short dark hair, a goatee, and wearing a black shirt, smiling with arms crossed, leaning against a concrete wall.

    Lawrence Lewis | OneFeather

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • Magnolia Perron | NACCA

    DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIPS

  • A smiling man with light skin, blue eyes, a beard, and brown hair, wearing a blue shirt with a small pattern of trees, sitting in front of a blurred green background.

    Richard Egli | Emend Vision Fund

    GENERAL PARTNER

  • Headshot of a bald man with a beard wearing a white shirt and dark gray suit jacket, outdoors with a blurred cityscape background.

    Ryan St. Germaine | Indigenous Tech Circle

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling outdoors, wearing a black shirt and a silver pendant necklace, with green foliage and trees in the background.

    Teara Fraser | Iskew Air

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • A young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a white shirt, is smiling slightly at the camera against a plain light gray background.

    Vicki Knott | CruxOCM

    FOUNDER & CEO

OUR SPONSORS

SOMA Public Relations logo with text
Black and white logo of the University of Colorado Boulder

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Subject to Change

Panel Workshop Showcase

Day 1 – Entrepreneurship & Growth

9:00 – 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks & Welcome
9:15 – 10:15 AM
Panel
The Importance of Tech and Growth for Indigenous People
How technology drives sovereignty, jobs, and opportunity.
10:15 – 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 – 11:30 AM
Workshop
Developing a Pitch Deck
Shape your story and highlight traction with a clear flow.
10:45 – 11:30 AM
Workshop
Creating a Marketing Strategy
Positioning, channels, and a simple 90-day plan.
10:45 – 11:30 AM
Workshop
Structuring Your Business for Success
Choose the right structure, protect IP, and align founders with clarity.
11:30 – 12:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Panel
Leading as Indigenous Tech CEOs
Journeys, leadership approaches, and lessons from two-eyed seeing.
2:30 – 2:40 PM
Break
2:40 – 3:25 PM
Panel
The State of Indigenous Investment
Where capital is flowing, gaps that remain, and what founders need to do to be ready.
3:25 – 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 – 4:30 PM
Showcase
Lightning Talks: Indigenous Startup Showcase
Founders introduce their companies and highlight opportunities for funders, supporters, and peers to engage.
4:30 – 4:40 PM
Closing Day 1
5:00 PM
Reception & Indigenous Venture Challenge Winner Announcement
Featuring Richard Tuck on SEALS and celebrating community achievements.

Day 2 – Careers & Technology

9:00 – 9:15 AM
Welcome Back & Day 2 Overview
9:15 – 10:15 AM
Workshop
Top Tech Tools for Indigenous Businesses in 2026
A practical stack for growth across operations, sales, finance, and collaboration.
10:15 – 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 – 11:30 AM
Panel
Building Tech for Community Needs
Tools advancing language, agriculture, and governance.
11:30 – 12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Panel
Working in Big Tech as Indigenous People
Stories of navigating careers, creating impact, and building community inside major tech companies.
1:30 – 1:40 PM
Break
1:40 – 2:25 PM
Workshop
Cybersecurity 101
Protecting your business and community online.
1:40 – 2:25 PM
Workshop
E-Commerce for Artists & Makers
Setting up to sell online with confidence.
2:25 – 2:40 PM
Break
2:40 – 3:40 PM
Panel
Indigenous Data Sovereignty
Leveraging data responsibly while honoring sovereignty and consent.
3:45 PM
Closing & Reflections