Saskatchewan’s SOAR Indigenous Entrepreneurship Competition is moving from a regional initiative to a provincewide program, a shift organizers say will bring mentorship, training and a larger pool of funding to Indigenous entrepreneurs in communities across the province.
The expansion builds on a partnership between the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority’s Saskatchewan Startup Institute and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies. By scaling up, program leaders aim to make business support more accessible to founders living beyond the major urban centres, with a particular focus on reducing the distance and network gaps that can limit growth opportunities.
What changes with the expansion
Transforming SOAR into a provincewide program opens doors to a broader set of services and a bigger incentive pool for participants. Organizers say the initiative will now offer:
- Access to mentorship and business development workshops for entrepreneurs across Saskatchewan
- Networking opportunities with mentors, investors and industry leaders
- A larger $50,000 prize fund to help grow businesses
- A provincial pitch competition designed to remove geographic barriers
- Both virtual learning options and in-person cohort gatherings
Since 2022, the program has awarded $120,000, according to organizers. The increase to a $50,000 prize fund for the expanded iteration is positioned as a practical lever to help entrepreneurs finance early growth, invest in tools and inventory, and extend their runway while building customer traction.
Addressing urban-rural access gaps
Program leaders describe the expansion as a response to uneven access to resources outside the province’s largest centres. Stephane O’Reilly, entrepreneurship director with the SK Startup Institute, said the move was motivated by a desire to ensure Indigenous entrepreneurs have comparable opportunities regardless of where they live.
“Although a lot is happening in Saskatoon, there were so many entrepreneurs who weren’t getting the chance to be part of this community, the growth potential that comes out of a program like this and the funding as well,” said O’Reilly, who added that many business support initiatives have traditionally focused on larger urban centres, creating barriers for entrepreneurs in rural and northern communities.
For founders, the practical hurdles often include travel costs, limited in-person advisory services and smaller local investor networks. Program features such as virtual learning and a provincial pitch stage are intended to compress those distances. The addition of structured mentorship and cohort-based learning can also help entrepreneurs refine operations, navigate procurement and compliance, and stress-test business models before scaling.
Why this matters for households and local economies
For Indigenous business owners, enhanced access to training and networks can shorten the time it takes to validate a product, reach customers and generate stable cash flow. That, in turn, affects household finances by supporting more predictable income and reducing reliance on high-cost credit. For communities, the multiplier can include local job creation and supplier relationships that keep more spending in the region. Organizers say SOAR has helped participants strengthen operations, build confidence and expand professional networks—capabilities that typically translate into better hiring, inventory and pricing decisions.
Investors and lenders often look for evidence of disciplined planning, traction and mentorship when evaluating early-stage ventures. By formalizing these supports, the program can make it easier for founders to present clear forecasts and milestones during pitch events, potentially unlocking follow-on financing. The focus on removing geographic barriers also widens the pipeline of investable companies by drawing in entrepreneurs from rural and northern areas who may otherwise be overlooked.
Program snapshot
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Provincewide across Saskatchewan |
| Partners | Saskatchewan Startup Institute (SREDA) and SIIT |
| Prize fund | $50,000 |
| Total awarded since 2022 | $120,000 |
| Core supports | Mentorship, workshops, networking, virtual and in-person cohorts |
| Pitch competition | Provincial stage to reduce geographic barriers |
What to watch
As the program scales, indicators to watch include the number of entrepreneurs participating from rural and northern communities, follow-on financing secured after the pitch competition, and how many businesses expand hiring or enter new markets after completing mentorship cycles. For founders weighing whether to apply, the most immediate benefits are concentrated in three areas:
- Capability-building: structured workshops and mentorship to improve planning, pricing and operations
- Market access: connections to mentors, investors and industry leaders that can accelerate partnerships
- Capital readiness: the prize fund and pitch practice to strengthen funding proposals
While many business support programs cluster in large cities, the SOAR expansion signals a deliberate attempt to distribute resources more evenly. For entrepreneurs outside major centres, provincewide access to mentorship and a bigger prize pool can lower early-stage risks and help viable businesses move from idea to revenue more quickly.
