Tech, Tradition, and Innovation: Meet the latest Discovery Foundation’s Indigenous Tech Founders cohort 🌟
We’re highlighting the entrepreneurs from the Discovery Foundation’s Indigenous Tech Founders program who are building innovative startups across various industries. The Fall 2024 cohort features founders leveraging technology to address real-world challenges and create opportunities that reflect their communities’ values and needs.
Ego Experiments Studios, Anim Ward:
Ego Experiments Studios is a game design company crafting immersive experiences with intricate stories and innovative gameplay. With a player-centric approach at the forefront, they are committed to upholding the highest standards of quality, integrity, and ethical practices. Ego Experiments Studios: Innovation. Immersion. Impact.
Big River Analytics, Hannes Edinger:
Big River Analytics is a data-driven consulting firm that specializes in providing research, analytics, and economic development insights with a particular focus on supporting Indigenous communities and businesses across Canada. With a team of experts in economics, data science, and community engagement, Big River Analytics delivers rigorous, customized research that informs decision-making and fosters sustainable growth.
Big River’s approach leverages advances in technology to provide cutting-edge tools and capacity to organizations that would otherwise be unable to access the highest levels of technical expertise and technology. They work on a diverse range of projects, including labour market studies, economic impact assessments, and policy evaluations, helping clients navigate complex issues with clarity and precision.
Shop First Nations, Rob Schulz:
Shop First Nations is an Indigenous-owned digital platform launched in 2020 with a mission to bridge the gap between Indigenous entrepreneurs and the wider market. Our platform serves as a conduit for consumers seeking authentic Indigenous products and gifts, and for Indigenous businesses striving to expand their digital footprint and sales channels.
Using technology as a cornerstone, we’ve developed a comprehensive online Indigenous business directory coupled with an e-commerce site dedicated to Indigenous gift boxes. Our gifts are thoughtfully curated to include products from Indigenous artisans, directly supporting these entrepreneurs. Our platform also features a vibrant blog that plays a crucial role in telling the stories of Indigenous entrepreneurs and educating the public about their rich cultural heritage. Our technical framework is further enhanced with advanced digital marketing tools, including AI for optimized content creation, analytics, and SEO strategies to boost our visibility online.
The success of Shop First Nations is reflected in our consistent growth, with a notable increase in revenue and expanding customer base each year. Our focus remains on fostering economic reconciliation by making Indigenous brands more accessible to consumers across Canada and beyond, promoting a sustainable model of cultural appreciation intertwined with commerce.
We are committed to using our platform not only as a marketplace but also as an educational resource that highlights the rich tapestry of Indigenous craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.
QuantoTech Solutions Ltd, Alycia van der Gracht:
QuantoTech Solutions Ltd. is a vertically integrated, vertical farming company focused on hyper-local food production and sustainability. We sell our living produce through our brand “Northern Greens” where our proprietary equipment allows us to operate a decentralized farming model that maximizes revenue through strategic and replicable in-building farms, increasing the percentage of direct-to-consumer sales, reducing food waste, and increasing participation in the value chain to cut out middlemen and maximize profit. Our sustainable farming methods create incentives for building owners to house our farms, further reducing our costs compared to large scale vertical farms and imports.
Megacrush Interactive, Mike Wuetherick:
Megacrush Interactive is a leading innovator in multi-platform video game, animation, and real-time development, dedicated to creating immersive content across various entertainment mediums. In addition to collaborating on high-impact projects, we are developing our own proprietary technologies and intellectual property for games, previs, and film. This unique combination of creative excellence and internal tech innovation sets Megacrush apart as a driving force in the evolution of digital storytelling.
Oshki Games, Desmand King:
Oshki Games is an Indigenous-led indie game studio founded in 2024 by lifelong gamers Desmand and Dillon, both proud Anishinaabe. We aim to deliver unforgettable player experiences by weaving modern game technology and design with Indigenous storytelling and values into our creations. Using the interplay of lights and shadows combined with a wealth of gaming experience and knowledge as lifelong players, we seek to create visually stunning worlds that captivate and amaze our audience.
CEO Desmand brings a wealth of leadership and community-building experience, having served as a peer mentor with the Indigenous Initiatives office at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. A certified SCRUM master, Desmand is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and self-organized team culture rooted in Agile principles. His vision is to empower the team to grow and overcome challenges through teamwork and iterative development.
CTO Dillon, with over 15 years of experience in IT and software engineering, specializes in game development and thrives in team-driven environments. As a graduate of Cambrian College’s Computer Programming (IoT) Associate’s Degree program, Dillon is devoted to harnessing technology to create remarkable gaming experiences. Together, Desmand and Dillon channel their passion for games and storytelling into Oshki Games, creating immersive experiences grounded in Indigenous perspectives.
Currently, Oshki Games is working on the finishing touches of their showcase piece, Trench Run 2, and is in the pre-development stage of their first narrative-based full retail release game.
The Discovery Foundation’s Indigenous Tech Founders Program provides essential support to Indigenous entrepreneurs, offering mentorship, resources, and a community of like-minded leaders to help transform ideas into successful ventures. Ready to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey? Visit the program webpage to explore eligibility requirements and details. You can also dive deeper by checking out our Speaker Series on the Discovery Foundation’s Indigenous Tech Founders Program Youtube Playlist.
