Photo: Photo supplied from Karm Collective website
By: Danielle Dufour
Kayla Maurice is the owner of Karm Collective, an Indigenous wellness and beauty business in Saskatoon. She is one of 120 Indigenous entrepreneurs that have been selected as semi-finalists for the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch competition.
“I’m a beauty specialist, healer, educator and a mother,” said Maurice.
She is a member of the Metis Nation and originally from Hay River, Northwest Territories.
“I applied because I wanted to challenge myself and share the vision behind Karm Collective on the larger platform,” said Maurice. “Pow Wow Pitch is an incredible opportunity to connect with other Indigenous entrepreneurs and gain mentorship, grow my business … it isn’t just about the prize money.”
Pow Wow Pitch is an Indigenous entrepreneurship virtual pitch competition in Turtle Island, offering up to $100,000 in cash prizes, mentorship and business growth opportunities. It was founded in 2015 by Indigenous entrepreneur Sunshine Tenasco to provide a platform for sharing ideas, gaining mentorship and accessing resources for Indigenous entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
“Before becoming an entrepreneur, I worked shift work and experienced burnout,” said Maurice. “That experience inspired me to create a business focused on healing and self-care.”
Karm Collective offers beauty services such as lashes and facials. Other services include Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, 9D breath work and holistic healing experiences.
“I also travel to bring my services to communities with limited resources,” said Maurice.
Maurice applied to Pow Wow Pitch because she wanted to step out of her comfort zone and challenge herself and share the vision behind Karm Collective on the larger platform.
“My mission is to create safe spaces where people can heal, reconnect and feel empowered,” said Maurice. “I’ve always liked helping other people.”
She said, “I spent time reflecting on my why I started my business and what impact I wanted to have,” to prepare for her pitch, followed by a lot of practising to make sure her pitch clearly communicated her story, the business and her vision.
On July 13th, Pow Wow Pitch opens voting for the personal choice award. Individuals can vote one time for their favourite pitch. If chosen as a favourite, the pitch participant goes on to the finale. Voting closes on September 10th.
If Maurice wins, she plans to use the funds to create a dedicated wellness and training space, invest in some equipment and hire employees to expand her services into more Indigenous communities.
For more information about Karm Collective visit: www.karmcollective.ca