How is capital flowing to Indigenous leaders?

1 min read · June 21, 2025
New Power Labs

Indigenous Peoples make up five percent of Canada’s population. Four percent of private enterprises are Indigenous-led and owned (StatsCan, 2025). 

Indigenous-owned businesses contributed $48.9 billion to the Canadian economy annually. They outpace peers: 20% of Indigenous-owned small and medium enterprises had an annual growth of 20% from 2020-2023. That’s nearly triple the rate of growth seen across all SMEs, where only 7% hit that level (National Indigenous Economic Development Board, 2024).

Yet, access to capital for Indigenous entrepreneurs remains a persistent barrier. 

The National Indigenous Economic Development Board calls capital access a key obstacle to “meaningful economic development.” Our scan of the latest data below confirms the gap: philanthropic funding and investments to Indigenous leaders and communities remain limited.  

Closing the gaps – especially the capital gap – facing Indigenous entrepreneurs would help unlock $100 billion in Canada’s Indigenous business economy. That’s in addition to the $26.7 billion boost to Canada’s GDP that would come from closing economic gaps for the Indigenous workforce. 

Imagine what’s possible when capital flows without friction.

Narinder

New Power Labs

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