Kendal Netmaker

Kendal is from Sweetgrass First Nation, Saskatchewan. He was supported by one of our founding members, Futurpreneur in Canada, when he started his sports apparel business in 2011, aged just 22. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and gifted keynote speaker who is on a mission to empower and motivate people worldwide by sharing his story that, regardless of where you come from and what challenges you face, you have the power to enact change.

“When I launched Neechie Gear, I reached out to Futurpreneur to help me get from a small kiosk to my own store in the local mall. The impact was profound, as business can often feel lonely, and the support was much needed during a growth phase of my career.

“Futurpreneur has done an amazing job supporting so many Indigenous businesses across Canada. This type of support is continually needed as the rise in entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities continues to grow to an all-time high.”

With this support, his business flourished and is still thriving. A portion of Neechie Gear proceeds goes towards supporting young people to access sport-related opportunities.

Kendal is now a keynote speaker and consultant working with world-leading brands, promoting resilience, leadership and Indigenous values through his business Netmaker Enterprises Corp.

“I am on a mission to uplift and motivate others worldwide to reach their full potential and overcome barriers to success as a speaker and coach.”

As part of this mission, he kept in touch with Futurpreneur as a mentor and coach to other young startup founders. In 2018, Kendal also published his book Driven to Succeed: From Poverty to Podium – A First-Nation Success Story, where he shares his story and his guide to reframing your perspective and achieving personal and business success.

Kendal’s business story proves that early-stage business interventions make a real difference. 14 years later, at age 38, Kendal is successfully running more than one business, has generated jobs, and sees the value of the support he received.

“We are only young once. You need momentum to grow a business, and the best time to do it is right now. Don’t second-guess yourself. It is ok to make mistakes while chasing a dream. The ones who try, will find a way… and I hope that is you.”