Spotlight on the Indigenous Artisans Accelerator: An interview with founder Pala Kovacs
- Community Futures Howe Sound
- Oct 30
- 5 min read
Pala Kovacs is “a bit of a start-up junkie.” She is a photographer and marketer, she runs a non-profit for Indigenous health, and she organizes a marathon for Indigenous people – and it’s her latest creation that’s currently in the spotlight.
The Indigenous Artisans Accelerator is a business bootcamp designed specifically for Indigenous Artists, and it covers so much more than the usual business basics.
We sat down with Pala to learn more about how it works, why it’s so necessary, and what the program needs now.
What is the Indigenous Artisans Accelerator?
“The Indigenous Artisan Accelerator is a business bootcamp for Indigenous artists across BC. It is an eight-week program, and we cover topics that aren't traditionally found in Business Accelerators.”
“At the beginning of the Accelerator, we talk about mindset. What is your relationship with money? Because for artists, that's going to be a very different story than for another entrepreneur who is running a business to profit.”
“Most artists want to make art. That's what they want to do. But what we want to help them do is to also make the money that they're worth without compromising their own values.”
“We have professionals in our facilitator group who have that experience in selling art, and teaching other artists, teaching artists how to market themselves and how to sell their art.”
Pala explains that the accelerator covers business planning and all of the usual topics you would see in a business course, such as ideal customer profiles, marketing and sales advice, and more.
"We have an amazing Indigenous personal finance guru. She's going to help them create a strong relationship with their money so that it is sustainable and not a mystery."
Additionally, every artist is matched with a mentor. These mentors are all experienced Indigenous artists from a range of mediums, and “that mentorship is really more of a personal connection, somebody that they can connect with on a human level."
“And then at the end of the accelerator, we talk about how to take care of themselves. How do you avoid burnout? And what do you do when you hit burnout? What are all the resources that you have available?”
Pala shares that this is often overlooked in business accelerators, and she finds it very important to talk about in order to build sustainable businesses.
What was your inspiration behind starting the Accelerator?
“What I found when I personally participated in Business Accelerators is that they weren't very welcoming towards Indigenous people.”
“The way that the people who were speaking in these accelerators were not speaking to me," explained Pala.
“And they also really pushed hustle culture - and that's not healthy.”
“And I listened to them. I listened to them when they told me that I had to hustle. And I did, and I put myself in the hospital. I was clinically, suicidally depressed from my burnout combined with the stress of healing from intergenerational trauma. And I don't ever want any other indigenous entrepreneurs to go through that.”
What makes this accelerator different?
“When I'm supporting other entrepreneurs, I want to give them the tools to be able to take care of themselves so that having their own business is sustainable in their own bodies.”
"It's designed as a flipped classroom. The artists will receive the content, they'll be able to watch it, pause it, write down their questions, and then bring it to a live screening with that same workshop.”
You have a seriously impressive lineup of facilitators and mentors – how did you manage such a lineup?
“I know people,” Pala quips.
“They're good people who want to support good projects that are just here to help.”
What's your ideal goal for the accelerator program?
Pala shares that, besides the obvious goal of building Indigenous artisans up and supporting them through the process of earning more money for their art, she has the goal of building the accelerator into a bigger program:
"I would like to see it grow into a hybrid program. I would really like to be able to secure funding so we can bring everybody together for the first week and the last week, so they can have more of in-person connection with all these people.”
“I would love to be able to provide each of the artists one-on-one time with each of the workshop facilitators, even if that's only half an hour to talk with the workshop facilitators specifically about their business.”
"I would also really like to have a celebration at the end of the Accelerator, so that they feel more of that accomplishment. I want them to feel the community and the people who are here to support them.”
“And I would also like to be able to provide them with connections to the right people.”
Pala explains that bringing in suppliers, art distributors, curators, gallery owners, and other interested parties and creating opportunities to network would be one way to see the artists thrive beyond the program.
"I just need support with that, because, of course, it costs money, unfortunately.”
What are you looking for in partnerships with new potential partners and sponsors?
“I'm looking for good-hearted people who just want to help, who understand us or are willing to learn. I have this conversation all the time, and I'm always teaching people about what it's like to be a native person."
“My mom went to a residential school. You know, it's not that long ago, and people don't realize how recent all of this is."
"It doesn't matter to me if they don't know everything yet, because as long as they're good people, then they're probably the right kind of people to have.”
Pala is also looking for people and partnerships that can help with the promotion and operations of the Accelerator.
“I would really like to find help with PR. That would be really huge to find - because that could really boost the program and help us to get more resources and partnerships with those who want to support.”
Anyone interested in supporting the Indigenous Artisans Accelerator with professional support or funding can reach out to Pala via her LinkedIn here or by email at indigenousaccelerator@gmail.com
Who has played a major role in supporting you so far?
“I would like to thank Community Futures Howe Sound for the initial investment in the program, which helped me get the rest of the funding I needed for this inaugural program.”
“I want to give a shout-out and thanks to Indigenous Tourism BC for supporting us for this first round and for giving me their trust in building this.”
“I also want to thank Shannan Roberts with Steller Impact Studios. She's been a big support as well.”
“As well as Accelerate Okanagan, who supported me with the application building, the process, and initial outline building.”
Another thanks went to Jelly Academy for helping out with workshops, and David Parnell of TACC.
Finally, Pala wanted to highlight the facilitators and mentors for the program:
Program Mentors:
Program Facilitators
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