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Entrepreneurs Empowering Entrepreneurs: The Success Story of Studio 50-50 |
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On a mission to help empower small businesses, Studio 50-50 was founded in 2019 to provide website and photography services to local businesses in Ottawa, Kingston and Ontario.
Driven by a growth mindset, founder Shiyan Boxer participated in Invest Ottawa’s 2020 cohort of the Summer Company program, as well as Starter Company Plus in 2023 to take the emerging business to the next level.
According to Shiyan, these programs helped define the direction of the company, and eventually leading to a specialization in providing web design and development for local small businesses – empowering them with captivating websites that elevate their brand and tell their story.
“These programs were instrumental in shaping the trajectory of my business,” Shiyan shares. “They provided invaluable guidance and training across essential business domains such as incorporation, taxation, finance, and marketing.”
Finding and accessing the entrepreneurial community – through Starter Company Plus
In addition to the technical know-how that was gained in essential business areas such as incorporation, taxation, finance, and marketing, Shiyan explains that they fostered a sense of community and mentorship, and provided a dynamic entrepreneurship environment that she was excited to return to.
“The community aspect was truly amazing,” Shiyan reflects. “I loved going to Invest Ottawa every week during the programs to catch up with my cohort and see what everyone was up to with their businesses.”
“The vibrant and supportive environment was both motivating and inspiring,” she added. “It also facilitated great networking opportunities and led to several participants becoming valued clients of Studio 50-50.”
Reflecting on the Starter Company Plus program in particular, Shiyan shared the value of her experience for any new or aspiring entrepreneur that was considering the program.
“The most valuable part was the community,” she says. “I felt like everyone at Invest Ottawa, as well as the program participants, genuinely wanted each other to succeed. There was no sense of competition or ego. Instead, it was all about supporting one another.”
Along with the sense of community, Shiyan touched on how Starter Company Plus helps build the strength, confidence and resiliency needed to drive forward with a business idea.
“The program not only points you in the right direction with great training, resources, and mentorship but also instills the confidence needed to navigate the journey of growing your business,” she explained.
“Having the program and community around kept me focused and motivated, which is super important,” she added. “And the support system and guidance really help keep you on track, especially in the sometimes-isolating world of entrepreneurship.”
As far as what’s next for Studio 50-50, Shiyan was able to share the company’s vision for growth and expansion in the Ottawa market – and beyond.
“Firstly, we’re aiming to broaden our client base and extend our services beyond Ottawa, targeting the Vancouver market,” she explained. “We also plan on providing more comprehensive services like branding and copywriting to cater to the diverse needs of our clients.”
