Studio 50/50
Studio 50/50 was launched in fall 2020 by Design Within Reach founder Rob Forbes.
He was motivated by the George Floyd murder and the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. Rob reached out to Rene Payne seeking board participation,
as well as advice, and connections as to how to get involved in
the battle against systemic racism in the US.
Studio 50/50 launched a program to mentor and assist Black-owned small businesses, and a year later, a small team of volunteers assisted six small businesses
across the US. Studio 50/50 hopes to expand our reach and support for this
under-represented community.
Norman Teague
Norman Teague Design Studio
Norman Teague Design Studios is a creatively-driven design/build studio, specializing in space, furniture fabrication, art & objects, and custom millwork. Founder, Norman Teague, is a Chicago-based designer and educator who focuses on projects and pedagogy that address the complexity of urbanism and the culture of communities.
The Studio 50/50 Team
The Studio 50/50 team is a grassroots mix of entrepreneurs, business people, designers, and friends, united by a shared
sense of purpose, flexibility, and good humor.
Andrea Polk
SOLO NOIR + ZEN SOUL APOTHECARY
Solo Noir is an all-natural premium skincare line designed for men of color. Andrea is also preparing to launch another wellness-focused business, Zen Soul Apothecary.
Dionté Johnson
SOLE CLASSICS
Sole Classics has been central Ohio's premier sneaker, lifestyle boutique, and cultural center for the last 11 years. Dionté is equally a community leaders and active in many civic projects in his hometown of Columbus.
Brandi Andrews
LUNA VIBE CO.
Luna Vibe’s vision is to create an elevated beauty experience for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community that addresses the lack of inclusion in the mainstream beauty industry. Creator and visionary, Brandi Andrews, envisions a salon where this community can feel “at home.”
Ro Coit
BURN RUBBER + TWO18
Burn Rubber is a streetwear and sneaker boutique that focuses on amplifying the voices of their community through collaborative efforts and social engagement. Founder Ro Coit is also in the process of opening a new and unique location called Two18.
Tiffany Joi
HEMP HEALS BODY SHOP
Hemp Heals Body Shop is an online CBD store that features handmade bath and body products that are specifically designed to help with chronic pain, stress, depression and anxiety. Founder and CBD guru, Tiffany Joi, prides the business in creating supremely effective unique blends that are easy and enjoyable to use.
Get involved
Mentoring
This is for generalists, MBA’s, and anyone with overall business experience. Time requirement estimate one hour per week for six months. You will be paired with one entrepreneur to work with for the six-month cycle.
Expertise
This requires skills in one discipline that can be called upon as needed. Time requirement varies, but estimates one hour per week for six months. You may be paired with more than one entrepreneur to work with for the six-month cycle.
NEW Grant / Fundraising Initiative
In addition to expanding our team, we also hope to start a fund to offer financial support to small businesses in the form of grants. Although we are not yet set up to collect funds on the behalf of the businesses we serve, we are looking to build partnerships to make this possible. If you or your organization are interested in working together on this new initiative, please let us know in the form below. For those who would like to make a financial contribution, let us know. We’ll find a way to make this work.