ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.
ARTZYBELLA
Ashley Bella, Owner
B.I.S. Art Administration ’10
[email protected]
Launched January 2017 | Startup Stage
PROBLEM
More than half of U.S. citizens have
untreated mental illness and
emotional issues
SOLUTION
Empowering people to use art as an
easy, gratifying tool for self-care and
coping
BUSINESS MODEL
Commissioned art and art
instruction services sales
TARGET MARKET
Businesses and individuals who
understand how much art can do to
stimulate the mind and help
improve one’s overall mood
KEY COMPETITORS
Minted.com, Kiwi.co, We Craft Box,
Home Made Luxe, The Adults and
Craft Crate, Art it Out Therapy
USE OF FUNDS
50% marketing, 30% overhead, 10%
equipment and supplies, 10% legal
and administrative tasks
How has Georgia State supported you as an entrepreneur?
When I was a student at Georgia State, I changed my major several times. After doing so, I was able to find a major that fit my interests and passion best. The Interdisciplinary Studies Department was still fairly new at that time. I was able to create my own degree program: Arts Administration, which combined concentrations in Studio Art, Theater, Marketing and Business.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Waking up every day with fear that you transform into fuel to strategically identify and solve the world’s problems so that you can generate wealth and live freely.
What inspired you to launch your company?
I launched my company after working a 10-year career in mental health. While at my last job, I was able to use art to work with my clients: sex trafficking survivors. In that work, I was reminded how powerful art had been in helping me process my own emotional issues at different points in my life. I realized that I could offer products and services to teach other people the same thing.
What advice can you offer to entrepreneurs?
If you wait for the perfect moment, you’ll never start.
Have you always been entrepreneurial?
Entrepreneurship was always my dream. At 17 years old, I wanted to be an artist and run my own business. Somehow 17 years later, I finally decided to bet on myself and make the leap.
FOUNDER INTERVIEW AND PODCAST
ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.