iostudio and Yes& Federal Launch Mentor-Protégé Partnership

iostudio, a woman-Veteran-owned small business with over 25 years of experience serving federal and state agencies, and Yes& Federal, a top-ranked full-service communications firm, have entered into an officially approved partnership under the US Small Business Administration's (SBA) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP).

This SBA-approved Mentor-Protégé Agreement enables the two firms to collaborate more closely on federal and state contracts, creating a dynamic combination of deep federal experience, technical innovation, and communications expertise. Under this agreement, Yes& Federal serves as mentor and iostudio as protégé, bringing together their complementary capabilities to deliver greater value to government clients.

“By joining forces in the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program with Yes& Federal, iostudio is accelerating its growth and broadening its ability to serve government clients with innovation, speed, and scale,” said Lisa Shock, president of iostudio. “This partnership allows us to deepen our impact by leveraging Yes& Federal’s deep experience and capabilities in federal communications.”

Complementary Strengths for Government Impact

iostudio, headquartered in Nashville, TN, complements Yes& Federal’s strengths with robust capabilities in digital experience design, secure and scalable technology platforms, and measurable marketing communications. iostudio has supported various federal and state clients, such as the US Navy, the Army National Guard, the Department of the Interior, and public health agencies in Mississippi and Tennessee. The firm combines human-centred design with innovative technologies to deliver impactful results for government partners.

Yes& Federal, a leading advertising agency based in Alexandria, VA, brings over three decades of experience delivering integrated communications for federal clients, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Smithsonian Institution. Recognised by Adweek and the Inc. 5000, Yes& Federal is known for its creative excellence, strategic insight, and successful execution of high-stakes campaigns for complex federal initiatives.

A Partnership Built for Public Sector Success

Approved by the SBA on March 12th, 2025, the six-year Mentor-Protégé Agreement outlines goals that include management, technical, and business development assistance. It also enables the formation of joint ventures eligible for set-aside contracts, providing a compliant path for the firms to pursue new opportunities and deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to federal and state clients.

Together, Yes& Federal and iostudio are positioned to tackle the evolving challenges public sector agencies face - bringing together data-driven strategy, breakthrough creative, and mission-focused execution.

“With the government’s push to improve citizen and public service, agencies are looking to deliver more citizen-centric digital experiences,” said Andy Blenkle, president of Yes& Federal. “This partnership combines Yes& Federal’s expertise in communications strategy and creative excellence with iostudio’s strengths in digital experience design and technology platforms activation, enabling us to help federal agencies advance these initiatives effectively.”