Ohio VC Fest is back in Cleveland this week, bringing together founders, funders, and leaders for two days of connections and dealmaking. With expanded programming, more national investors, and a regional Startup World Cup competition, VC Fest is cementing its place as one of the Midwest’s signature gatherings for startups and venture capital.

Techstars Columbus is turning two with a fresh milestone: its Fall 2025 cohort. Eight startups are joining the accelerator, and five are from outside Ohio—a sign that Columbus is becoming a magnet for companies from hubs like San Francisco and New York. Meet the class reshaping biotech, AI, aerospace, and more.

JumpStart’s Interim CEO Lorne Novick is steering one of Ohio’s most influential startup organizations through a pivotal moment. With VC Fest returning to Cleveland September 16–17, Novick is focused on connecting founders and funders, diversifying capital, and expanding services to help Ohio entrepreneurs grow faster and compete on a national stage.

Jessica Sublett is leading Akron’s Bounce Innovation Hub from inside a nine-story former tire factory turned 300,000-square-foot innovation center. As CEO, she’s helping position Akron as a national leader in advanced materials and polymers while also serving as a connector for the city’s entrepreneurs. Outside of work, she recharges with boating, hiking, and cooking.

Cleveland-based startup Beacon has launched with a mission to pay people for helping their networks land jobs. Early customers are already seeing results, signaling how Beacon could reshape referrals into a formal, rewarding marketplace for recruiters, companies, and everyday professionals alike.

71/70 Angels has closed its first fund and already made two startup investments, including Cincinnati-based Nichefire. Backed by Rev1 Ventures and nearly 50 investors, the new fund is tackling one of Ohio’s toughest gaps—seed capital—while expanding access for both founders and first-time angels across the region.

Ohio is investing $7.1M to expand career pathways for students. The two-year plan will boost access to career-technical education, advising, and mentoring across the state. With a new state toolkit and funding support, schools and partners can help more students pursue high-demand careers. Applications are due September 17th.

Next month, top investors, founders, industry leaders and innovators will converge in Cleveland for Ohio VC Fest ’25. Now in its third year, the networking conference, produced by JumpStart with the support of partners like JobsOhio, Cyrannus and more, quickly became a can’t-miss event for those passionate about Ohio’s role in shaping the future of technology.

JobsOhio just launched a $15,000-per-hire relocation incentive to help Ohio employers attract STEM and technical talent from out of state. With up to $225,000 available per company, this new program is part of a broader strategy to grow Ohio’s skilled workforce and fuel the state’s surging tech and innovation economy.

Japanese tech investment giant SoftBank has purchased Foxconn’s 6.2 million-square-foot Lordstown plant for $375 million according to Bloomberg. Foxconn will continue operating the site, shifting production to AI server and cloud computing hardware — a move that further boosts Ohio’s growing role in U.S. AI infrastructure and data center development.

Ben Blanquera has spent 25 years shaping Ohio’s tech scene — and he’s still pedaling forward. From advising enterprises on AI strategy to cycling across the state for charity, the Rackspace VP blends technology, mentorship, and community to make an impact on Ohio’s tech sector.

Ohio has taken a significant and timely step toward improving cybersecurity across the state. Following a wave of cyberattacks on local governments, including major incidents in Cleveland, Columbus, and Washington Court House, the state has enacted new rules requiring all local governments to implement cybersecurity policies and publicly approve any ransomware payments.

In its first year, The O.H.I.O. Fund has raised $238 million, made 19 investments, and closed one of its flagship funds at $106 million. Designed as a sovereign wealth fund-style engine for the Buckeye State, it’s deploying Ohio capital into Ohio companies, talent, and infrastructure to fuel long-term growth.

Two Columbus-based technology leaders, Andelyn Biosciences and AlignAI, are teaming up to tackle one of the toughest challenges in BioTech: how to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly in a highly regulated, high-stakes manufacturing environment.

Cincinnati-based Pantomath has raised $30 million in Series B funding led by General Catalyst to expand its AI-powered data operations platform. The company is moving beyond observability to autonomous issue resolution, helping enterprises reduce data downtime and manual troubleshooting. Pantomath is part of Ohio’s growing footprint in real-world AI innovation.

SkillSpout, co-founded by Melanie McGee, is working to make AI adoption in Ohio safe, structured, and accessible. Through its MomentumAI program, the team helps organizations train staff, create policies, and integrate AI into daily operations—tackling one of the state’s biggest challenges: turning AI potential into practical, people-driven results.

Foxconn’s move adds to a surge of AI-related investment in Ohio, as the state becomes a national hub for data center construction. Powered by hyperscale cloud providers and large-scale AI infrastructure projects, the state is solidifying its place as a leading destination for AI innovation, deployment, and advanced manufacturing.

Tyler Technologies has acquired Columbus-based Emergency Networking, a SaaS provider for fire and EMS agencies, to strengthen its public safety suite ahead of the Jan. 1, 2026 federal shift to NERIS reporting. Emergency Networking is among the first fire records solutions to meet NERIS compliance, serving 500+ clients nationwide.

Joby Aviation’s new defense collaboration with L3Harris could deepen its ties to Dayton, where it’s ramping up production of electric aircraft. With Wright-Patterson Air Force Base nearby, the region is emerging as a national hub for advanced air mobility, aerospace manufacturing, and next-gen defense innovation.

New funding is now available to help Ohio researchers and startups bring breakthrough technologies to market. Through the Ohio Third Frontier’s TVSF program, grants of up to $1 million will support commercialization efforts in advanced manufacturing, biotech, AI, and more. Proposals are due August 8, with awards announced in October.