Marietta College has opened the Center for Appalachian Innovation, a state-supported hub focused on research, collaboration, and capacity-building across Appalachian Ohio. Backed by $750,000 in annual funding, the Center will support local governments, small businesses, and regional partners as they work to strengthen economic and community growth.

Ohio has launched “Eva,” a first-of-its-kind AI assistant that gives election officials instant, verified guidance on Ohio’s voting rules. Available to all 88 counties, the tool is designed to speed up routine decisions and strengthen consistency across the state.

VisioCell won the University of Toledo’s Tech419 Pitch Competition, a 12-week program that honed five tech entrepreneurs’ storytelling skills through intensive deck reviews, feedback sessions, and mock judging panels.

Cleveland-based MorelandConnect has launched FOUNDATION, an AI platform for mid-market companies that unifies business data, delivers instant insights through chat, and enables secure, scalable automation—helping organizations adopt and deploy AI in weeks, not months.

Columbus-based Healthy Roster has acquired concussion tech leader Sway Medical, uniting two sports medicine innovators into one digital platform for injury documentation and athlete wellness—backed by New York’s Level Equity.

Cleveland-based Neuronoff raised $4.5M to bring its Injectrode—an injectable, minimally invasive chronic pain treatment—to market by 2026, offering a drug-free, surgery-free alternative to traditional neuromodulation therapies.

The University of Cincinnati is launching Bearcats AI Ready!, a campus-wide initiative embedding artificial intelligence across teaching, research, and operations to move the university from “AI-fluent” to fully “AI-ready.”

Cincinnati-based Edge Energy has secured a $3.5 million investment from Germany’s PRETTL Mechatronics & Actuators GmbH to accelerate deployment of its EdgeEV™ Power Source technology, which enables ultra-fast EV charging without costly grid upgrades. The partnership combines Edge’s innovative energy conversion platform with PMA’s global manufacturing and electronics expertise to expand fast-charging access nationwide.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced 12 new business expansion projects expected to create 1,126 jobs and deliver more than $2 billion in total investment statewide. The latest round includes major moves in data infrastructure and digital health, led by EdgeConneX, The Constant Company, AndHealth, and LayerZero Power Systems — signaling continued growth in Ohio’s tech economy.

Nationwide is making a $1.5 billion investment through 2028 to accelerate technology and AI innovation, including $100 million a year dedicated to artificial intelligence. The Columbus-based insurer aims to have 90% of employees using AI tools by next year while expanding data-driven services and faster, more personalized customer support across its businesses.

Cleveland Clinic is partnering with DASI Simulations to co-develop an AI “co-pilot” system for heart procedures — using predictive modeling and real-time guidance to enhance safety and precision in TAVR and other structural heart interventions.

Ohio is experiencing a digital infrastructure boom that is rapidly reshaping its economy. The state has attracted more than $40 billion in private data center investment. The Ohio Chamber Foundation’s newly released study on the economic impact of data centers confirms what many in business and government already suspected: these facilities are not just technological infrastructure, but engines for investment, opportunity, and smart growth.

JumpStart is now accepting applications for the latest cohort of its Trailblazer Software Accelerator. The free, three-month program offers up to $275,000 in non-dilutive support, expert advising, and an in-person investor showcase. Founders must apply by November 2 to be considered for this opportunity to fast-track early-stage software startups in Ohio.

Amazon brought its Think Big Experience to Columbus, giving nearly 1,000 middle schoolers hands-on exposure to AI, robotics, and virtual reality. Hosted at COSI with Hilliard and New Albany schools, the two-day STEM event is part of Amazon’s effort to inspire the next generation of Ohio innovators — especially young women — in the state’s growing tech hub.

Cleveland’s Sonic Fire Tech raised $3.5M from Khosla Ventures and others to scale NASA-inspired infrasound systems that stop fires before they start—using no water, chemicals, or damage. The Ohio startup is aiming for 50 pilot installations by 2026 as wildfires grow more extreme nationwide.

At his inauguration, University of Toledo President Dr. James Holloway — a nuclear engineer and longtime academic leader — unveiled Innovate Toledo, a new initiative to expand research and industry collaboration. The effort anchors his vision to position UToledo as a driver of innovation, economic growth, and opportunity for northwest Ohio.

A San Francisco startup building browser infrastructure for AI agents has raised $22 million — with Cincinnati’s Cintrifuse Capital and Refinery Ventures joining Accel, Y Combinator, and others in the round. The deal spotlights how Ohio investors are helping shape the core infrastructure powering generative AI.

The O.H.I.O. Fund has made a minority investment in Dublin-based EASE Logistics, one of Ohio’s fastest-growing logistics firms. The partnership — including a new collaboration with Columbus AI company Jakib.ai — aims to expand EASE’s AI capabilities and advance Ohio’s role in technology-driven supply chain innovation.

Cleveland Clinic is teaming up with Silicon Valley’s Khosla Ventures in a new collaboration designed to fast-track the future of healthcare innovation. The partnership links Ohio’s world-class medical research and clinical expertise with one of the nation’s top venture firms, opening new pathways for AI, digital health, and next-generation therapeutics to move rapidly from concept to commercialization.

Honda is opening a new Advanced Materials Science Lab at Ohio State’s SciTech Campus—a $2.6 million expansion backed by JobsOhio. The project deepens Honda’s nearly 50-year presence in the state and strengthens Ohio’s position as a leader in EV, hydrogen, and quantum research powering the next generation of mobility.