Workforce + Education
Ohio schools now have a regulatory roadmap for the AI age. The state’s new model policy sets clear standards for privacy, bullying, and cheating ahead of a mandatory July 2026 deadline. It’s a critical step to standardize how districts handle the tech transforming the economy.
Startups + VC
The Cleveland startup digitizing the DMV has raised $55 million in its largest financing round to date. CEO Shane Bigelow calls it a "Netflix vs. Blockbuster" moment for the public sector, as their platform cuts title processing times from 60 days to mere hours for over 35 million Americans.
Spotlights
One year since its launch by Ray Leach and Mark Kvamme, The O.H.I.O. Fund has raised $238 million and backed 19 projects in AI and infrastructure. Leach discusses the fund's rapid sprint, the shift in investment culture, and why Ohio is poised for a major breakout year in 2026.
Ohio’s economic narrative is shifting from industrial manufacturing to high-tech infrastructure. With Columbus now the 6th largest data center market globally, the state anchors a Midwest pivot toward AI through billions in venture capital and semiconductor investment.
Ohio’s future isn’t just a concept—it has names. We narrowed triple-digit submissions to the top 25 innovators 35 and under. From AI to medtech and beyond, these leaders are bridging the gap between legacy strength and the digital frontier. Meet the 2025 class defining Ohio’s next chapter.
Fifth Third Bank is bridging the gap to Silicon Valley, partnering with Brex to apply AI-native finance to $5.6 billion in commercial spend. The deal replaces legacy friction with intelligent automation, allowing businesses to kill the spreadsheet and scale globally with confidence.
Seven new partnerships are set to bridge the gap between local labs and federal deployment. We break down the winners uniting Ohio’s universities with private industry to solve high-stakes challenges in space, defense, and autonomy—aiming for $70M in future funding and 64 new high-tech jobs.
The cloud infrastructure leader selected Clark County's Springfield for a 50-megawatt facility housing 24,000 AMD GPUs. This strategic move deepens the state's digital footprint, providing the critical high-performance compute power required to fuel the next generation of AI innovation.
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Our analytics revealed an undeniable trend: you care about the mega-builds. From defense hubs to crypto banks, the most-viewed stories of 2025 weren't about potential—they were about production. See how the physical and financial backbone of American innovation is being built in Ohio.
While CEOs invest in AI, employee anxiety creates friction. Shifting from a "Replacement" era to a "Reshuffle," Srini Koushik argues that AI unbundles skills from roles rather than making humans obsolete. Leaders must move beyond automation to integrate cognitive thinking partners.
Backed by Lux Capital and Founders Fund the ‘stablecoin-native’ challenger aims to fill the post‑SVB gap for high‑growth companies. With new federal approvals in hand, the Columbus‑based bank is positioning itself as a key financial backbone for the nation’s AI and defense sectors.
The Connected Vehicles Rule just got a Solon-based answer. By acquiring Wireless Mobility, Eagle Electronics morphs into the only Western vendor ready to de-risk global automotive and IoT supply chains. With ex-CIA leadership and backing from The O.H.I.O. Fund, this is a massive bet on trusted tech.
Columbus startup DNA Nanobots has secured $3.5 million to revolutionize gene therapy without using viruses. The Ohio State spinout utilizes "DNA origami" to engineer self-assembling vessels that deliver complex payloads. This fresh capital extends their runway to 18 months for future advancements.
From a $1B AI supercluster in Springfield to 15-minute drone deliveries in Dayton, Ohio’s high-tech pivot has moved from potential to proven results. We’re tracking $2B in new expansions and the innovators under 35 who are building the next generation of the Buckeye State.
As Central Ohio’s digital infrastructure expands, Google’s STAR program is moving underrepresented local talent into high-demand careers. With over 160 graduates already placed at firms like Amazon and Meta, this 6th cohort marks a critical win for the region’s skilled labor pipeline.
From a 250,000-square-foot plant in Ottawa, Endera is scaling production of vertically integrated electric shuttles. Backed by Mark Kvamme’s O.H.I.O. Fund and Magnetar, the company is anchoring the state's re-industrialization by providing federally compliant fleets for a national market.
Ohio’s economic narrative is shifting from industrial manufacturing to high-tech infrastructure. With Columbus now the 6th largest data center market globally, the state anchors a Midwest pivot toward AI through billions in venture capital and semiconductor investment.
The expansion adds 400 jobs and a state-of-the-art lab facility to New Albany. Breaking ground in 2026, the move doubles the company's footprint and reinforces Central Ohio's growing reputation as a critical national ecosystem for scaling innovative, tech-enabled patient care.
Ohio is leveraging artificial intelligence to modernize state operations and cut bureaucratic red tape. The state is embracing innovation to deliver faster, more efficient results for businesses and voters, writes Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
Ohio’s future isn’t just a concept—it has names. We narrowed triple-digit submissions to the top 25 innovators 35 and under. From AI to medtech and beyond, these leaders are bridging the gap between legacy strength and the digital frontier. Meet the 2025 class defining Ohio’s next chapter.
