Capital + Deals
The evergreen platform added 18 new institutional and private investors in Q1, expanding its total backer base to 155 across the state. Total active deployment reached $217M across 33 multi-asset investments, including a $25M manufacturing expansion.
Statewide Roundups
From a 249-person gathering in Cleveland to 827 leaders in Columbus, the milestone data points reveal how the state's flagship tech conference has expanded. The multi-state draw brought together 55 speakers, 30+ sponsors, and a waitlist that grew into triple digits.
Capital + Deals
The Columbus private equity firm is backing the Miamisburg engineer’s growth strategy through regional hiring and targeted M&A. The deal aims to accelerate AI, software, and advanced automation deployment for Fortune 100 industrial manufacturers like Cargill and Nestlé.
Beam Benefits founder Alex Frommeyer is back with Stack Health, a Columbus-based startup aiming to upend the U.S. insurance market. By shifting coverage from employers to individuals, Stack uses AI to help Ohio workers build personalized, cost-effective health bundles.
Months ahead of its July target, Arsenal-1 in Pickaway County is open and ready for production. The billion-dollar mega-factory will begin assembling autonomous combat drones in a matter of days, with 4,000 jobs and a $2B economic impact on the horizon.
One year after Palmer Luckey promised to bring "hyperscale" defense manufacturing to central Ohio, the vision is becoming concrete reality. Arsenal-1's first autonomous jets will roll off the line by Q2—a timeline that would've been impossible just a decade ago.
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.
8,703+ smart tech leaders read our weekly newsletter. Why don't you?
The fifth annual Ohio Tech Summit drew 827 founders, operators, investors, and policymakers to Ohio State — sold out, with travelers in from Pittsburgh to Denver. Inside a day on applied AI, re-industrialization, and the Ohio companies turning the state's structural advantages into products.
Columbus-based Aplos Data emerged from stealth as a Platinum Sponsor of the Ohio Tech Summit. Specializing in Palantir Technologies, the firm unifies fragmented tools into a single operational layer, helping organizations "Operate as One" through real-world AI implementation.
The 2026 Ohio Tech Summit brings together Fortune 500 executives, investors, and founders at The Ohio State University on May 14. Featuring leaders from Nationwide, Path Robotics, and a keynote by Ratmir Timashev, the sold-out event explores the future of AI and re-industrialization.
The Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved incentives for five projects set to create 437 new jobs and nearly $100 million in investment. Key tech wins include a Carbon 3D manufacturing expansion in Northeast Ohio and a 200-job headquarters growth for HR platform OPOC.us in Worthington.
Book+Street founder and CEO Michelle Murcia helps startups succeed right from the start by providing on-demand financial, HR, equity, and operational infrastructure, saving founders valuable time as they scale.
Aries Solutions founder and CEO Jake Mays helps enterprises eliminate "monolith fatigue" by replacing outdated systems with modular architectures. Centered in Ohio, the firm uses AI to transform digital systems while leveraging the state's deep industrial talent.
Ohio tech leaders are championing "foundational" innovators like Harmoni, Anduril, and Path Robotics for solving real-world industrial challenges. From closing the digital divide to scaling automotive tech, these organizations are recognized for making Ohio’s tech ecosystem competitive.
Rev1 at The Peninsula has surpassed 50 members and signed RWX as its first Scaleup Suite tenant just two months after opening. This downtown Columbus hub provides growing tech startups with premium workspace, flexible terms, and direct access to the venture studio's network.
Ohio tech leaders remain invested because the state has moved beyond early-stage hype into a period of execution and scale. By pairing deep industrial expertise with favorable tax policies and a maturing network of research and capital, Ohio offers a durable foundation for global innovation.
The 90-year-old institution is embedding itself within the venture studio to gain early visibility into fintech and emerging tech trends. By prioritizing market signals and founder relationships over simple vendor sourcing, the move aims to build long-term innovation capabilities.
Hilliard-based Caddis is scaling the MANTA, an autonomous aquatic drone that uses UV-C light to neutralize harmful algal blooms without chemicals. Developed at Ohio State, the system acts as a "Roomba for water," providing real-time data and sustainable management for Ohio’s reservoirs.
The startup is targeting the "skipped" generation of mid-market industrial firms, deploying AI agents that run inside legacy systems to handle actual work. By pricing for throughput rather than licenses, the team aims to solve labor gaps across the Midwest’s physical economy.
