Columbus-based HealthPlan Data Solutions has secured $15 million in growth equity led by MK Capital to scale its real-time pharmacy benefit oversight platform. Backed by JobsOhio, Rev1, and Tamarind Hill, HDS aims to help employers and health plans control rising pharmacy costs and drive transparency in a PBM market under national scrutiny.

Cleveland-based Coologics has raised over $3 million in an oversubscribed seed round to advance its drug-free women’s health device, Vlisse. Backed by Prevail, Dream Ventures, and university investor groups, the funding will accelerate clinical trials and FDA submission for the company’s novel approach to treating vaginal infections without antibiotics.

Amgen is expanding its Central Ohio manufacturing facility with a $900 million investment, bringing its total commitment in the state to over $1.4 billion and creating 750 jobs. The BioTech giant’s growth strengthens Ohio’s position as a major hub for life sciences and advanced biomanufacturing.

Sports tech innovators are invited to Cleveland for the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Challenge, launched by University Hospitals and Plug and Play. Startups and research teams can apply for a chance to pilot new technologies, pitch at the SportsLand™ Summit, and help shape the future of sports performance and medicine.

Ohio officials are moving to allow cryptocurrency payments for state services. Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Treasurer Robert Sprague are urging the State Board of Deposit to authorize digital assets like Bitcoin, aiming to modernize Ohio’s financial practices and position the state as a leader in the global digital economy.

Ohio-based Clarence Health is innovating senior care by blending technology with empathy. Their AI-powered mobile app offers daily check-ins, medication reminders, mental stimulation, and connects seniors with family and healthcare providers. Founded by an Ohio healthcare veteran, Clarence aims to personalize care, combat social isolation, and scale health monitoring, offering a free "lite" version to get started.

The Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium (NOIC) recently held a grand opening of its new center to support glass innovation research and training.

Ohio’s 2025 State of AI report reveals a tech ecosystem at a pivotal moment—optimistic but facing real challenges. Drawing from AI roundtables, a statewide summit, and a new survey, the report highlights Ohio’s strengths in responsible adoption and startups, while calling for more talent, funding, and clear business use cases to unlock its full AI potential.

Cleveland-based Auxilium Health has closed a $1.5 million oversubscribed pre-seed round and secured a $275,000 NSF grant to accelerate its advanced biomaterial platform. Designed to prevent infections and aid wound healing, the funding positions the Ohio startup to scale product development and address a growing $50B healthcare challenge.

Meta is investing more than $800 million to build its second Ohio data center, and 28th globally, in Wood County. The 715,000-square-foot, AI-optimized facility will create around 100 long-term jobs and support over 1,000 construction jobs. It marks a major milestone for Ohio’s growing role in powering the digital and AI economy.

JumpStart is now accepting applications for Cohort 3 of its Trailblazer Software Accelerator. The free, three-month program offers up to $125,000 in non-dilutive support, expert advising, and an in-person investor showcase. Founders must apply by April 27 to be considered for this opportunity to fast-track early-stage software startups in Ohio.

Northeast Ohio-based orthobrain has raised $7.5 million to expand its orthodontic platform that helps general dentists integrate orthodontics into their practices. With backing from CareCapital, JumpStart Ventures, and JobsOhio, the funding will support team growth, technology improvements, and wider adoption.

StartupCincy has launched a redesigned digital platform that centralizes key resources to help founders, investors, and ecosystem supporters navigate Cincinnati’s startup landscape. The new site features six major tools aimed at streamlining access to funding, talent, events, and workspaces.

MorelandConnect, a Cleveland-based software development firm, saw artificial intelligence as an opportunity to push the boundaries of innovation. We spoke with Justin Wray, Executive Partner and Innovation Officer of MorelandConnect, to discuss how the company is leveraging AI to enhance its capabilities, build smarter software, and help other organizations navigate the AI revolution.

Delaware-based sustainable asphalt company, necoTECH, is in the national spotlight for revolutionizing the construction materials infrastructure with cutting-edge, eco-friendly solutions—and they’re making major moves in Ohio.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is hoping to make the Buckeye State the next headquarters of NASA. The pitch, shared on X (formerly Twitter), makes the case for Ohio by highlighting the state’s rich aerospace history and research institutions. The current NASA headquarters lease in Washington D.C. expires in 2028. Other states, including as Florida and Texas, have also expressed interest in landing the future home of NASA.

Hilliard, a growing suburb west of Columbus, has earned national recognition for its efforts to build a high-tech innovation ecosystem, landing a spot on Fast Company’s prestigious 2025 list of the Most Innovative Companies in Economic Development. Local innovations developed through City Lab include a drone for 911 response, a sewer overflow detector, an algae-clearing boat, and even a virtual scoreboard for local sports games.

ZoCo Design has been a powerhouse in Columbus for over 12 years. They deliver high-impact user experience (UX) design for a diverse range of industries, but as of late 2024, their focus sharpened. They’re transforming healthcare and healthtech, partnering with product and technology teams to make understanding people and what to build for them, radically easy.

Growing at lightning speed, Ohio’s cybersecurity industry is emerging as a nationwide leader. According to a new report from Upwind, three Ohio cities, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, rank among the top ten fastest-growing cybersecurity job markets in the United States.

The tech trailblazer was honored as GCP’s "Best of Tech Rising Star" in 2024 for her outstanding contributions to the NASA Space Apps Challenge Cleveland, which she organizes annually at NASA Glenn Research Center. She is the Founder and President of the International Space Alliance (ISA), a trained analog astronaut who has participated in multiple missions, and a dedicated advocate for pioneering space exploration and promoting inclusivity.