Partner Content
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.
Statewide Roundups
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.
Economic Development
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.
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.
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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Aries Solutions founder and CEO Jake Mays helps enterprises eliminate "monolith fatigue" by replacing outdated systems with modular architectures.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.
The Columbus-based robotics startup is taking its "physical AI" off the factory floor. By pairing its Obsidian model with a quadruped robot, Path is bringing autonomous welding to the massive, immovable structures of the shipbuilding and heavy construction industries.
Nationwide’s Chetan Kandhari leads a $1.5 billion AI commitment, shifting the Fortune 100 from experiments to business-led transformation. By pairing innovation with rigorous governance, he’s embedding AI agents as "thought partners" to augment associates and scale responsibly.
Research indicates that reliance on AI can lead to "cognitive atrophy," with professionals in medicine and tech seeing skills degrade when machines do the thinking. To counter this "Cognitive Rust Belt," organizations must build anti-stagnation infrastructure that keeps humans in the loop.
Columbus-based Aplos Data is moving AI from "science experiment" to core business operations. By building a unified layer on Palantir, they help organizations bridge the gap between fragmented data and real-time action, proving that in Ohio, technology must deliver value to last.
