Workforce + Education
Grants totaling $75,000 let 125 high school students train on new welding equipment without leaving campus and keep a free K-3 afterschool science program running. A separate $30,000 sponsorship paid for Thanksgiving meal kits for district families last fall.
Startups + VC
The startup earned $10,000 to advance technology that helps surgeons plan fracture repairs using medical imaging and physics-based simulation. It joined four other finalists developing innovations in space research, workforce training, surgical care, and facility maintenance at the competition.
Artificial Intelligence
Two cab-less trucks with no one aboard now run scheduled routes between EASE Logistics warehouses, with remote operators watching off-site. The data they collect will help Ohio and Indiana decide how automated freight scales across their interstate systems.
A statewide coalition is moving quickly to turn aerospace expertise, defense infrastructure and higher-education partnerships into a formal bid for a proposed federal academy intended to develop the nation’s next generation of space leaders.
AI25, presented by Ohio Tech News and OhioX, recognizes leaders turning artificial intelligence into real-world impact across Ohio, from startups and classrooms to hospitals, public agencies, manufacturing floors, and the capital backing what comes next.
Fueled by logistics dominance and aggressive site development, the state’s rise reflects years of coordinated economic strategy. Major investments in semiconductors, energy, and AI infrastructure are accelerating its position as a national hub for industrial-scale innovation.
AI25, presented by Ohio Tech News and OhioX, recognizes leaders turning artificial intelligence into real-world impact across Ohio — from startups and classrooms to hospitals, public agencies, manufacturing floors, and the capital backing what comes next.
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After four years spent building and certifying its own aircraft, the company is turning to a network where delivery drones and robots from any operator can share jobs, rooftops and charging, and is adding a 25-year tech veteran from IBM, Intel and Adobe to shape that strategy.
The defense technology company is building the workforce behind a planned 5 million-square-foot manufacturing hub, with commitments to create 4,000 Ohio jobs by 2035. The expansion comes as the company prepares to add an ALTIUS 600 drone production line alongside existing Fury aircraft operations.
The Ohio firm will help bring Palantir’s data and AI platforms to new customers nationwide, expanding beyond implementation work for existing users. Its projects include a fuel-distribution application that monitors thousands of diesel tanks, predicts replenishment needs and places orders.
The Cleveland company’s new ParkView Asset Intelligence platform rates servers, storage and network gear from 0 to 100 and benchmarks each device against similar hardware, so IT teams can decide whether to refresh, repair or retire it. Existing customers can try the beta through Oct. 31.
The Columbus fintech founder behind Financial Guard and IXN Tech steps in as Ratmir Timashev’s venture platform grows its team toward 50 and offers startups a deal with no upfront cost, a shared cut of new revenue and a goal of tripling sales within 18 months.
The former Heinen's chief people officer now oversees human resources, IT, legal and compliance, facilities and administrative operations at the Cleveland nonprofit, reporting to CEO Lorne Novick as the organization prepares its next strategic plan for serving entrepreneurs.
New microgrid controls, onsite generation and energy storage capabilities expand Vertiv’s support for AI data centers. The Westerville-based company aims to help customers bring facilities online faster, scale power capacity and choose from a broader range of power sources as their needs evolve.
Fisher is refreshing its undergraduate experience to prepare students who combine digital agility with business expertise, critical thinking and leadership. The approach emphasizes applied learning and stronger connections between classroom education and industry.
Students could begin pursuing the new degree in fall 2027, expanding a field now offered only at the graduate level. Plans include faculty hiring, endowed scholarships, expanded reactor research capabilities and a hands-on lab for capstone projects, simulation and interdisciplinary engineering work.
More than 400 founders and 140 investors spent two days at the Huntington Convention Center, with about 30% of the investors traveling from outside Ohio. In an early pulse check, 47% of rated meetings were marked a great fit worth a follow-up, according to JumpStart Inc.
Shared labs, flexible offices and coworking space will give technology and life sciences startups room to grow alongside university researchers and students. JobsOhio plans a low-interest loan for the project, which will also house ventures emerging from the BuildX student startup program.
Shared laboratories will bring together 65 faculty members and 300 researchers working on batteries, robotics, advanced manufacturing and medical devices, while a Google partnership will provide AI tools and expertise. Students will gain hands-on experience alongside researchers across disciplines.
