In the wake of the pandemic's e-commerce boom, the retail landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. Today, the line between traditional retailers and service providers continues to blur as companies across sectors embrace innovative technologies to enhance customer experiences. Among these pioneers stands The Wendy's Company, an Ohio company which is revolutionizing one of fast food's most familiar features: the drive-through window.

Columbus is about to get a major tech infusion. Rev1 Ventures, the Ohio State University, and the City of Columbus announced last week plans to create Ohio’s two newest innovation destinations: a software startup space in downtown Columbus and a life sciences facility at the Carmenton district.

Ohio’s leadership in AI education continued to grow this week with the launch of a new statewide strategy to help prepare the Buckeye State for Artificial Intelligence’s impact on the future of education. Announced and led by Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Ohio’s AI in Education Strategy was built to help schools and students for the transformative potential of AI.

The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) and its partners have secured a $5 million National Science Foundation grant to enhance and expand Open OnDemand, their widely-adopted high performance computing (HPC) web portal. The five-year initiative aims to make advanced computing resources more accessible to researchers, educators, and students worldwide.

Cyrannus, a Columbus-based startup, is revolutionizing the venture capital industry with a transformative venture polling platform utilizing advanced AI technology and collective intelligence to evaluate early-stage startups and provide a prediction market for accredited investors. The app is backed by a $100 million fund and 200 investors, each committed to check sizes of $10,000.

AgileBlue recently won the AI Innovation category at Greater Cleveland Partnership’s 2024 Best of Tech awards and was a finalist for Cybersecurity Partner Excellence. What makes them best in class? GCP recently sat down with Co-Founder and President Tony Pietrocola to learn more and share some of their AI excellence with OhioTechNews.com.

Innovative startups are fueling Northeast Ohio's economic growth, and a leader of this ecosystem is JumpStart, a Cleveland-based nonprofit driving investment and inclusive development. In this exclusive interview with OhioTechNews.com, Chris Berry, President and CEO of OhioX, spoke with JumpStart CEO Julie Jacono about her vision for the organization and its impact on Ohio.

In a major development first reported by TechCrunch's Marina Temkin, defense technology company Anduril is reportedly considering Ohio as one of three potential locations for its ambitious new manufacturing facility. According to TechCrunch's exclusive reporting, the company is evaluating sites in Ohio, Arizona, and Texas for what would be its first major manufacturing plant.

The University of Toledo’s Tech419 Pitch Competition marked the culmination of a 12-week program that honed five tech entrepreneurs’ storytelling skills through intensive deck reviews, feedback sessions, and mock judging panels.

In a significant move for Ohio's healthcare technology ecosystem, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has announced a strategic partnership with CincyTech, marking a new chapter in healthcare innovation for the region. The collaboration, revealed on November 4, 2024, aims to accelerate the development and implementation of breakthrough healthcare technologies while enhancing patient care outcomes.

Ohio Life Sciences (OLS), the industry trade association for biotechnology and life sciences organizations in Ohio, delivered a $250,000 gift to Columbus State Community College to create the Ohio Life Sciences Biotech Bootcamp in an effort to build a vibrant workforce.

If you’re a tech pro in Ohio, you know the importance of great coffee—whether it’s the fuel for early mornings, late nights, or a quick break between coding sessions. But instead of heading to the usual chains, we’re showcasing something better: the local gems. We’ve gathered some favorite spots from tech pros across the state. These local coffee shops not only serve good drinks but also are the place you’ll see working, meeting, and building something new.

Microsoft is investing $1 billion as part of a first phase of data center development into Central Ohio, One Columbus announced this week. Located in New Albany, Heath, and Hebron, these data centers will support Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure, expanding capacity for Azure cloud services to meet growing demands in digital services and data storage.

A fresh round of funding is now available to help bring groundbreaking technologies from research labs to the global marketplace. The Ohio Department of Development's Technology Validation and Start-Up Fund (TVSF) is offering Phase 2 awards of up to $200,000 per project.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has continued its efforts to empower the next generation of female scientists and engineers by hosting its AWS Girls’ Tech Day for female students in central Ohio. The annual event took place as the region’s economy continues to diversify with a variety of high-tech, digital-focused industries even as women remain underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). 

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission has just approved nearly $6.5 million in grants to accelerate groundbreaking technologies across the state. This funding round supports 15 innovative projects through the Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF), targeting advances in healthcare, artificial intelligence, military applications, and more.

More than 100 Ohio business CEOs and tech leaders have come together to advocate for computer science education through the newly launched “Ohio for Computer Science” initiative. Spearheaded by OhioX, the group released an open letter urging state policymakers to make computer science a priority in K-12 education.

Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), North America's leading automotive research organization, has taken a significant step forward in enhancing highway safety and passenger protection. The center recently broke ground on a new 66,000-square-foot Impact Laboratory at its East Liberty campus, marking a new era in automotive testing and development.

Cybersecurity is a major concern for both public and private sector leaders across Ohio, and as cyber threats increase, so, too, does the need for organizations to prepare and respond accordingly. We chatted recently with two cybersecurity leaders, Kirk Hearth of the State of Ohio and Dan Poliquin from Deloitte & Touche, LLP, who have experience helping local governments prepare for cyber threats, and discussed some of the resources available to help agency leaders and IT workers build up their cyber defenses. 

In a significant boost to Columbus's growing reputation as a hub for healthcare technology, Gifthealth has announced a major expansion that will create 751 new jobs in the region. This exciting development, approved by the Columbus City Council on October 8, 2024, marks a new chapter for the innovative online pharmacy company and underscores Ohio's appeal to forward-thinking tech firms.