Startups + VC
The O.H.I.O. Fund has hit a $356M capital milestone, generating $75M in returns while bringing Hyperframe’s manufacturing from California to Columbus. With new leadership and 30 deals closed, the firm is proving that Ohio’s "balanced" investment model is the new engine for Midwest growth.
Advanced Manufacturing
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.
Artificial Intelligence
AI Engineering is now the #1 fastest-growing job, with salaries hitting $350k. While 53% of roles are remote, many engineers are missing out. Bridge the gap with a project-based Master’s from Saras AI. Scale your ROI and lead the revolution. Cohort starts Feb 2.
The new $60M fund is backed by nearly 1,000 Midwest industrial owners and aims to modernize America’s legacy sectors. Heartland flips the VC script by using factory bosses as investors, giving startups built-in customers to solve the region's labor gap.
Meta inked a 20-year deal with Vistra to upgrade the Perry and Davis-Besse plants and tapped Oklo for a futuristic site in Pike County. This strategy locks in power for the Prometheus supercluster, turning Ohio’s atomic legacy into a decisive advantage in the AI race.
The Cleveland startup digitizing the DMV has raised $55 million in its largest financing round to date. CEO Shane Bigelow calls it a "Netflix vs. Blockbuster" moment for the public sector, as their platform cuts title processing times from 60 days to mere hours for over 35 million Americans.
Ohio’s economic narrative is shifting from industrial manufacturing to high-tech infrastructure. With Columbus now the 6th largest data center market globally, the state anchors a Midwest pivot toward AI through billions in venture capital and semiconductor investment.
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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Haima Therapeutics co-founder Christa Pawlowski is developing SynthoPlate, a synthetic, shelf-stable drug that stops severe bleeding. By transforming Case Western research into lifesaving tech, she is helping establish Ohio as a premier hub for scaling global life science companies.
Ohio is fueling the next wave of innovation as the Dept of Development opens a new round of TVSF grants. From $1M institutional awards to $200k startup funds, the Ohio Third Frontier is bridging the gap between lab research and the global market. Applications are due by Feb. 6, 2026.
Forget the pilots and the custom hardware. Anduril’s AI Grand Prix is a high-stakes software battle for a $500,000 purse and a seat at the defense giant. With identical drones and zero human control, the global pursuit of autonomous perfection culminates in Ohio this November.
Path Robotics CEO Andrew Lonsberry utilizes Obsidian, a proprietary AI model, to power autonomous welding cells. By bringing physical AI to factory floors, his Columbus-based firm solves critical labor shortages and enables manufacturers to produce at four times the standard productivity.
The AI engineering gap is widening. Saras AI Institute bridges it with a 5-month program built by Google and Microsoft leaders. Master Agentic AI and GenAI through live, weekly sessions and 4 enterprise projects. Don't fall behind—the February 2nd cohort is now accepting applications.
In just three years, Endera has grown production 15x from its Ottawa, Ohio plant. By blending a profitable legacy business with EV innovation and 65% Ohio-sourced parts, this specialty bus maker is revitalizing the Heartland while scaling a 215% growth rate with The O.H.I.O. Fund.
Cincy Carbon CEO Molly Rizkallah uses electrochemical tech to convert CO2 into industrial chemicals, turning emissions into assets. Her work offers a practical path for Ohio manufacturers to decarbonize and meet environmental standards without disrupting legacy operations.
Amazon One Medical continues its Northeast Ohio expansion with a new tech-enabled office in Shaker Heights. The Van Aken hub integrates 24/7 virtual care with Cleveland Clinic’s specialty network, offering a modern, hybrid approach to relationship-based primary care.
Based in Cleveland, Cal Al-Dhubaib leads Further’s AI and data science teams to scale ethical, high-risk automation. Following the 2024 acquisition of his firm, Pandata, he continues to design human-centered systems for some of Ohio's biggest brands and industry leaders.
The new $60M fund is backed by nearly 1,000 Midwest industrial owners and aims to modernize America’s legacy sectors. Heartland flips the VC script by using factory bosses as investors, giving startups built-in customers to solve the region's labor gap.
JPMorgan Chase product designer Omari Hitson leads a global community of 400 experts to scale spatial computing and XR programs. As President of the VR/AR Association’s Ohio chapter, he is building a "Concept-to-Production Pipeline" to turn the state into a global hub for immersive tech.
From the GRID Lab to the global stage, Ohio University is proving to be a powerhouse in immersive tech. A new national ranking places the Bobcats among the top public schools for AR/VR, validating a pipeline that feeds talent to Disney and Google.
