Tony Pietrocola co-founded AgileBlue in 2020 with no cybersecurity background—just a clear vision. Now headquartered in Cleveland with a statewide team, AgileBlue is scaling fast with AI-powered threat detection. As Ohio emerges as a tech hub, AgileBlue is proving world-class cybersecurity can be built and led from the heartland.

Columbus's tech scene is buzzing as Forbes names its 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, packed with innovative founders from real estate AI to medical tech. This announcement prefaces the 2025 Forbes Under 30 Summit arriving in Columbus this September, underscoring Ohio's growing prominence as a growing tech hub.

Verizon is investing $5 billion over five years into U.S. small business suppliers, bolstering the economy and supply chain. Simultaneously, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program offers new $10,000 grants, open until June 30th. This national initiative provides vital support and opportunities for Ohio's small businesses.

TeamCentral, a Cincinnati- based innovator in no-code automation, announced a $3.875 million seed round. This investment accelerates their AI-driven platform and the launch of Corbi, an AI Agent designed to integrate with enterprise systems. The goal: transform data into actionable intelligence, optimizing efficiency and decision-making for businesses navigating data chaos.

Google and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce hosted a free in-person AI workshop to equip small businesses with practical tools and skills. Part of Google's Grow with Google initiative, the event highlighted how AI can boost productivity, reduce costs, and drive innovation—reinforcing Ohio’s growing role in the AI-powered economy.

Ohio’s public universities are uniting behind the push to bring NASA’s headquarters to Cleveland. With NASA Glenn’s legacy in aerospace innovation and growing bipartisan momentum, the campaign is gaining steam. The Inter-University Council’s support adds new weight to a statewide effort to make Ohio a national space leader.

Ohio’s TechCred program broke records in March, with 651 employers awarded and 8,830 tech-focused credentials funded—the highest ever in a single round. Lt. Governor Jim Tressel says it shows Ohio is “all-in” on building a future-ready workforce. The next application window is open now through May 30.

The 4th Annual Ohio Tech Summit brought together over 700 attendees from across 14 states and four countries to Columbus for the state’s largest tech gathering yet. With the theme “Building Ohio’s Tech Hub,” the event showcased real-world innovation, bold conversations, and statewide momentum from startups to Fortune 500s. The energy? Unmistakable.

Cincinnati-based Narratize has closed a new funding round led by North Coast Ventures and major corporate investors including Comcast and Engage. The investment will accelerate development of its agentic AI-powered product innovation platform, designed to streamline the journey from idea to market in industries like consumer goods, manufacturing, medicine, and aviation.

Columbus-based FinTech company Lower has acquired Movoto, one of the most visited real estate search platforms in the U.S., to create a fully integrated homeownership experience. The move connects home search directly with financing, allowing Lower to engage with millions of users earlier in their journey and streamline the path to ownership.

Columbus’ startup scene takes center stage on May 22 at Innovation Hop 2025, hosted by Rev1 Ventures. Featuring 50+ standout startups, live demos, and bold tech from biotech to AR, this high-energy event is a must for investors, innovators, and anyone who loves what’s next.

The 4th annual Ohio Tech Summit kicks off tomorrow in Columbus, bringing together 700+ attendees from across 14 states and 3 countries. With the theme "Building Ohio’s Tech Hub," the event will spotlight the companies, leaders, and technologies driving statewide innovation — from AI and DeepTech to venture capital and cybersecurity.

BGSU’s Bachelor of Science in AI + X will combine a core education in AI with a secondary discipline in computer science, mathematics, physics, history, journalism, or public relations.

The Ohio State University is launching the Meta STEM Instruction Innovation Hub, a $700,000 Meta-funded facility set to open in 2026. Designed to enhance STEM education for thousands of students annually, the high-tech space reflects Meta’s growing investment in Ohio’s tech ecosystem, including two data center locations in Northwest and Central Ohio.

Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals a sharp rise in ransomware, zero-day exploits, and third-party breaches, with human error still a major vulnerability. Analyzing over 22,000 incidents, the annual report offers critical insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape and what organizations must do to protect themselves.

Columbus-based AssetWatch has raised $75 million in Series C funding to expand its AI-powered predictive maintenance platform globally. The investment, led by Viking Global Investors, will support product innovation, international growth, and deeper customer engagement as the company continues helping manufacturers eliminate unplanned downtime and improve equipment reliability at scale.

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.