Dayton-based Dexa is tackling the FAA’s ultimate test: dense urban airspace. Partnering with Grubhub in New Jersey, the startup is proving its "airline" status alongside giants like Amazon. Backed by Ohio capital, Dexa’s pilot is the final hurdle before it targets the five boroughs.
Research
New federal data shows Case Western Reserve University is the nation’s fastest-growing top-tier research institution. With R&D spending surging 37.5% and a new $300M science hub opening later this year, CWRU is outstripping its AAU peers to set a new pace for Ohio’s innovation economy.
Spotlights
The 2026 Ohio Tech Summit features a powerhouse lineup, including leaders from Nationwide, Path Robotics, Anduril Industries, and more. Focused on AI, national security, and re-industrialization, the May 14th event in Columbus connects Ohio's tech leaders.
Spotlights
No fluff, just the signal. We asked eight Ohio tech leaders—from CEOs to engineering deans—to share the one resource they actually vouch for. From quantum mechanics on YouTube to the psychology of team dynamics, here is the shortlist of what’s helping inspire and inform Ohio's leaders in 2026.
Columbus
Following a decade that saw $7 billion in statewide economic impact and the opening of a 43,000-square-foot innovation hub at The Peninsula, Rev1 Ventures CEO Tom Walker will transition to Executive Chairman to focus on next-generation fund strategies.
Artificial Intelligence
Ohio has secured a top national IT award for turning AI into a lifeline for the unemployed. By automating document processing and launching 15-language virtual assistants, the state has cut manual workloads by 50% and established a new national benchmark for digital government.
Workforce + Education
Beyond the bricks of Oxford, Miami University is anchoring its future in Cleveland. By taking over the fourth floor of CedarTech, the university is bridging the gap between campus life and the Cleveland Innovation District to scale quantum computing and healthcare talent.
Healthcare
With over $500B in domestic biomanufacturing investment at stake, Ohio is moving to bridge the "skills gap" that often stalls major pharma expansions. By anchoring this hub in New Albany’s existing biotech cluster, the state aims to turn a local success story into a 88-county talent engine.
Startups + VC
Rev1 Ventures has opened Rev1 at The Peninsula, a 43,000-square-foot innovation hub in downtown Columbus. Designed for software and tech startups, the space offers Scaleup Suites and venture services to accelerate capital formation and job creation within Ohio's tech ecosystem.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders are shifting hiring priorities toward traits AI can't replicate. Beyond technical skills, they value high agency, curiosity, and written communication. As AI commoditizes hard skills, the ability to translate complexity and take ownership has become irreplaceable.
Startups + VC
Silicon Valley has coffee-shop density; Ohio has isolated excellence. This new curated network aims to fix that by concentrating operators who have scaled from $1M to $100M+ ARR, creating a high-stakes "brain trust" across Ohio and beyond.
Artificial Intelligence
With nearly 200,000 new businesses filed in the Buckeye State in 2025 and only 5% of workers considered AI fluent, Google's free certificate program arrives at a pivotal moment for Ohio's booming — but underskilled — small business economy.