Startups + VC
DEXA (Drone Express), a Dayton-based drone logistics startup, has closed an oversubscribed $15 million seed round to scale its operations and introduce at-home drone delivery in major U.S. cities. The raise positions DEXA as one of the only companies of its size with all three critical FAA certifications — a
Economic Development
[caption id align="alignnone" width="4096"] Image: JobsOhio [/caption] Centrus Energy Corp. announced plans Thursday to significantly expand its uranium enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio, in a project that could bring a multi-billion-dollar investment to the state and add at least 300 new operations jobs, alongside
Artificial Intelligence
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1438"] The Lordstown Motors site to be developed as part of Stargate’s Ohio expansion [/caption] It’s official: Stargate is speeding ahead. The $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative led by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank is expanding faster than expected, with
Workforce + Education
Ohio Tech Day 2025 officially launched this week with a flagship event at Bowling Green State University, bringing together students, educators, and community leaders to explore careers in technology and skilled trades. What is Ohio Tech Day? Ohio Tech Day, held annually on the final Friday in September and organized
Out of Office
Yonatan (Yon) Raz-Fridman is no ordinary entrepreneur. A repeat founder, Yon has spent his career at the intersection of emerging technology and human advancement, building ventures that democratize computing, foster emotional resilience through AI, inspire imaginative play in VR, and create deep social connections in virtual worlds. Compassion and curiosity
Workforce + Education
Ohio is betting big on biotech. JobsOhio, the Ohio Life Sciences Association (OLS), and One Columbus are launching a new multimillion dollar biomanufacturing workforce initiative to train Ohioans for high-demand roles in pharmaceutical production and biotechnology. Why it matters Biomanufacturing investment in the U.S. has surged, with industry leaders
Economic Development
[caption id align="alignnone" width="2500"] Intel’s Ohio campus | Photo Credit: Intel [https://www.ohiotechnews.com/caption] Ohio’s most ambitious tech project just got a new jolt of momentum. Nvidia, the world’s most profitable chipmaker, is investing $5 billion in Intel and teaming
Startups + VC
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1500"] Andrew Cothrel, CEO of Kilele Health Inc., winner of VC Fest’s Startup World Cup Competition with judges (photo courtesy of JumpStart) [https://www.ohiotechnews.com/caption] The energy around Ohio’s venture ecosystem was on full display this week
Startups + VC
Cleveland-based Splash Financial has secured more than $70 million in Series C funding, a round that highlights both the company’s rapid growth and the increasing role of Ohio-based capital in scaling local startups. The investment comes as Splash launches a new home equity line of credit (HELOC) product and
Startups + VC
Techstars Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University is marking its two-year anniversary with another milestone: the launch of its fourth cohort. Since its debut in 2023, the accelerator has backed 42 companies, invested nearly $6 million, and helped its portfolio raise four times that amount while creating tens of
Spotlights
Most people hear “venture conference” and think panels, pitches, and cocktail hours. But for Lorne Novick, Interim CEO of JumpStart, the idea behind Ohio VC Fest is much bigger: creating the kinds of collisions between founders and funders that can reshape companies—and Ohio’s economy. To Novick, Ohio VC
Jessica Sublett is at the helm of one of Ohio’s most dynamic innovation hubs, and she’s doing it from inside a nine-story former tire factory. As CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron, Jessica leads a team supporting high-growth startups in software, MedTech, and polymers. But her impact