A new Cleveland-based startup wants to change how people find jobs—and how they get rewarded for helping others do the same. Beacon, founded by entrepreneur Rob Reznick, officially launched this week with a simple promise: get paid for helping your network get hired. Why it matters Referrals have always
Ohio’s startup scene just got a fresh infusion of early-stage capital. 71/70 Angels, a new Columbus-based fund, has closed its first round and already placed bets on two tech startups—a signal of growing momentum for seed-stage investment in the Midwest. Backed by nearly 50 investors and supported
Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Education & Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin announced a $7.1 million investment to expand career-connected learning and planning for Ohio students. The two-year funding will grow access to career-technical education, advising, and mentoring — preparing students for high-wage, in-demand jobs while strengthening school, business, and
[caption id align="alignnone" width="4898"] Photo credit: Mariana Edelman [/caption] Next month, top investors, founders, industry leaders and innovators will converge in Cleveland for Ohio VC Fest ’25. Now in its third year, the networking conference, produced by JumpStart with the support of partners like
JobsOhio has unveiled a bold new initiative aimed at bolstering Ohio’s skilled workforce: the JobsOhio Relocation Incentive. This program offers Ohio employers a generous $15,000 for each qualified STEM or technical hire who relocates from out of state, with a cap of $225,000 per company—equivalent to
Youngstown
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1438"] Photo: Lordstown Motors [/caption] The mystery buyer of Foxconn’s massive Lordstown facility has been revealed: Japanese tech investment giant SoftBank. Bloomberg reports that SoftBank purchased the plant and its equipment for $375 million as part of a deal that
Out of Office
Ben Blanquera has had a front-row seat to Ohio’s tech evolution over the past 25 years — and he's still pedaling forward. As Vice President of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology, Ben advises enterprises across the globe on hybrid cloud, AI strategy, and responsible modernization. But closer
Ohio is more than the heart of it all. It’s a $900 billion economy with over 11 million people and a legacy of innovation that stretches from the birthplace of aviation to today’s world-class healthcare systems. Now, as the state reaches a new inflection point and era of
Columbus
[caption id align="alignnone" width="6000"] Left to right: Bryan Homes (Andelyn), Rehgan Bleile (AlignAI), Nick Woo (AlignAI), Scott Brown (Andelyn) | Credit: Autumn Theodore Photography [/caption] Two Columbus-based technology leaders are teaming up to tackle one of the toughest challenges in BioTech: how to adopt artificial
Cincinnati
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1436"] Image: Pantomath [/caption] Pantomath, a Cincinnati-area AI startup focused on automating enterprise data operations, has raised $30 million in Series B funding to accelerate its mission: eliminating manual data troubleshooting and ushering in a new era of autonomous, AI-driven reliability.
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1202"] Photo: Melanie McGee [/caption] Melanie McGee has spent nearly three decades working at the intersection of technology and education. From her early days as a software developer to launching STEM education programs and data science courses, she’s always been
Youngstown
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1438"] Photo: Lordstown Motors [/caption] Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn will convert the former Lordstown Motors EV plant in Ohio into a hub for AI server and cloud computing hardware production, The Wall Street Journal first reported. The company has sold the facility