Dublin Pitch returns Oct. 15 with more than $25,000 in prizes and past winners as judges

COhatch and the City of Dublin will host the fourth annual Dublin Pitch on Oct. 15 at COhatch Dublin, where three Ohio startups will pitch live for investor attention and more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

Applications closed Oct. 1. Entrepreneurs from across Ohio submitted three-minute video pitches, which a four-judge panel scores on viability, scalability and concept impact to select three finalists. Each finalist gets five to seven minutes to pitch and answer questions, with live pitches starting at 6:30 p.m.

By the numbers

• More than $25,000 in cash and prizes
• Three finalists pitching live
• More than $30 million raised collectively by the first three winners since the competition started in 2023
• $15 million in seed financing raised by Sonic Fire Tech
• More than $12 million raised by DASI Simulations
• More than $10 million raised by Apricity Robotics since its win

Past winners return as judges

This year's panel includes the competition's three previous winners and investor and entrepreneur Rich Wartel.

• Teri Sirset of DASI Simulations. The Dublin-based company uses AI and 3D modeling in structural heart care. It has secured Food and Drug Administration clearances, established commercial agreements with heart centers and raised more than $12 million.
• Aaron Crookes of Apricity Robotics. The company, also in Dublin, is developing an AI-powered robotic ultrasound platform. Since winning Dublin Pitch, Apricity has raised more than $10 million and received a $1 million National Science Foundation Phase II award.
• Geoff Bruder of Cleveland-based Sonic Fire Tech. The company uses sound waves to suppress fires without water or chemicals. It was named a CES 2026 Innovation Awards honoree and has raised $15 million in seed financing.

"When you look at what our first three winners have accomplished — more than $30 million raised, FDA clearances, major research funding and national innovation recognition — it shows what can happen when Ohio entrepreneurs receive the right resources and build relationships at the right time," said Ryan Fogelman, co-founder of COhatch.

Why Dublin backs the event

"Dublin's economic strength is rooted in our willingness to invest in innovation, connectivity and collaboration," said Jeremiah Gracia, director of economic development for the City of Dublin. "The Dublin Pitch brings those priorities together by giving emerging companies access to the people, resources and visibility they need to grow."

The Ohio Access Fund is a key sponsor this year. Organizers described it as an initiative designed to bring The O.H.I.O. Fund's investment opportunities to smaller investors.

COhatch and the city are also seeking additional sponsors, investors and business leaders who want to meet founders and connect with emerging startups.

What to expect Oct. 15

The event is open to the public, with tickets available through Eventbrite. The evening starts at 4 p.m. with networking, followed. by judge introductions and updates from past winners at 6 p.m. COhatch Dublin is at 25 North St.

Attendees can also tour Riverview Village, the innovation district under development in Historic Dublin, which will include COhatch's planned headquarters. Organizers noted the public-private development is designed to connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with flexible workspace, advanced connectivity, economic incentives and collaborative programming.

Riverview Village will span seven buildings on 2 acres and include a 14,000-square-foot COhatch headquarters, Axios Columbus reported in March. The City of Dublin provided $11 million in infrastructure investment, and the campus is expected to open by the end of 2027.