AI and Software lead the charge as Rev1 startups dominate Central Ohio deal flow

More than half of the 55 venture deals Central Ohio startups closed in 2025 involved founders who had received support from Rev1 Ventures, the Columbus-based venture studio shared this week, emphasizing how concentrated the region's deal flow has become around a single innovation engine even as national early-stage capital tightened.

Central Ohio companies raised $348 million across 55 deals in 2025. Founders supported by Rev1 generated $718 million in total economic impact over the same period, alongside $174 million in revenue, $274 million in exits, and 841 jobs created or retained. Rev1 client companies now employ more than 2,700 people across the region. Since 2013, Rev1-supported founders have driven $7.51 billion in cumulative economic impact across Central Ohio.

"More than half of the companies behind Central Ohio's 55 deals in 2025 had received support from Rev1 in some capacity," Tom Walker, CEO of Rev1 Ventures told Ohio Tech News in an interview.

Two exits anchor a different scaling story

Rev1 pointed to two completed 2025 exits as evidence that Central Ohio companies are still reaching meaningful outcomes even in a tighter capital environment. Both contributed to the $274 million in total exit value Rev1-supported founders generated last year.

Healthy Roster, a provider of sports medicine and injury documentation software, sold a majority stake to Level Equity. CAPE Analytics, a geospatial AI company that delivers property intelligence and risk insights for residential and commercial buildings, was acquired by Moody's in early 2025.

"Both represent strong outcomes for companies connected to Rev1's investment and founder support ecosystem," Walker explained.

The two transactions hit different ends of the Central Ohio innovation map. One is a vertical SaaS company built around a clearly defined customer base; the other an AI infrastructure play with national reach. Together they reflect the kind of mixed portfolio Rev1 has assembled since 2013.

The Peninsula is filling up

Rev1 at The Peninsula, the downtown Columbus innovation hub the studio launched in 2025 in partnership with the City of Columbus and Downtown Columbus, Inc., is now home to more than 70 members across 39 companies. The space positions Columbus as one of the nation's largest city-supported innovation centers dedicated to high-growth technology companies.

The density matters. When Rev1 announced its move to Franklinton, the pitch was that founders increasingly need flexible, collaborative space, not just dedicated offices, to run hybrid teams, meet with investors, and stay close to corporate customers and talent. The early occupancy numbers suggest the demand was real.
The Peninsula complements Rev1 Labs on Kinnear Road, which continues to serve life sciences and research-driven spinouts in proximity to The Ohio State University.

A portfolio company to watch

When asked which 2025 trajectories illustrate the broader story, Rev1 pointed to HubiFi, a financial intelligence and accounting automation company that helps high-transaction businesses manage revenue recognition and financial operations.
"HubiFi grew considerably in 2025 and has continued to build strong momentum," Walker stated. "We're excited to see how the company continues to grow and scale."

The company sits at an increasingly active intersection: AI-enabled software applied to back-office finance, a category drawing growing attention from both strategic acquirers and growth investors.

Where the growth is concentrated

The sector picture coming out of 2025, according to Walker, is led by AI and software, a pattern showing up not just in funding data but in the type of companies engaging with Rev1 and applying to build at The Peninsula.
"We're seeing the most growth in AI/software, and that momentum is showing up in the types of companies engaging with Rev1 and looking to build at The Peninsula," Walker said.

Healthcare and life sciences continue to generate volume, he added, supported by what he called strong innovation partners and champions including Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University.

That combination of AI-driven software and institutionally anchored healthcare and life sciences has become a defining feature of the Central Ohio economy, and one distinguishes it from peer Midwest markets still searching for a clear sector identity.

The story behind the numbers

The 2025 numbers paint a picture of a regional ecosystem that did not match the volume of past boom years but kept building infrastructure, closing exits, and concentrating activity around its anchor institutions. With Rev1-supported founders accounting for the majority of Central Ohio's deal flow and The Peninsula already approaching meaningful density in its first stretch of operation, the studio enters 2026 with both a physical home base and a portfolio bench positioned for the next cycle.

Rev1 highlighted the 2025 Impact Report and its new innovation hub at the Customer to Capital Accelerator Community Celebration last evening, bringing founders, investors, mentors, and community leaders together to mark the latest graduates of Rev1's tech accelerator.