Ian Ferré powers the next generation of intelligent operations
As Co-Founder of Aplos Innovation, Ian Ferré uses Palantir Foundry to turn data chaos into clarity. The Columbus tech leader and DevCon Fellow envisions Ohio as the nation's engine for operational excellence, proving that practical tech builds durable growth.
From downtown Columbus, Ian Ferré is helping organizations make sense of operational chaos. As Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Aplos Innovation, he leads teams building AI-enabled systems on Palantir Foundry, turning messy spreadsheets, disconnected databases, and fragmented processes into clear, usable intelligence. The objective is simple: help operators spend less time reacting and more time moving the business forward.
Ferré’s career has been defined by the intersection of problem-solving and practical application. Over the past decade, he’s shaped products for startups, scale-ups, and civic initiatives across Ohio, guided by a consistent belief that good technology should feel obvious in the best way possible.
“Technology should feel simple, intuitive, and genuinely useful,” he says, a mantra that’s guided Aplos from its early growth into a company that is scaling internationally in 2026.Rather than chasing novelty, Aplos focuses on building the operational backbone organizations need to execute strategy: integrating data, systems, and decision-making into a single, coherent view of the business.
That approach earned Ferré recognition this year as a Fellowship Winner at Palantir’s first-ever DevCon — an honor he credits to the teammates who push him to explore new ways of thinking. At Aplos, progress is collective, fueled by engineers and operators who challenge assumptions and push toward clearer, more durable solutions.That same mindset shapes how the firm supports clients, helping them move from early digital transformation to long-term operational maturity.
For Ferré, every project has a local focus. “When we help an organization make sense of its data or streamline a critical process, the impact isn’t abstract,” he explains. “It shows up in more resilient businesses, more effective services, and more room for people to do their best work.”
He believes that’s how Ohio will cement its reputation as a national tech hub, not through a single breakout moment, but through thousands of practical improvements that build confidence and capability statewide. His long-term vision is bold yet grounded: Ohio as the country’s engine for operational excellence, where companies come to solve complex challenges and where local talent leads the charge.
When he’s not scaling systems, Ferré is likely cheering for the Columbus Crew or grabbing lunch at Wario’s Subs. Ask him what this Next25 recognition means, and he’ll steer it back to the team:
“If the ideas we’re working on today help Ohio’s long-term trajectory even a little, that’s something I’ll always be proud of.”
Ian’s vision for Ohio innovation
"If someone in 2050 looked back on this era, I hope they’d see it as the moment Ohio found its footing as a place where thoughtful technology met practical problem-solving," says Ferré.
"The early milestones might not look dramatic, a few companies modernizing operations, using data more effectively, becoming anchors for others. But together they’d tell the story of universities, founders, and industries collaborating to make work across Ohio smarter, more connected, and more sustainable."
Picturing Ohio’s next moonshot
"If Ohio wants to be recognized as a national tech hub, our moonshot should be clear: build the country’s strongest engine for operational excellence. Not a single campus or institution, but a statewide commitment to helping organizations run smarter, faster, and with greater resilience."
"By combining our strengths in industry, talent, and emerging technology, Ohio can become the place where complex operational problems go to be solved. Focused on that one goal, consistently and with intention — we’ll spark new companies, strengthen existing ones, and attract people eager to learn how the next era of work actually works. It’s an ambitious vision, but a practical one capable of reshaping the state’s trajectory for decades."
This profile is part of the Ohio Tech News Next25, a series highlighting the leaders, 35 and under, driving the state's innovation economy. From responsible AI to medtech breakthroughs, discover the full class of 2025. Meet the Next25.
