The state’s tech ecosystem is rapidly maturing, driven by massive three-year revenue gains from Keyfactor, CHAMP Titles, and TradingView. These rankings confirm that Ohio software firms have moved well beyond startup mode to successfully compete on the national stage.
RWX’s new container image builder attacks one of the slowest parts of shipping software: turning code into Docker images. By rethinking builds from first principles inside CI, the team says it can slash wait times and unlock faster, AI-driven development. And it’s being built in Ohio, not SF or NYC.
Ohio leaders across business, government, health care, and education packed the sold-out Ohio AI Summit in Columbus to see how AI is already reshaping daily work—from automating routine tasks to deploying real-world AI agents—and why starting small now matters for the future.
Historically, much of the venture capital used to fund Ohio-originated innovation has flowed from outside our borders, writes Jon Cross in an op-ed for OTN.
Marietta College has opened the Center for Appalachian Innovation, a state-supported hub focused on research, collaboration, and capacity-building across Appalachian Ohio.
Ohio has launched “Eva,” a first-of-its-kind AI assistant that gives election officials instant, verified guidance on Ohio’s voting rules. Available to all 88 counties, the tool is designed to speed up routine decisions and strengthen consistency across the state.
VisioCell won the University of Toledo’s Tech419 Pitch Competition, a 12-week program that honed five tech entrepreneurs’ storytelling skills through intensive deck reviews, feedback sessions, and mock judging panels.
Cleveland-based MorelandConnect has launched FOUNDATION, an AI platform for mid-market companies that unifies business data, delivers instant insights through chat, and enables secure, scalable automation—helping organizations adopt and deploy AI in weeks, not months.
Columbus-based Healthy Roster has acquired concussion tech leader Sway Medical, uniting two sports medicine innovators into one digital platform for injury documentation and athlete wellness—backed by New York’s Level Equity.
Cleveland-based Neuronoff raised $4.5M to bring its Injectrode—an injectable, minimally invasive chronic pain treatment—to market by 2026, offering a drug-free, surgery-free alternative to traditional neuromodulation therapies.
The University of Cincinnati is launching Bearcats AI Ready!, a campus-wide initiative embedding artificial intelligence across teaching, research, and operations to move the university from “AI-fluent” to fully “AI-ready.”
Cincinnati-based Edge Energy has secured a $3.5 million investment from Germany’s PRETTL Mechatronics & Actuators GmbH to accelerate deployment of its EdgeEV™ Power Source technology, which enables ultra-fast EV charging without costly grid upgrades.
Economic Development
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced 12 new business expansion projects expected to create 1,126 jobs and deliver more than $2 billion in total investment statewide.
Artificial Intelligence
Nationwide is making a $1.5 billion investment through 2028 to accelerate technology and AI innovation, including $100 million a year dedicated to artificial intelligence.
Startups + VC
Cleveland Clinic is partnering with DASI Simulations to co-develop an AI “co-pilot” system for heart procedures — using predictive modeling and real-time guidance to enhance safety and precision in TAVR and other structural heart interventions.
Commentary
By Steve Stivers Ohio is experiencing a digital infrastructure boom that is rapidly reshaping its economy. Once best known for manufacturing and agriculture, the state has attracted more than $40 billion in private data center investment, earning recognition as the aspiring “Silicon Heartland.” Columbus has emerged as one of the
Startups + VC
JumpStart has opened applications for latest cohort of its Trailblazer Software Accelerator, offering up to $275,000 in non-dilutive funding and extensive startup support for early-stage innovators. The application deadline is November 2, 2025. Unlike traditional accelerators, Trailblazer takes no equity. Instead, it invests directly in founders through a combination
Workforce + Education
Amazon brought its signature Think Big Experience to Columbus on October 20–21, giving nearly 1,000 middle school students from Hilliard City Schools and New Albany Plain Local Schools hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technology and career possibilities. Hosted at COSI, the immersive STEM event allowed students to build AI-powered
Startups + VC
Cleveland’s Sonic Fire Tech raised $3.5M from Khosla Ventures and others to scale NASA-inspired infrasound systems that stop fires before they start—using no water, chemicals, or damage. The Ohio startup is aiming for 50 pilot installations by 2026 as wildfires grow more extreme nationwide.
Workforce + Education
With faculty in academic regalia and community leaders filling Savage Arena, Dr. James Holloway used his inauguration as the University of Toledo’s 19th president to launch a bold research and innovation agenda aimed squarely at Toledo’s future. At the heart of his plan is Innovate Toledo — a new
Startups + VC
Kernel, a fast-growing infrastructure company, announced a $22 million Seed and Series A raise led by Accel, with participation from Y Combinator, Cintrifuse Capital, Refinery Ventures, Vercel Ventures, and SV Angel, plus a lineup of well-known angel investors including Paul Graham (Y Combinator), Solomon Hykes (Docker), and David Cramer (Sentry)
Artificial Intelligence
The O.H.I.O. Fund, a private investment adviser focused on accelerating Ohio’s economic growth, has made a minority investment in EASE Logistics, a Dublin-based freight and logistics company recognized nationally for its technology and innovation. EASE has become one of Ohio’s standout growth stories, appearing eight
Corprorate Innovation
Cleveland Clinic is teaming up with Silicon Valley’s Khosla Ventures in a new collaboration designed to fast-track the future of healthcare innovation. The partnership links Ohio’s world-class medical research and clinical expertise with one of the nation’s top venture firms.
Corprorate Innovation
Honda is opening a new Advanced Materials Science Lab at Ohio State’s SciTech Campus—a $2.6 million expansion backed by JobsOhio.