Patricia Colella leads SportsLand™, an initiative positioning Ohio as a national hub for sports tech. Her "moonshot" vision is the Human Performance & Sports Innovation Corridor, a statewide network linking hospitals and startups to accelerate healthcare discovery and economic growth.
Doubling its recent funding, this Cleveland Clinic spinout is scaling a robotic platform to replace animal testing. The technology creates consistent human cells that aim to solve pharma’s reproducibility crisis, cementing Northeast Ohio’s role in the "NAMs" revolution.
As Senior Product Manager at Hyland, Tyler Conn launched Knowledge Discovery, an AI platform turning unstructured content into actionable insight. His work enables healthcare and government sectors to move from static documents to fast, data-driven decisions in seconds.
Meta inked a 20-year deal with Vistra to upgrade the Perry and Davis-Besse plants and tapped Oklo for a futuristic site in Pike County. This strategy locks in power for the Prometheus supercluster, turning Ohio’s atomic legacy into a decisive advantage in the AI race.
Joby Aviation is betting big on Ohio’s advanced air mobility future, moving to acquire a massive Vandalia factory to double its aircraft production by 2027 and accelerate the shift from engineering to full-scale manufacturing.
Marking its fifth global tech hub, the insurer’s new Easton office joins major centers like Chicago and Hyderabad. The site will house 75 employees dedicated to AI and cloud architecture, signaling a strong bet on Central Ohio’s engineering talent to drive future innovation.
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.
Ohio schools now have a regulatory roadmap for the AI age. The state’s new model policy sets clear standards for privacy, bullying, and cheating ahead of a mandatory July 2026 deadline. It’s a critical step to standardize how districts handle the tech transforming the economy.
The Cleveland startup digitizing the DMV has raised $55 million in its largest financing round to date. CEO Shane Bigelow calls it a "Netflix vs. Blockbuster" moment for the public sector, as their platform cuts title processing times from 60 days to mere hours for over 35 million Americans.
One year since its launch by Ray Leach and Mark Kvamme, The O.H.I.O. Fund has raised $238 million and backed 19 projects in AI and infrastructure. Leach discusses the fund's rapid sprint, the shift in investment culture, and why Ohio is poised for a major breakout year in 2026.
Our analytics revealed an undeniable trend: you care about the mega-builds. From defense hubs to crypto banks, the most-viewed stories of 2025 weren't about potential—they were about production. See how the physical and financial backbone of American innovation is being built in Ohio.
While CEOs invest in AI, employee anxiety creates friction. Shifting from a "Replacement" era to a "Reshuffle," Srini Koushik argues that AI unbundles skills from roles rather than making humans obsolete. Leaders must move beyond automation to integrate cognitive thinking partners.
Startups + VC
Backed by Lux Capital and Founders Fund the ‘stablecoin-native’ challenger aims to fill the post‑SVB gap for high‑growth companies. With new federal approvals in hand, the Columbus‑based bank is positioning itself as a key financial backbone for the nation’s AI and defense sectors.
Advanced Manufacturing
The Connected Vehicles Rule just got a Solon-based answer. By acquiring Wireless Mobility, Eagle Electronics morphs into the only Western vendor ready to de-risk global automotive and IoT supply chains. With ex-CIA leadership and backing from The O.H.I.O. Fund, this is a massive bet on trusted tech.
Healthcare
Columbus startup DNA Nanobots has secured $3.5 million to revolutionize gene therapy without using viruses. The Ohio State spinout utilizes "DNA origami" to engineer self-assembling vessels that deliver complex payloads. This fresh capital extends their runway to 18 months for future advancements.
Statewide Roundups
From a $1B AI supercluster in Springfield to 15-minute drone deliveries in Dayton, Ohio’s high-tech pivot has moved from potential to proven results. We’re tracking $2B in new expansions and the innovators under 35 who are building the next generation of the Buckeye State.
Workforce + Education
As Central Ohio’s digital infrastructure expands, Google’s STAR program is moving underrepresented local talent into high-demand careers. With over 160 graduates already placed at firms like Amazon and Meta, this 6th cohort marks a critical win for the region’s skilled labor pipeline.
Advanced Manufacturing
From a 250,000-square-foot plant in Ottawa, Endera is scaling production of vertically integrated electric shuttles. Backed by Mark Kvamme’s O.H.I.O. Fund and Magnetar, the company is anchoring the state's re-industrialization by providing federally compliant fleets for a national market.
Artificial Intelligence
Ohio’s economic narrative is shifting from industrial manufacturing to high-tech infrastructure. With Columbus now the 6th largest data center market globally, the state anchors a Midwest pivot toward AI through billions in venture capital and semiconductor investment.
Healthcare
The expansion adds 400 jobs and a state-of-the-art lab facility to New Albany. Breaking ground in 2026, the move doubles the company's footprint and reinforces Central Ohio's growing reputation as a critical national ecosystem for scaling innovative, tech-enabled patient care.
Commentary
Ohio is leveraging artificial intelligence to modernize state operations and cut bureaucratic red tape. The state is embracing innovation to deliver faster, more efficient results for businesses and voters, writes Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
Ohio’s future isn’t just a concept—it has names. We narrowed triple-digit submissions to the top 25 innovators 35 and under. From AI to medtech and beyond, these leaders are bridging the gap between legacy strength and the digital frontier. Meet the 2025 class defining Ohio’s next chapter.
Spotlights
SkillSpout COO Sarah Slavik warns Ohio business leaders that AI isn't just a headline—it’s a deadline. She outlines the risks of "shadow AI," the critical need for CEO buy-in, and how to use Ohio’s TechCred program for human-centric upskilling. Here's why "wait and see" is a liability.
Research
The hub’s portfolio grows to 13 initiatives with this round, supported by an $8M funding pool. Recipients include Case Western, University of Akron, and two Synthe6 alumni. The capital targets the "valley of death" for hard tech, including bio-dressings, fuel conversion, and recyclable films.