Economic Development
The Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved incentives for five projects set to create 437 new jobs and nearly $100 million in investment. Key tech wins include a Carbon 3D manufacturing expansion in Northeast Ohio and a 200-job headquarters growth for HR platform OPOC.us in Worthington.
Spotlights
Book+Street founder and CEO Michelle Murcia helps startups succeed right from the start by providing on-demand financial, HR, equity, and operational infrastructure, saving founders valuable time as they scale.
Spotlights
Aries Solutions founder and CEO Jake Mays helps enterprises eliminate "monolith fatigue" by replacing outdated systems with modular architectures. Centered in Ohio, the firm uses AI to transform digital systems while leveraging the state's deep industrial talent.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders are championing "foundational" innovators like Harmoni, Anduril, and Path Robotics for solving real-world industrial challenges. From closing the digital divide to scaling automotive tech, these organizations are recognized for making Ohio’s tech ecosystem competitive.
Startups + VC
Rev1 at The Peninsula has surpassed 50 members and signed RWX as its first Scaleup Suite tenant just two months after opening. This downtown Columbus hub provides growing tech startups with premium workspace, flexible terms, and direct access to the venture studio's network.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders remain invested because the state has moved beyond early-stage hype into a period of execution and scale. By pairing deep industrial expertise with favorable tax policies and a maturing network of research and capital, Ohio offers a durable foundation for global innovation.
Corprorate Innovation
The 90-year-old institution is embedding itself within the venture studio to gain early visibility into fintech and emerging tech trends. By prioritizing market signals and founder relationships over simple vendor sourcing, the move aims to build long-term innovation capabilities.
Startups + VC
Hilliard-based Caddis is scaling the MANTA, an autonomous aquatic drone that uses UV-C light to neutralize harmful algal blooms without chemicals. Developed at Ohio State, the system acts as a "Roomba for water," providing real-time data and sustainable management for Ohio’s reservoirs.
Artificial Intelligence
The startup is targeting the "skipped" generation of mid-market industrial firms, deploying AI agents that run inside legacy systems to handle actual work. By pricing for throughput rather than licenses, the team aims to solve labor gaps across the Midwest’s physical economy.
Advanced Manufacturing
The Columbus-based robotics startup is taking its "physical AI" off the factory floor. By pairing its Obsidian model with a quadruped robot, Path is bringing autonomous welding to the massive, immovable structures of the shipbuilding and heavy construction industries.
Artificial Intelligence
Nationwide’s Chetan Kandhari leads a $1.5 billion AI commitment, shifting the Fortune 100 from experiments to business-led transformation. By pairing innovation with rigorous governance, he’s embedding AI agents as "thought partners" to augment associates and scale responsibly.
Commentary
Research indicates that reliance on AI can lead to "cognitive atrophy," with professionals in medicine and tech seeing skills degrade when machines do the thinking. To counter this "Cognitive Rust Belt," organizations must build anti-stagnation infrastructure that keeps humans in the loop.