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.
Startups + VC
By acquiring Flatiron Health's research unit and securing $78M, Paradigm Health creates the largest U.S. oncology research network. The deal embeds clinical trials directly into local exam rooms, aiming to fix the industry's "zip code problem" and democratize access to life-saving therapies.
Startups + VC
Dayton-based Dexa has secured a rare FAA waiver for autonomous, beyond-line-of-sight flights. From the "Birthplace of Aviation," CEO Beth Flippo is leveraging AI to empower local businesses with 15-minute delivery speeds that drop goods at precise locations—no address needed.
Startups + VC
Backed by JobsOhio and Rev1 Ventures, the Dayton startup is scaling its FHE silicon from prototype to production. This technology solves a massive bottleneck for the AI era: enabling high-speed computation on data while it remains fully encrypted, ensuring privacy against future quantum threats.
Artificial Intelligence
Fifth Third Bank is bridging the gap to Silicon Valley, partnering with Brex to apply AI-native finance to $5.6 billion in commercial spend. The deal replaces legacy friction with intelligent automation, allowing businesses to kill the spreadsheet and scale globally with confidence.
Startups + VC
A major AI exit for Northwest Ohio as a local voice pioneer joins a global industry leader. By combining listening tools with diagnostic imaging, this deal creates the first comprehensive clinical engine to automate patient records, proving specialized Midwest tech can scale and succeed.
Startups + VC
Seven new partnerships are set to bridge the gap between local labs and federal deployment. We break down the winners uniting Ohio’s universities with private industry to solve high-stakes challenges in space, defense, and autonomy—aiming for $70M in future funding and 64 new high-tech jobs.