Third annual Ohio VC Fest returns to Cleveland in September with star speakers, global pitch competition
Photo credit: Mariana Edelman
Next month, top investors, founders, industry leaders and innovators will converge in Cleveland for Ohio VC Fest ’25. Now in its third year, the networking conference, produced by JumpStart with the support of partners like JobsOhio, Cyrannus and more, quickly became a can’t-miss event for those passionate about Ohio’s role in shaping the future of technology.
Over the course of two days – September 16–17 – attendees will take part in impactful programming, curated networking and strategic deal-making. Whether you’re a founder seeking capital, an investor scouting the next big idea or a corporate leader looking to plug into Ohio’s innovation pipeline, VC Fest ‘25 promises something for everyone.
Not only will attendees hear from star speakers, learn more about AI and other next-gen technologies, and connect through targeted networking that sparks real collaborations, they’ll have front row seats for one of the biggest pitch competitions in the country.
This year, Ohio VC Fest will serve as a regional host for the prestigious Startup World Cup pitch competition. On day two of the event, startups from across Ohio and the Midwest will compete for the chance to advance to the finals in San Francisco this October. There, they will join other esteemed founders, and the ultimate winner will walk away with a $1 million investment award to scale their startup.
The event will also feature two dynamic keynote addresses; the first from New York Times best-selling author, Amy Jo Martin who pioneered personal branding on social media and has worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet.
Amy Jo is also the founder and CEO of Renegade Global and their funding arm, Renegade Global Ventures, which is focused on democratizing access to deal flow by getting more women to the table.
Entrepreneur and investor Vivek Ramaswamy also joins the line-up for the day two keynote. Known for his bold ideas and leadership in technology, business and policy, Vivek will deliver the keynote address on why Ohio is at the epicenter of innovation. Hint: it’s thanks to the state’s legacy industries, skilled workforce, university-driven research and strong public-private collaborations.
The excitement is palpable for this year’s event, and it reflects something bigger than the conference itself – that Ohio’s reputation as a hub for tech talent and entrepreneurship means the Buckeye State is not just participating in the global innovation economy but helping to lead it.
For ecosystem partners that connect and champion Ohio’s tech scene, events like VC Fest can drive capital to the state, accelerating growth and opportunity right here in Ohio.