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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Artificial Intelligence
The cloud infrastructure leader selected Clark County's Springfield for a 50-megawatt facility housing 24,000 AMD GPUs. This strategic move deepens the state's digital footprint, providing the critical high-performance compute power required to fuel the next generation of AI innovation.
Spotlights
Merging physics theory with shipping code requires a rare dual mindset. MorelandConnect Chief AI Architect Caden Kacmarynski explains why AI and quantum computing are converging tracks for the region. He details how a physics-first approach helps industries prepare for a hybrid future.
Commentary
Viewing AI as a mere optimization tool is the "horseless carriage" syndrome. Right Brain Labs CEO Srini Koushik argues the technology represents a civilizational shift in agency and details the urgent need for leaders to move beyond basic literacy toward true AI fluency.