Startups + VC
The state’s tech ecosystem is rapidly maturing, driven by massive three-year revenue gains from Keyfactor, CHAMP Titles, and TradingView. These rankings confirm that Ohio software firms have moved well beyond startup mode to successfully compete on the national stage.
Startups + VC
RWX’s new container image builder attacks one of the slowest parts of shipping software: turning code into Docker images. By rethinking builds from first principles inside CI, the team says it can slash wait times and unlock faster, AI-driven development. And it’s being built in Ohio, not SF or NYC.
Commentary
Historically, much of the venture capital used to fund Ohio-originated innovation has flowed from outside our borders, writes Jon Cross in an op-ed for OTN.
Startups + VC
VisioCell won the University of Toledo’s Tech419 Pitch Competition, a 12-week program that honed five tech entrepreneurs’ storytelling skills through intensive deck reviews, feedback sessions, and mock judging panels.
Startups + VC
Columbus-based Healthy Roster has acquired concussion tech leader Sway Medical, uniting two sports medicine innovators into one digital platform for injury documentation and athlete wellness—backed by New York’s Level Equity.
Startups + VC
Cleveland-based Neuronoff raised $4.5M to bring its Injectrode—an injectable, minimally invasive chronic pain treatment—to market by 2026, offering a drug-free, surgery-free alternative to traditional neuromodulation therapies.
Startups + VC
Cincinnati-based Edge Energy has secured a $3.5 million investment from Germany’s PRETTL Mechatronics & Actuators GmbH to accelerate deployment of its EdgeEV™ Power Source technology, which enables ultra-fast EV charging without costly grid upgrades.
Startups + VC
Cleveland Clinic is partnering with DASI Simulations to co-develop an AI “co-pilot” system for heart procedures — using predictive modeling and real-time guidance to enhance safety and precision in TAVR and other structural heart interventions.
Startups + VC
JumpStart has opened applications for latest cohort of its Trailblazer Software Accelerator, offering up to $275,000 in non-dilutive funding and extensive startup support for early-stage innovators. The application deadline is November 2, 2025. Unlike traditional accelerators, Trailblazer takes no equity. Instead, it invests directly in founders through a combination
Startups + VC
Cleveland’s Sonic Fire Tech raised $3.5M from Khosla Ventures and others to scale NASA-inspired infrasound systems that stop fires before they start—using no water, chemicals, or damage. The Ohio startup is aiming for 50 pilot installations by 2026 as wildfires grow more extreme nationwide.
Startups + VC
Kernel, a fast-growing infrastructure company, announced a $22 million Seed and Series A raise led by Accel, with participation from Y Combinator, Cintrifuse Capital, Refinery Ventures, Vercel Ventures, and SV Angel, plus a lineup of well-known angel investors including Paul Graham (Y Combinator), Solomon Hykes (Docker), and David Cramer (Sentry)
Artificial Intelligence
The O.H.I.O. Fund, a private investment adviser focused on accelerating Ohio’s economic growth, has made a minority investment in EASE Logistics, a Dublin-based freight and logistics company recognized nationally for its technology and innovation. EASE has become one of Ohio’s standout growth stories, appearing eight