Corprorate Innovation
Cleveland Clinic is teaming up with Silicon Valley’s Khosla Ventures in a new collaboration designed to fast-track the future of healthcare innovation. The partnership links Ohio’s world-class medical research and clinical expertise with one of the nation’s top venture firms.
Startups + VC
A new Ohio-born tech company is taking aim at one of the toughest challenges in human services: how to modernize care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Heylo, built inside Columbus-based venture studio Vessel Shipyard, has named Brian Hart, founder of the nationally recognized consulting firm ShiftAbility,
Startups + VC
Bounce Innovation Hub and the Polymer Industry Cluster have named the first cohort of startups for the Synthe6 Materials Accelerator, a new 12-month program designed to speed the commercialization of advanced materials and polymer innovations in Northeast Ohio. Launched Sept. 19, the inaugural class of eight early-stage companies will receive
Startups + VC
DEXA (Drone Express), a Dayton-based drone logistics startup, has closed an oversubscribed $15 million seed round to scale its operations and introduce at-home drone delivery in major U.S. cities. The raise positions DEXA as one of the only companies of its size with all three critical FAA certifications — a
Startups + VC
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1294"] Joe Marion, founder of REMPY [/caption] A Youngstown startup is betting that technology—not chance—should decide how buyers, sellers, and real estate agents connect. Officially launched on September 17th, REMPY introduces a real estate matchmaking platform powered by AI
Out of Office
Yonatan (Yon) Raz-Fridman is no ordinary entrepreneur. A repeat founder, Yon has spent his career at the intersection of emerging technology and human advancement, building ventures that democratize computing, foster emotional resilience through AI, inspire imaginative play in VR, and create deep social connections in virtual worlds. Compassion and curiosity
Startups + VC
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1500"] Andrew Cothrel, CEO of Kilele Health Inc., winner of VC Fest’s Startup World Cup Competition with judges (photo courtesy of JumpStart) [https://www.ohiotechnews.com/caption] The energy around Ohio’s venture ecosystem was on full display this week
Startups + VC
Cleveland-based Splash Financial has secured more than $70 million in Series C funding, a round that highlights both the company’s rapid growth and the increasing role of Ohio-based capital in scaling local startups. The investment comes as Splash launches a new home equity line of credit (HELOC) product and
Startups + VC
JumpStart’s Ohio VC Fest is back in Cleveland this week, September 16–17. The two-day event brings together hundreds of founders, investors, and leaders for dealmaking, conversations, and collaboration. Why it matters VC Fest, in its third year, has become one of the Midwest’s signature gatherings for venture
Startups + VC
Techstars Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University is marking its two-year anniversary with another milestone: the launch of its fourth cohort. Since its debut in 2023, the accelerator has backed 42 companies, invested nearly $6 million, and helped its portfolio raise four times that amount while creating tens of
Spotlights
Most people hear “venture conference” and think panels, pitches, and cocktail hours. But for Lorne Novick, Interim CEO of JumpStart, the idea behind Ohio VC Fest is much bigger: creating the kinds of collisions between founders and funders that can reshape companies—and Ohio’s economy. To Novick, Ohio VC
Spotlights
Robert Marks has built big before. In 1999, he launched Fidelity Voice and Data with just $600 and a bold vision to expand internet access across Ohio. Over the next 15 years, he scaled it into a $30 million telecommunications and cloud services business, building data centers in Cleveland, Columbus,