The Top 10: What Ohio’s most-read tech stories tell us about 2025
Our analytics revealed an undeniable trend: you care about the mega-builds. From defense hubs to crypto banks, the most-viewed stories of 2025 weren't about potential—they were about production. See how the physical and financial backbone of American innovation is being built in Ohio.
If you spent any time looking at the fundamentals of Ohio’s economy in 2025, one thing became abundantly clear: the flywheel is spinning.
At Ohio Tech News and OhioX, we spent 2025 covering the people, companies, and ideas driving our state’s innovation economy. But when we looked back at the analytics to see which stories resonated most with you, our readers, a clear pattern emerged. The most-viewed articles of the year weren’t just about incremental updates or small wins. They were about structural shifts.
OTN's data shows that 2025 was a year Ohio stopped just participating in the tech economy and started building its physical and financial backbone.
The Rise of the "Mega-Build"
The single biggest theme among our most-read stories was the sheer scale of infrastructure development. From Central Ohio’s cornfields to the industrial corridors of the Mahoning Valley, readers were captivated by the "hardware" of tech. We saw massive interest in Anduril’s defense manufacturing hub, billion-dollar data center investments from AWS and Meta, and a strategic pivot to AI server production in a former General Motors factory. These aren't just facilities; they are the permanent infrastructure of the 21st-century economy.
New Money, New Models
If infrastructure was the engine, capital was the fuel. 2025 brought entirely new financial models to the state, from the crypto-focused ambitions of Erebor to the "builder" model of Vessel. High traffic around the O.H.I.O. Fund’s milestones confirmed that our ecosystem is maturing—moving from seeking validation to deploying serious capital into our own backyard.
Statewide Success
Perhaps most importantly, the excitement wasn’t confined to one zip code. The top stories of the year spanned from Bowling Green to Brecksville, Dublin to Cincinnati. It proves that innovation in Ohio isn't isolated, it's statewide.
OTN's page views of 2025 tell us that this was a year of momentum. Ohio isn't just open for business; American innovation is being built here.
Here are the 10 stories that defined Ohio tech in 2025.
1. The O.H.I.O. Fund invests in Dublin-based EASE Logistics to expand AI innovation
The year’s most-read story highlights a homegrown win. The O.H.I.O. Fund invested in Dublin-based EASE Logistics, a tech-enabled freight leader and eight-time Inc. 5000 honoree. This minority investment is set to help EASE expand its AI capabilities, accelerating its position as one of Ohio's premier growth stories.
2. Tech billionaires choose Ohio for new crypto-focused bank backed by Luckey, Lonsdale, and Thiel
Capital follows talent. Tech titans—including Peter Thiel, Palmer Luckey, and Joe Lonsdale—are planning to launch Erebor, a crypto-focused bank headquartered in Columbus. Filling the void left by SVB for AI and defense startups, this move serves as a massive vote of confidence in Ohio’s rising innovation economy.
3. Former Lordstown car plant pivots to AI server and data center production
Resilience is part of the Ohio DNA. Reports confirmed that the former Lordstown Motors EV plant will transform into a major hub for AI server and cloud computing hardware. While the facility saw a change in ownership, the strategic shift positions the Mahoning Valley as a key player in global tech infrastructure.
4. Anduril to build groundbreaking Ohio hub for U.S. defense manufacturing
This was a defining moment for the Silicon Heartland. Anduril unveiled "Arsenal-1," a 5-million-square-foot defense hub in Central Ohio. At $910 million, this project stands as the largest economic development initiative in state history, promising over 4,000 jobs and the hyperscale production of critical national defense resources.
5. Fayette County lands $5 billion AWS investment for new data centers
The cloud is physical, and much of it is being built here. AWS selected Fayette County for a $5 billion data center campus—its first location outside Columbus. Breaking ground in 2025, this historic investment joins the growing tech corridor in Southern Ohio, transforming the region into a critical node for the world's digital infrastructure.
6. Vessel launches new Studio Fund to build the Midwest’s next great startups
Ohio isn't just backing companies; we're building them. Vessel launched its Flagship Studio Fund, anchored by Mark Kvamme’s O.H.I.O. Fund, with a mandate to build six startups from scratch. With the first already live in Cincinnati, this operator-led model signals a shift toward active creation in the Midwest ecosystem.
7. Meta picks Northwest Ohio for newest $800 million AI-optimized Data Center
The tech map of Ohio continues to expand. Meta selected Bowling Green for a new $800 million AI-optimized data center. This project, their second region in the state, brings permanent jobs and runs on 100% renewable energy, reinforcing Northwest Ohio’s role in supporting next-generation artificial intelligence.
8. The O.H.I.O. Fund celebrates $238 million first-year milestone
Capital is the fuel for our future. The O.H.I.O. Fund hit a massive $238 million milestone in its first year. By backing the companies, talent, and infrastructure that are building the state's future, the Fund is capitalizing on a new era of opportunity for our $900 billion economy.
9. Avandra Imaging raises $17 million to revolutionize use of real-world medical data
Northeast Ohio continues to lead in MedTech. Avandra Imaging raised $17.75 million and relocated to Brecksville to build a federated medical imaging network. Backed by Aegis and SpringRock Ventures, the startup aims to index 1 trillion images, solving critical data silos to accelerate AI and biopharma breakthroughs.
10. Inside UC’s AI push: From classroom tutors to BearcatGPT
Talent is our most precious commodity. The University of Cincinnati launched Bearcats AI Ready!, a campus-wide initiative embedding artificial intelligence across teaching, research, and operations. This move to go from “AI-fluent” to fully “AI-ready” ensures the next generation of Ohio talent is prepared for the workforce of tomorrow.
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Chris Berry is the President and CEO of OhioX, a statewide nonprofit trade association, and the publisher of Ohio Tech News. He leads a growing coalition of Fortune 500 companies, startups, tech SMBs, universities, and more building Ohio's tech hub. Connect with him on LinkedIn or X.
