Why Ohio tech leaders are bullish right now

Ohio tech leaders aren't bullish because of venture capital excitement or unicorn potential. They're bullish because of economic stability that weathers downturns, billion-dollar infrastructure investments already deployed, and a culture that values profit over flash.

We asked leaders across the state to finish this sentence: "I'm bullish on Ohio tech right now because..." Their responses point to the same underlying strengths: genuine collaboration over transactional networking, deep industry expertise paired with emerging technologies like quantum computing, and a practical approach that solves real problems instead of chasing trends. These aren't aspirational advantages, they're assets already in place.

1. Ohio's Quantum Computing Leadership Opportunity

"Ohio is establishing a dominant leadership role in Quantum Computing. This is a technology that shows potential to revolutionize computing. Having an actual quantum computer at the Cleveland Clinic accompanied by educational opportunities offered by higher educational institutions in Ohio, such as one of the first in the nation BS in Quantum Computing degrees at Miami University and advanced research and degree offerings at various Ohio institutions, will allow us to lead in this sector." – Beena Sukumaran, Dean, College of Engineering and Computing, Miami University

2. Economic Stability That Weathers Storms

"Ohio has a stable, growing economy thanks to our broad portfolio of industries. Ohio's macroeconomy can weather the ebbs and flows of economic storms. When one industry is in a cyclical trough, another can be at a crest. Ohio's tech ecosystem is an enabler across all industries, in both steady-state and acceleration." – David Brewster, Managing Director, Technology Industry, JobsOhio

3. Solving Real Problems, Not Chasing Shiny Tech

"I'm bullish on Ohio tech right now because the people in this region are hungry to solve real problems, not chase shiny tech. That mindset creates durable innovation — and The Circuit sees it growing every day. Ohio has the talent, the industries, and the momentum, we're just starting to connect the dots." – Tracy Ruberg, Executive Director, The Circuit

4. Profit Over Hype

"I'm bullish on Ohio tech right now because of the naturally practical, customer-driven (often B2B), and solutions-oriented culture of Ohio tech companies and professionals. The focus is on building businesses that generate income, not just flash and hype." – Baiju R. Shah, CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership

5. Enduring Relationships, Not Transactional Networks

"I'm bullish on Ohio tech right now because our ecosystem is built on enduring relationships rather than transactional networking; as I've found, you truly never stop making friends in Ohio. This human-centric foundation creates a uniquely collaborative environment where we build businesses to lift the community, not just to engineer an exit." – Srini Koushik, CEO, Right Brain Labs

6. Industry Expertise Meets Collaborative Culture

"I’m bullish on Ohio tech right now because the region’s deep industry expertise and strong talent pipeline create the perfect environment for innovators like Big Kitty Labs. This allows us to responsibly apply advanced tools, including AI, to help our partners build practical and scalable businesses." – Tushar Kulkarni, CEO, Big Kitty Labs

7. Quality of Life and Bootstrapped Growth

"We have an unfair advantage in quality of life while remaining deeply customer driven. As inflation continues to push costs up, Ohio offers strong tech job growth alongside a lower cost of living. The ecosystem favors profit-fueled growth and bootstrapped companies, reinforced by a long legacy of Fortune 500 operators with much more pragmatic approaches to AI adoption." – Cal Al-Dhubaib, Head of AI and Data Science, Further

8. Billion-Dollar Infrastructure Investment

"I'm bullish on Ohio tech right now because of our investments in the network throughout the state. From 2020-2024, we invested more than $2.8 billion in our network to help our goal of connecting every Ohioan to fast, reliable connectivity, when it matters most, like during emergencies. As a public safety partner, FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, the only nationwide, wireless communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America's first responders, is doing just that." – David C. Lewis, President, AT&T Heartland States, AT&T

What sets Ohio apart isn't any single advantage, it's how these strengths reinforce each other. Educational infrastructure supports emerging technologies like quantum computing. Economic diversity creates stability that allows long-term bets. A culture of collaboration and relationship-building enables the kind of partnerships that turn research into businesses. And billion-dollar investments in connectivity ensure the physical infrastructure exists to support growth. Ohio's optimism isn't aspirational — it's built on assets already in place, waiting to be coordinated.

This article is part of The Blueprint: Insights from Ohio Tech Leaders, an exclusive editorial series from OhioX and Ohio Tech News showcasing the people and ideas shaping our state's tech sector. This invitation-only platform features curated perspectives from the state’s most influential technology executives and innovators. To learn more about this series or to inquire about future partnership opportunities and inclusion, please submit your interest.