COLUMBUS / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – The startup scene in Columbus is experiencing a remarkable change: investments are increasingly flowing into larger deals, especially those involving artificial intelligence. This development reflects a trend that emphasizes quality over quantity and supports Columbus’ aspirations to establish itself as a technology hub.
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The startup scene in Columbus, Ohio is currently experiencing a significant shift in the way investments are made. Instead of investing in a variety of smaller projects, capital is increasingly flowing into larger deals, particularly those related to artificial intelligence (AI). This trend can be seen not only in Columbus, but also throughout the state of Ohio, which has been trying to attract more entrepreneurs for years.
Tom Walker, CEO of Rev1, a Columbus-based, Ohio-backed venture development studio, reports that the number of deals nationally is declining while average funding rounds are increasing. This leads to larger rounds of funding for high-performing teams that are making significant progress and have typically been around for a long time. Walker highlights that nearly half of the capital invested in Ohio since 2013 has been in central Ohio.
Rev1 is considered the most active investor in Ohio and the third most active in the Great Lakes region since 2013, according to Pitchbook. However, Walker hopes that future investments will be more focused on earlier-stage companies. To continue to act as a driving force, the region would benefit from increased support in the pre-seed and seed stages to ensure more companies are adequately funded to grow and attract later funding.
Another positive trend is the increase in exits, i.e. sales, mergers and other acquisitions, in line with 2024 numbers and recovering from a decline in 2023. Walker sees this as an encouraging sign, as recent exits from local companies such as Aware, LiveEasy, Matrix and Ghostdog are part of a wave of momentum. Although many acquisition values remain undisclosed, the number of local companies achieving significant results has increased compared to the immediate post-COVID years.
Some of the news shaping the business environment in 2025 includes the arrival of Anduril, a defense technology company whose massive development project near Rickenbacker is one of the largest deals in Ohio history. The Ohio Third Frontier continues to invest in local startups, including $67 million in April and $2 million in October. Techstars Columbus, supported by Ohio State, celebrated its two-year anniversary and launched another startup cohort. A new angel fund, 71/70 Angels, was launched in February and later closed its first fund to support early-stage startups.
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