The Buckeye State is ready to compete with the best in the West. This was the mood at the opening Startup Midwest: the premier event for emerging tech entrepreneurs at The Ohio State University.
The two-day event, hosted by the university's Center for Software Innovation, was attended by more than 300 people and featured keynote speeches by Ratmir Timashev, software entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of Veeam Software. Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. Carl Eschenbach, co-CEO of Workday. and Andrew Lang, Global CTO of JPMorgan Chase.
Peter Mohler, Ohio State's associate president and executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge, helped kick off the first day of Startup Midwest, highlighting the university's place in a growing innovation-focused ecosystem.
“No matter where you are in the business landscape, you will find value in the discussions, breakout sessions … and networking opportunities available here. Ohio State's support network and established resources make our university a true destination for entrepreneurs to grow and thrive,” he said. “There is a lot to be excited about, not only during this event but for the future of entrepreneurship at Ohio State and across Ohio.”
Timashev, whose vision for the Center for Software Innovation and the generosity of Timashev Family Foundation made Startup Midwest possible, said Columbus and Ohio are poised to become a globally important high-tech hub.
“For many here like me, there is no need to explain why Columbus makes sense. It's in our DNA. In Colombo, we are tough. We know how to get the job done,” he said. “We are accelerating Columbus' move to become a global technology hub. It has already happened. We're just speeding up.
“Columbus is the place where innovation thrives, where opportunity proliferates and where the spirit of entrepreneurship is embedded in this city's identity.”
Timashev and Eschenbach participated in a discussion on entrepreneurship and innovation moderated by Mohler, discussing their experience starting and running successful software technology companies. Both agreed that the world is on the cusp of another technological revolution with the development of AI tools like ChatGPT.
Breakout sessions at the event focused on new product development. the power of networking and relationship building. the challenges and rewards of starting a company; and the tools and resources Ohio State provides faculty and students to bring their innovations to market.
Guest speakers included Ayanna Howard, dean of the College of Engineering. Tim Grace, CEO of Techstars Columbus. and Ben Davis, student and co-founder of Insiderviz, a commercial data and visualization tool.
Attendees, including Ohio State students and faculty, as well as emerging entrepreneurs and innovators, heard from tech experts, funders and startup founders who provided valuable content, training and opportunities to early-stage tech entrepreneurs.
Husted helped close Startup Midwest with an Ohio Stadium address. He reinforced the message that he sees Ohio as a worthy competitor to Silicon Valley.
“My aspiration for Ohio is that we are the most innovative business state in the Midwest and that we use technology to improve the way we serve our customers, the people in the state of Ohio, that should be your goal as businessmen every day”. he said.
Shereen Agrawal, the executive director of the Software Innovation Center, said Startup Midwest shows the community momentum and energy necessary to build the center.
“Over the last few days we have been immersed in deep connection and conversation. We have an almost unimaginable opportunity to be the hub for how software impacts our future,” he said. “Software will increasingly permeate every industry sector, and together we will foster talent and innovation to create massive impact on the world.”
