Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President at Ohio State University | Official website
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President at Ohio State University | Official website
Techstars Columbus and Ohio State University have announced the spring 2025 cohort of startups. This new group includes ventures focusing on wearable technology for pilots, AI productivity software, and wastewater treatment monitoring.
Entering its second year, Techstars Columbus brings together ten new founders under a program that merges Ohio State's research with Techstars' accelerator model. "We are excited to continue to build on the momentum of the past year as we bring this next cohort of ventures to campus to focus on addressing high impact opportunities," said Shereen Agrawal, Executive Director of Ohio State’s Center of Software Innovation.
The startups will join 24 alumni companies from Techstars Columbus, utilizing AI and other software innovations. Tim Grace, managing director of Techstars Columbus, stated: "The next class has landed in Columbus and we’re so excited to share them. Once again, these companies represent a wide spectrum of founders, products and geographies, united in their missions to address key issues in the world around us."
Techstars Columbus offers support through access to mentors and community members who provide guidance and open opportunities for the founders. The partnership with Ohio State's Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge is crucial for these companies' growth. Several startups have already engaged with units such as Wexner Medical Center and the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence.
The spring 2025 cohort is working on various technologies including those aimed at combating vertigo, assisting visually impaired individuals, developing voice authentication applications using AI, and creating fashion solutions.
The new class includes:
- Avionova (Columbus) – Wearable technology preventing spatial disorientation.
- Fovionics (Miami) – Hands-free technology for the visually impaired.
- Generation Environment (Gen E) (New York) – Micro-philanthropy platform.
- Nyad (Birmingham) – Microbiology co-pilot for wastewater operators.
- OfSpectrum (Los Angeles) – AI platform against deepfake manipulation.
- Okkanti (Madison) – Whole-health pregnancy-care platform.
- Pull To Refresh (San Francisco) – Seaweed-based carbon sequestration.
- RYN (Cincinnati) – AI fashion engine.
- smallTalk (Cleveland) – Device improving brain development in preterm infants.
- Sonnet (Columbus) – AI-native productivity software.
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