VentureOhio has released its annual list of the 50 seed- and growth-stage companies across the state most primed for success in 2019 and beyond.
The competitive process sources nominations from the Ohio startup community at large. The finalists are then ranked by a panel of over 25 judges that include venture capitalists and startup leaders from around Ohio.
“VentureOhio is excited to release the second annual Watchlist highlighting the caliber of startup companies being built across the state.” said VentureOhio CEO Falon Donohue. “With nearly 1,500 jobs created in the past 12 months by these 50 companies, entrepreneurs across the state are attracting top talent to the region and creating high-paying, future-ready jobs for Ohio’s workforce. We can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Columbus-based companies comprise half of 2019’s list. This year’s honorees include:
- Aver
- Aware
- Beam Dental
- Capture
- DOmedia
- Ethex
- Fortuity
- GiveGame
- Healthy Roster
- Heureka
- IncludeHealth
- MentorcliQ
- Multivarious
- Nikola Labs
- Olive
- ORIS Intelligence
- Prevedere
- PriorAuthNow
- READY Robotics
- RevLocal
- Root Insurance
- ScriptDrop
- Seamless.ai
- SHARE
- TicketFire
Companies like Root Insurance have helped lift Columbus on the national stage for venture capital, raising $151 million in 2018 and earning a $1 billion valuation. Earlier this year, Root and Beam Dental also made commitments to increase hiring in Columbus, expecting to bring on 400 and 140 new employees respectively.
Also notable on the list are companies tackling social issues. Fortuity was recently named a finalist for The Metropreneur’s Emerging Social Enterprise of the Year Award. The Franklinton contact center looks to provide 500 career opportunities to an under-utilized, inner-city workforce, creating a path for significant skills and wage advancement to help individuals bring themselves out of poverty. Microtransit mobility company SHARE is also addressing first mile and last mile transportation gaps through its shared, scheduled ride platform.
The Watchlist also includes startups from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo. The honorees are invited to the sixth annual VentureDinner on Thursday, September 5. The event brings together more than 500 venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders from across the state and also includes the Startup of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Catalyst of the Year Awards.
Learn more about the VentureDinner and purchase your tickets here. Meet the 50 companies on the Watchlist here.
