Built in Ohio

What does it take to build an early-stage company in Ohio today — and how is the environment changing for founders across the Midwest?

In this episode of Built in Ohio, OhioX President and CEO Chris Berry sits down with Kaleigh Gallagher, Vice President of Tech Services & Network Management at JumpStart, to talk about what she’s seeing across Ohio’s startup ecosystem.

A former founder herself, Kaleigh brings experience from multiple sides of the startup world. She shares how that experience shapes the way she works with entrepreneurs today, what founders are doing differently than they were a few years ago, and where early-stage companies still need the most help.

The conversation also goes inside JumpStart’s Trailblazer Accelerator, which works with pre-seed and seed-stage Ohio software and healthtech companies through intensive advising and specialized startup services without taking equity. Chris and Kaleigh discuss what separates companies that accelerate from those that struggle, what success looks like at the end of an accelerator, and how the needs of software and healthtech founders differ.

They also pull back to look at the broader Midwest venture market: whether investors are genuinely looking beyond the coasts, what Ohio still has to prove, and what could materially change the region’s startup trajectory over the next five years.

Finally, Kaleigh previews VC Fest, returning to Cleveland September 29–30, with programming around AI and frontier innovation, healthtech, startup showcases, and curated meetings between founders, investors, and corporate leaders.

Built in Ohio is an OhioX podcast featuring technology leaders having an impact across the state and conversations about the companies, ideas and innovations shaping Ohio’s future.

For more information on JumpStart, please visit: https://jumpstartinc.org/

For more information on Ohio VC Fest, please visit: https://ohiovcfest.com/

Connect with Kaleigh on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gallagherkaleigh/

In this episode Built in Ohio, Chris Berry sits down with David Lewis, President of Heartland States for AT&T. With a distinguished career spanning public service, corporate affairs, and board leadership across the region, David leads AT&T's policy, philanthropy, and community engagement initiatives across Ohio and Michigan.  

Together, they explore the massive infrastructure transformation currently sweeping across the state. David breaks down AT&T's nearly $3.1 billion network investment in Ohio from 2021 through 2025, detailing how these capital expenditures directly fuel regional economic development, support new tech hubs, and strengthen connectivity across every corner of the state. He outlines the critical transition from legacy copper infrastructure to high-speed fiber optics and 5G, explaining why this future-proof network is essential for local entrepreneurs, data centers, and modern households managing dozens of connected devices.  

The conversation also covers AT&T's role in building and supporting FirstNet, the dedicated communications network for first responders, and how crucial that ubiquitous connectivity becomes during major state events and public emergencies. Beyond physical infrastructure, David discusses AT&T's deep commitment to closing the digital divide through hands-on investments, including distributing thousands of laptops, opening local Connected Learning Centers with free high-speed internet, and providing digital literacy training to seniors and students. 

Finally, David shares personal insights into his leadership philosophy, the importance of mentoring the next generation of professionals, and how he unwinds on a perfect Saturday off the clock.  

Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lewis-sr/

Learn more about AT&T's investment in Ohio: www.attconnects.com/localities/ohio/

What does the next chapter of American industrial growth look like? It looks like abundant, reliable, and clean energy—and it's being deployed right here in Ohio. 

John Hanson, Corporate Chief of Staff at Oklo, joins Built in Ohio to discuss their massive new clean energy agreement pairing tech giant Meta's energy demand with domestic fuel producer Centrus.  

In this conversation, John explains the science behind Oklo’s liquid sodium, metal-cooled fast reactors, how they can recycle spent fuel from existing Ohio nuclear plants, and what it takes to scale up a 16-reactor campus. 

We dive into why a domestic fuel supply chain is critical to national security, how Ohio’s world-class industrial workforce is uniquely positioned to lead, and what it means to bring hundreds of permanent, high-tech operating jobs back to his home state.

Learn more about Oklo at www.oklo.com

Connect with John on LinkedIn.

Aplos Data is coming out of stealth with a clear focus: helping organizations move beyond disconnected data, stalled use cases, and AI pilots that never reach production.

In this episode, Aplos Data co-founders Ian Ferré, CEO, and Sean Dooley, Executive Chairman, join the podcast to discuss how they are helping businesses operationalize AI through data, workflow automation, and Palantir-powered systems.

Aplos works with organizations to turn complex data environments into coherent operating systems that drive real decisions, execution, and outcomes. The company focuses on designing and delivering operational systems, taking high-potential use cases from concept to production, and aligning data, AI, and workflows around measurable business value.

Ian and Sean also share the story behind launching Aplos, why they believe companies need long-term partners rather than one-off implementations, and how their experience building and scaling businesses shapes the way they serve clients.

The conversation explores AI, data, digital twins, predictive insights, operational efficiency, and what it takes for organizations to move from experimentation to real-world impact.

Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.

Connect with Sean on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Aplos Data.

Accent has grown into a trusted cloud communications provider serving organizations ranging from small businesses to large enterprises.

In this episode, Chris Cameron, CEO of Accent, joins the podcast to share his entrepreneurial journey — from working at Accent to buying the company and becoming its president and CEO.

Chris discusses how Accent helps businesses modernize communication through cloud phone systems, video meetings, team messaging, unified communications, and cloud contact center solutions. He also shares what it means to build a company that is “big enough to deliver and small enough to care,” and how Accent serves customers across industries with practical, reliable communication tools.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship, business ownership, customer service, and the evolving role of cloud communications in how organizations work today.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Accent.

Ohio’s startup ecosystem has grown from early investments and foundational programs into a thriving network of entrepreneurs, investors, operators, and support organizations.

In this episode, Michelle Murcia, founder and CEO of Book+Street, joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of the Columbus and Ohio startup ecosystem, her decades of work supporting entrepreneurs, and why she launched Book+Street in 2018.

Michelle shares lessons from her time at Battelle, Fletcher Spaght Ventures, TechColumbus, and Book+Street, where her team supports startups from ideation through Series B and beyond. The conversation also explores Ohio’s growth as a place for startups and how the region can continue building momentum while staying true to its Midwest culture and values.

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Book+Street.

Modern software promises speed, flexibility, and growth — but too often, businesses find themselves boxed in by legacy systems, rigid “out-of-the-box” features, and digital projects that never fully deliver.

In this episode, Brendan Gualdoni, Chief Operating Officer of Aries Solutions, joins the podcast to discuss how companies can modernize complex digital ecosystems through composable commerce, agentic automation, and a more strategic approach to software transformation.

Brendan shares why technology modernization is not just a technical challenge, but a leadership and culture challenge. He explains how companies can move beyond transactional vendor relationships, evaluate digital partners based on trust and accountability, and build hybrid teams that combine internal knowledge with outside expertise.

The conversation also explores Aries Solutions’ commitment to helping clients get live and into production — and why execution, alignment, and end-to-end accountability are what separate successful digital transformations from stalled projects.

Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Aries Solutions.

Miami University is helping prepare the next generation of technology talent through first-of-its-kind programs in quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

In this episode, Beena Sukumaran, Professor and the Dinesh and ILA Paliwal Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Miami University, joins the podcast to discuss how Miami is building new pathways for students in some of the most important emerging technology fields.

Miami’s College of Engineering and Computing is home to the first Bachelor of Science in Quantum Computing in Ohio and the first in the nation focused on software applications. Developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, the program gives students hands-on experience with real quantum systems, including opportunities to work with IBM’s System One Quantum computer both physically at Cleveland Clinic and virtually from Miami’s Oxford campus.

The conversation also explores Miami’s efforts to expand the quantum talent pipeline through K–12 outreach, high school programs, experiential learning, internships, research, and industry partnerships.

Dean Sukumaran also shares what makes Miami’s new AI program distinct, including its focus on building AI systems, not just using AI tools, and preparing students to apply AI responsibly across industries.

Connect with Dean Sukumaran on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Miami University's College of Engineering and Computing.

The AI era is not just about making old systems faster. It is a shift from operating on the ground to operating in the air — requiring new tools, new controls, and a new way for organizations to coordinate work.

In this episode, Quentin Fisher, CEO and founder of Aidan Systems, shares how manufacturing and healthcare organizations can move into the AI era with practical, trusted, and operationally focused solutions.

Quentin discusses Aidan Systems’ AI Control Tower, a platform designed to help organizations turn enterprise data into trusted insight and action without ripping out existing systems. He also explains why not every business process needs AI, why choosing the right starting point matters, and how organizations can maintain and improve their AI capabilities over time.

The conversation also explores Aidan’s broader mission: helping reindustrialize the Midwest with AI and supporting healthcare providers as they work to serve more people in a rapidly changing world.

Connect with Quentin on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Aidan Systems.

On this episode of Built in Ohio we’re joined by Anthony Gillespie, Director of Strategic and Technology-Based Partnerships and the Technology Transfer Office at Parallax Advanced Research. 

Anthony brings more than 30 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, government, university tech transfer, and consulting—all focused on advancing innovation and economic impact.

At Parallax, Anthony helps connect groundbreaking research with real-world application. One of the programs he leads is the Precision Urban Agriculture Initiative, a NIST-funded effort that’s transforming underused urban spaces in Cuyahoga County into productive farming hubs powered by aerospace technology. 

This work is directly tackling food security, sustainability, and workforce development—while serving as a model for how technology transfer can solve real community challenges.

In our conversation, we explored Anthony’s career journey, the critical role of tech transfer in Ohio’s innovation ecosystem, and how initiatives like Precision Urban Agriculture are reimagining what’s possible for the state’s future.

Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn

Learn more about Parallax Advanced Research: www.parallaxresearch.org

Learn more about the Ohio Aerospace Institute: www.oai.org