The report highlights a distinct split in growth drivers across the state. Tech startups remained the primary engine, accounting for $1.8 billion in activity and supporting over 9,200 jobs. This network, managed by JumpStart alongside 16 regional partners, utilizes programs like the Trailblazer Accelerator to provide founders with early-stage runway without requiring equity stakes. Andrew Cothrel, CEO of Cincinnati-based Kilele Health Inc., credited this support for enabling his team to break world records in biosensor technology.
Ohio Entrepreneurs Fuel $1.9 Billion Economic Surge in 2025
Entrepreneurs backed by the Cleveland-based nonprofit JumpStart and its regional partners generated $1.9 billion in economic activity across Ohio in 2025. This 11 percent increase over the previous year underscores a growing momentum for tech startups and small businesses alike, pushing cumulative regional impact to $16.9 billion since 2010.
Simultaneously, small businesses experienced a breakout year, with their collective economic output jumping 60 percent to $131 million. Programs such as CapitalReady and ScaleReady have been instrumental in this shift, helping local founders—including Cleveland-based Terranean and Maple Heights-based Concession Stand Laundry—transition from early-stage operations to sustainable, job-creating enterprises. JumpStart CEO Lorne Novick noted that while the figures track progress, the core of the state's economic vitality remains the individual commitment of founders building ventures within their home communities.
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