Rebuilding the Arsenal in the Buckeye State
Ohio, reindustrialization, and the path towards a fantastic future.
Ohio’s Industrial History
Since the dawn of the first industrial revolution, Ohio has been synonymous with American industry, science, and engineering.
Cincinnati, Ohio was one of the great trading hubs of the 1800s, driven by the construction of the Miami and Erie Canals.
John D. Rockefeller led the Standard Oil company on its long, inexorable march towards industrial dominance, starting in Cleveland, Ohio in 1865. At the company’s peak, it controlled greater than 90% of world oil markets; and to this day, it’s descendants include two of the top ten largest oil companies in the world, ExxonMobil and Chevron.
The original Cleveland Refinery of the Standard Oil Company.
John Henry Patterson and the National Cash Register, similarly, began a quest towards national control of the cash register market from its headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, starting in 1884. The company was almost broken up in 1913, but the antitrust verdict was avoided due to the company’s heroic actions in Dayton’s Great Flood of 1913. Two additional scions of the pantheon of American technological history, Thomas J. Watson Sr. (IBM) and Charles Kettering (General Motors), also came from “the Cash.”
An artist’s rendition of a National Cash Register plant in Dayton, Ohio.
Finally, no Ohioan can properly ignore the Wright brothers and the state’s role as the birthplace of aviation. Although the initial test flight itself was conducted in Kittyhawk, North Carolina, all of the actual engineering and design work was done at the Wright’s research lab in Dayton, Ohio. In addition, the follow-on test flights (Flyer II and Flyer III) were conducted at Huffman Prairie, Ohio, where they achieved longer, controlled flights of up to 38 minutes by 1905.
The Wright Brother’s Flyer II, tested in Huffman Prairie, Ohio.
Ohio’s Industrial Future
Ohio’s technological prowess is not merely a set of interesting history lessons, however. Especially in the 2020s, Ohio finds itself squarely at the center of the greatest global geopolitical and technological shift since the end of World War II and the dawn of the Computer Age.
In particular, the banner of reindustrialization has catalyzed an explosion of companies chasing superior solutions to onshore manufacturing and ensure we have the capabilities necessary to enforce deterrence and secure domestic access to critical products. Increasingly, both large companies and startups are turning to Ohio’s superior business climate, strong workforce, and geographic advantages to rebuild America’s future.
Indeed, there is no reason the future should happen only in Silicon Valley, or in California, or even along the coasts; instead, the time is ripe to build the next great American technological hubs in the American heartland, and the companies and organizations outlined below are leading the way in this transition.
Before reading further: if you have any comments or questions about the below material, please feel free to connect with me directly at john@bitstoatoms.com
Foundations of Industrial Greatness
To achieve Ohio’s future as an industrial powerhouse, three core elements are necessary:
Leading deep technology companies cultivate the talent, technology, and culture necessary to create a reinforcing feedback loop and spawn startup ecosystems
Public institutions foster the long-term research and government partnerships necessary to catalyze long-term investment into frontier technologies
Financing partners provide both dilutive and non-dilutive funding to fuel economic growth, from pre-seed companies through growth-stage ventures and beyond
We will outline how each of the points above is currently in motion, and conclude with what is left to continue to build on this momentum and cultivate the next great ecosystem of startups and corporations in the United States.
Leading Deep Technology Companies
From startups to corporations, these companies are leading the way to drive economic growth and cultivate talent throughout Ohio.
Anduril Industries – Arsenal-1
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: anduril.com
Summary: Anduril’s $1 billion Arsenal-1 facility in Pickaway County represents the largest job-creation project in Ohio’s history, with plans to hire 4,000 employees by 2035. The hyperscale manufacturing campus will produce autonomous systems like the Fury UAV and Barracuda cruise missiles.
Joby Aviation
Location: Dayton, OH
Website: jobyaviation.com
Summary: Joby’s Dayton hub manufactures electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for aerial ridesharing. With over $1.4 billion raised and three of five FAA certification stages completed, Joby aims to launch commercial operations by 2026.
Resonant Sciences
Location: Dayton, OH
Website: resonantsciences.com
Summary: Resonant Sciences develops electromagnetic (EM) systems for aerospace and defense, collaborating with AFRL on radar-absorbing materials, advanced apertures, and real-time signal tools.
Battle Sight Technologies
Location: Dayton, OH
Website: battlesighttech.com
Summary: Battle Sight develops field-ready technology like CrayTac IR markers and ColdFIRE suppression devices for special operations, designed for use with night vision and drone platforms in combat environments.
Path Robotics
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: path-robotics.com
Summary: Path’s autonomous welding systems (AF-1, AW-3) automate heavy fabrication across manufacturing sectors. Backed by a $100M Series D in 2024 (bringing the total to $250M in net funding), they’re expanding into defense, with recent orders exceeding $35M.
Zyvex Technologies
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: zyvextech.com
Summary: A pioneer in nano-enhanced composites, Zyvex produces CNT-reinforced resins for aerospace and marine applications. Their Piranha unmanned surface vessel showcases their strength-to-weight material advantage.
Ultium Cells
Location: Lordstown, OH
Website: ultiumcell.com
Summary: Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, operates a 2.8 million-square-foot facility in Lordstown, Ohio. The site began production in 2022 and now employs over 1,700 workers, manufacturing large-format, pouch-style lithium-ion battery cells. These cells use an advanced NCMA chemistry with over 70% less cobalt, supporting GM’s next-generation EVs on the Ultium Platform. The facility has an annual capacity of 41 GWh, with room to scale further.
Power to Hydrogen
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: power-h2.com
Summary: Power to Hydrogen is developing advanced electrolysis systems to produce clean, cost-effective hydrogen. Their patented Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzers use earth-abundant materials, eliminating the need for expensive precious metals. In 2024, the company raised over $18 million to scale its hydrogen systems and deploy the world’s first industrial-scale AEM electrolyzer, with applications in green ammonia, industrial decarbonization, and energy storage.
Key Innovation Infrastructure
Public organizations are the institutional fabric which will continue to drive the basic research, funding, and connections necessary to accelerate the growth of Ohio’s innovation ecosystem.
America Makes
Location: Youngstown, OH
Website: americamakes.us
Summary: America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership and innovation institute for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for Additive Manufacturing, it accelerates the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies by fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and government. America Makes serves as a central hub for R&D, commercialization, and workforce development.
Rickenbacker Innovation District
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: morpc.org, rickenbackerinlandport.com
Summary: The Rickenbacker Innovation District is a logistics and industrial hub in southern Columbus, anchored by Rickenbacker International Airport and Foreign Trade Zone #138. It provides critical infrastructure, supply chain access, and talent pipelines for advanced manufacturing and dual-use defense projects, including Anduril’s Arsenal-1. With over 75 million square feet of industrial space and same-day trucking access to half the U.S. population, it attracts global firms and supports Ohio’s reindustrialization efforts.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base & Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Location: Dayton, OH
Websites: wpafb.af.mil, afrl.af.mil
Summary: Wright-Patterson AFB is one of the U.S. Air Force’s largest and most complex bases, home to the Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). AFRL oversees a multi-billion dollar R&D portfolio and leads cutting-edge research in aerospace, materials, digital transformation, and human performance. The base serves as a cornerstone of Ohio’s aerospace ecosystem, partnering with universities and industry to drive innovation in both defense and commercial sectors.
University Ecosystem
Location: Columbus & Dayton, OH
Websites: osu.edu, wright.edu, udayton.edu
Summary: Ohio’s universities are key engines of research, talent development, and commercialization. The Ohio State University, Wright State University, and the University of Dayton operate major research centers and tech transfer offices. The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), in particular, plays a pivotal role in digital transformation and aerospace research, supporting both startups and Air Force partnerships.
Battelle Memorial Institute
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: battelle.org
Summary: Battelle is the world’s largest independent nonprofit focused on applied science and technology. It conducts advanced research for federal agencies like the Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security and manages several national laboratories. Battelle drives innovation in materials science, energy, biosecurity, and national security, making it a critical node in Ohio’s tech ecosystem.
OhioX
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: ohiox.org
Summary: A nonprofit membership organization connecting startups, corporations, universities, and investors to foster Ohio’s technology and innovation economy. Provides advocacy, events, and network-building to support fundraising and growth for member companies.
Key Funding Sources in Ohio
From pre-seed through growth and beyond, capital is the lifeblood which drives new technologies to create long-term real GDP growth. The below organizations offer both dilutive and non-dilutive finance to fuel this growth.
Drive Capital
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: drivecapital.com
Summary: The largest venture capital firm in the Midwest, Drive Capital backs technology and industrial startups across the region, from seed to IPO. Notable for a recent $750M in new fund commitments and a focus on scaling world-class companies in the “Driveway” region, including Ohio.
Cintrifuse Capital
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Website: cintrifuse.com
Summary: Cintrifuse manages a network of funds and direct investments in early-stage startups. The team was recently awarded $10M in SSBCI funds to launch a new $20M fund focused on pre-seed and seed-stage startups in Southwest Ohio. It also operates cohort-based programs to accelerate innovation.
Ohio Innovation Fund
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: ohiovationfund.com
Summary: A leading venture capital fund investing in Seed and Series A rounds for technology startups, including advanced manufacturing. Their portfolio includes several unicorns and high-growth, Ohio-based technology companies.
JobsOhio
Location: Columbus, OH
Website: jobsohio.com
Summary: A private nonprofit economic development corporation which offers grants, incentives, and direct funding to attract and grow businesses in Ohio. Programs include the JobsOhio Small Business Grant, which supports innovation and job creation.
Ohio Third Frontier
Location: Statewide
Summary: A $2.3B state initiative supporting applied research, commercialization, early-stage capital, and entrepreneurial assistance. Focuses include advanced energy, advanced materials, biomedical, and fuel cell technologies, aiming to move innovations from lab to market and build Ohio’s innovation ecosystem.
Next Steps
Ohio clearly has the culture, talent, innovation infrastructure, and financing necessary to build an economic powerhouse 5 - 10x the size of its current economy. However, such tremendous growth can never be counted on as an absolute; indeed, such would be far too deterministic a view of history. Human agency, not institutions, will always be the primary lever which moves the world.
Therefore, I end this article with a simple call to action:
If you are interested in joining one of the firms above, you should apply directly on their websites — all are hiring, and each has the ability to redefine their respective industry and galvanize American manufacturing.
If you are interested in building your own company right in Ohio and would like to get in touch with either funders or innovation hubs, please feel free to reach out to me directly at john@bitstoatoms.com with your ask, and I will work to connect you with the most relevant people ASAP.
It is the purpose of these articles to meaningfully move the economic needle forward by creating the connections people need to act, so if you’ve gotten this far, the best way to conclude is to shift from information gathering towards action. We’ve got a country to rebuild, and not much time to do it.
As always, thank you for reading! And until next time — Ad Astra Per Aspera.