Sponsorship
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Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
9
9 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
5
Pitch Competition · Incubator · Tech Transfer
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
9 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
BOSS: Best of Student Startups
Pitch CompetitionAlso: BOSS, BOSS Space Ventures
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funding range
- Last activity
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- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
LaunchpadOSU
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Launchpad OSU
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funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
ShowOHI/O
Pitch CompetitionAlso: ShowOHI/O Tech Entrepreneurship Showcase
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funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Verified
Accelerator
President's Buckeye Accelerator
AcceleratorAlso: PBA
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funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Summer Catalyst
AcceleratorAlso: Summer Catalyst Program
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funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Techstars Columbus
AcceleratorAlso: Techstars Columbus Powered by Ohio State
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funding range
- Last activity
- —
- Participants
- Community, Alumni +more
- Verification
- Verified
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Aegis
Finalist
placement
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) finalist.
Almara
Ohio State University · Summer Catalyst
Clinical trial navigation venture; OSU Summer Catalyst 2026 participant. Adam Roberts and Hari Kasi.
Astraeus Paints
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Color-changing paint that detects hazardous radiation levels in spacecraft interiors; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) winner ($50K). Includes Zachary Smith.
BiFormyx BioPharma
Ohio State University · Innovation and Commercialization / OSIF
Cancer therapy spinout from OSU (X. Margaret Liu) via Ohio State Innovation Foundation.
Coachable
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Digital sports playbook platform; Ohio State President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 5 (2026) winner ($50K). Founder Eric Ishekwene.
Colectic
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Curated marketplace for vintage resellers; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 5 (2026) winner ($50K). Bria Isaacson and Ritika Chakraborty.
Digital Sports Solutions
Finalist
placement
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) finalist.
Eco-Peace
Finalist
placement
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) finalist.
ForgeNest
Ohio State University · Innovation and Commercialization / OSIF
NSF HAMMER-ERC spinout commercializing robotic blacksmithing; OSU tech transfer.
Grant Central
Finalist
placement
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) finalist.
Innr Wellness
$10,000
prize won
Ohio State University · BOSS: Best of Student Startups
2025 OSU BOSS (Best of Student Startups) Student-Athlete track winner ($10K). Thomas Weis.
KINO
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Health and fitness platform that simplifies progress tracking; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) winner ($50K).
LunaWear
$5,000
prize won
Ohio State University · BOSS: Best of Student Startups
2025 OSU BOSS Space Ventures runner-up ($5K). Rachel Bagim and Shelby Swyt.
MemorEase
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
All-in-one platform supporting caregivers by consolidating tools, resources, and guidance; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) winner ($50K). Includes Sanjusha Gudla.
Mobile Pantry
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Logistics platform connecting food banks and pantries with volunteers for multistop deliveries; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) winner ($50K). Jack Swartley and Sky Sie.
NeuroLife/ActivateNeuro
Ohio State University · Innovation and Commercialization / OSIF
Battelle/OSU spinout restoring hand function after paralysis; $2.9M seed round.
OmniDoc
$5,000
prize won
Ohio State University · BOSS: Best of Student Startups
Healthcare platform; 2024 OSU BOSS Finale award ($5K). Vihaan Vulpala, Surya Suresh, Eashan Vytla, Amogh Kuppa.
PathoTrace
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Passive gel tape for microbial contamination detection; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 5 (2026) winner ($50K) and 2025 BOSS Space Ventures winner ($10K). Hannah Myers, Ayden Gardner, Devin Yeager.
Pavaka Wound Care
Ohio State University · Innovation and Commercialization / OSIF
Electroceutical wound-dressing spinout from OSU tech transfer.
Phoenix Battery Company
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Repurposes decommissioned EV batteries into portable chargers, power stations, and home energy storage; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) winner ($50K) and 2024 BOSS Finale grand prize ($20K). Founder Jonah Mikesell.
Side Coach Sports
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Operating system for youth sports; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 5 (2026) winner ($50K); Cohort 4 (2025) finalist. Luke Carrell and Nick Sawyer.
SimVive
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
Browser-based clinical simulator for EMTs and paramedics; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 5 (2026) winner ($50K). Kevin and Nick Ravakhah.
SpaceReg Navigator
$5,000
prize won
Ohio State University · BOSS: Best of Student Startups
2025 OSU BOSS Space Ventures runner-up ($5K). Akshat Shah and Raghava Deivanaathan.
SPAERO Systems
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
SWAN spacecraft-surface disinfection technology to prevent mold on long-duration missions; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 4 (2025) winner ($50K). Ian and Nikolas Harris.
Viera Wellness
$50,000
prize won
Ohio State University · President's Buckeye Accelerator
At-home screening kit for vaginal health; OSU President's Buckeye Accelerator Cohort 5 (2026) winner ($50K). Sandy Ilangovan, Ajay Gopalan, Sridurga Karthik.
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, founded in 1870, is a public land-grant R1 research university in Columbus, Ohio with approximately 61,000 students. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the Tim & Kathleen Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship (1,200+ students/year, 130+ volunteers, 15 colleges) and the Ohio State Innovation Foundation (OSIF) for technology transfer, with robust student accelerators ($300K+/year in non-dilutive funding) and external partnerships including Techstars Columbus.
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship — 1,200+ students/year, 15 eligible colleges, 130+ volunteers, Senior Director Cheryl Turnbull
- Student accelerator: President's Buckeye Accelerator — 6 ventures × $50K = $300K/year, flagship year-long program with Boost Camp
- Pitch competition: BOSS (Best of Student Startups) — $40K+ total prizes, Space Ventures & Student-Athlete tracks
- Summer program: Summer Catalyst — new 2026, 167 students/86 ventures, up to $2K funding, Third Coast Foundry connection
- Startup weekend: LaunchpadOSU — ideation and team building
- Tech showcase: ShowOHI/O — $1K best pitch, student-run OHI/O org
- Tech transfer: OSIF/Innovation and Commercialization — 183 Engineering invention disclosures FY25, $600K TVSF Phase 2, grants up to $50K
- External accelerator: Techstars Columbus — $120K investment, AI/Quantum/Deep Tech focus
- Biotech initiative: Buckeye BioLaunch — new 2026, AI-driven drug discovery
- Corporate innovation: Center for Innovation Strategies, OnRamp program (120+ concepts, 600+ interns)
- VC exposure: Venture Boot Camp with Ohio Innovation Fund
- Academic: Entrepreneurship Minor (15 credit hours, open to all majors), FLIE (I-Corps + MBA)
- SF Bridge: Third Coast Foundry — connects OSU startups to Bay Area investors
- Partners: Rev1 Ventures, Techstars, Ohio Innovation Fund, Ohio Third Frontier, Battelle
Known Startups
- Coachable (Eric Ishekwene) — PBA Cohort 5, digital sports playbook platform
- Colectic (Bria Isaacson, Ritika Chakraborty) — PBA Cohort 5, vintage reseller marketplace
- PathoTrace (Hannah Myers, Ayden Gardner, Devin Yeager) — PBA Cohort 5, contamination detection
- Side Coach Sports (Luke Carrell, Nick Sawyer) — PBA Cohort 5, youth sports OS
- SimVive (Kevin Ravakhah, Nick Ravakhah) — PBA Cohort 5, EMT/paramedic simulator
- Viera Wellness (Sandy Ilangovan, Ajay Gopalan, Sridurga Karthik) — PBA Cohort 5, at-home screening
- Mobile Pantry (Jack Swartley, Sky Sie) — PBA Cohort 4, food waste reduction
- Phoenix Battery Company — PBA Cohort 4, EV battery repurposing
- SPAERO Systems (Ian Harris, Nikolas Harris) — PBA Cohort 4, spacecraft disinfection
- Almara (Adam Roberts, Hari Kasi) — clinical trial navigation
- BiFormyx BioPharma — cancer therapy spinout (X. Margaret Liu)
- ForgeNest — NSF HAMMER-ERC spinout, robotic blacksmithing
- NeuroLife/ActivateNeuro — Battelle/OSU spinout, $2.9M seed
- Pavaka Wound Care — electroceutical wound dressing spinout
Assessment
Recommendation: Include Tier: 1 Confidence: High Key Factors: Comprehensive multi-node ecosystem anchored by dedicated Keenan Center (1,200+ students/yr, 15 colleges), flagship President's Buckeye Accelerator ($300K/year in non-dilutive funding), multiple pitch competitions ($40K+ BOSS), robust tech transfer (183 Engineering disclosures FY25, OSIF, $600K TVSF Phase 2), corporate innovation programs (OnRamp/Center for Innovation Strategies), external accelerator partnerships (Techstars Columbus $120K, Rev1 Ventures), and growing biotech initiative (Buckeye BioLaunch). The major gap is absence of a dedicated student venture fund, though PBA provides substantial non-dilutive funding.
News & articles
10 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Ohio State University.
10 sources
News & articles(4)
Ohio State students win $40,000 to fund startup businesses
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Ohio State students win $40,000 to fund startup businesses
# Ohio State students win $40,000 to fund startup businesses Article Sept 23, 2025. BOSS Space Ventures and Student-Athlete tracks. $40K total prizes. Winners: Innr Wellness ($10K), PathoTrace ($10K), SpaceReg Navigator ($5K), LunaWear ($5K).
Read on Ohio State University
Ohio State establishes AI-enabled center for therapeutic discovery and development
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Ohio State establishes AI-enabled center for therapeutic discovery and development
# Ohio State establishes AI-enabled center for therapeutic discovery and development News article June 30, 2026. New Buckeye BioLaunch initiative for AI-driven therapeutic discovery and commercialization. Partnership between Wexner Medical Center, OSUCCC-James, Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. 10-20 AI screening projects annually.
Read on Ohio State University
Six student ventures earn $50,000 each in 2026 President's Buckeye Accelerator
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Six student ventures earn $50,000 each in 2026 President's Buckeye Accelerator
# Six student ventures earn $50,000 each in 2026 President's Buckeye Accelerator News article from April 30, 2026. Six startups awarded $50K each. 12 finalist teams pitched. Selected from 50+ in Boost Camp. Winners: Coachable, Colectic, PathoTrace, Side Coach Sports, SimVive, Viera Wellness.
Read on Ohio State University
Buckeye engineers excel in technology commercialization
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Buckeye engineers excel in technology commercialization
# Buckeye engineers excel in technology commercialization Article Feb 15, 2026. Six startups FY24-25 from Engineering. BiFormyx, ForgeNest spinouts. FY25 metrics: 183 disclosures, 90 provisional/112 non-provisional patents, 37 issued. Dean Howard and Chief Innovation Officer Taylor quotes.
Read on Ohio State University
Official sources(6)
Innovation and Commercialization — Ohio State
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Innovation and Commercialization — Ohio State
# Innovation and Commercialization — Ohio State Ohio State's tech transfer office within ERIK. Chief Innovation Officer Kevin Taylor. OSIF (est. 2012) manages IP, licensing, startup creation. FY25 Engineering: 183 disclosures, 90 provisional/112 non-provisional patents, 37 patents issued, 6 startups. Grants up to $50K, TVSF up to $200K.
Read on Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship
# Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship The Tim & Kathleen Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship is Ohio State's central hub for student entrepreneurship. 1,200+ students/year, 130+ volunteers, 15 colleges. Senior Director Cheryl Turnbull. Manages accelerator continuum: LaunchpadOSU, BOSS, Boost Camp, President's Buckeye Accelerator, FLIE, Buckeye Venture Mentor Service.
Read on Ohio State University
Ohio State University
President's Buckeye Accelerator
# President's Buckeye Accelerator Flagship student accelerator. Six ventures awarded $50K each. Year-long program with Boost Camp pre-accelerator. Cohort 5 selected April 2026. Program includes funding, skill building, mentorship, structured process, community, and exposure.
Read on Ohio State University
Ohio State University
ShowOHI/O 2026
# ShowOHI/O 2026 Ohio State's tech entrepreneurship showcase and pitch competition. Hosted by OHI/O student org. April 16, 2026. Top 5 teams receive pitch coaching, compete for $1K best pitch prize. Also features tabling showcase component.
Read on Ohio State University
Ohio State launches Summer Catalyst to help student startups grow
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Ohio State launches Summer Catalyst to help student startups grow
# Ohio State launches Summer Catalyst to help student startups grow Article May 27, 2026. New 2026 program: 167 students, 86 ventures, 3.5-day bootcamp + summer resources. Up to $2K funding. Third Coast Foundry San Francisco connection.
Read on Ohio State University
Ohio State University
Techstars Columbus Powered by Ohio State
# Techstars Columbus Powered by Ohio State Techstars accelerator powered by Ohio State. AI, Quantum, Deep Tech focus. $120K investment. Three cohorts/year (March, June, September 2026). Healthcare, energy, space, manufacturing, defense sectors.
Read on Ohio State University
This profile lists 9 programs for Ohio State University. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
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