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How Columbus’ Growing Tech and Arts Scene Is Making it a Top Destination
As Columbus’ tech and culture scene rapidly expands, more and more people are beginning to take notice of what the city has to offer.
Recessions Breed Innovation
The basics of economics tell us that when supply is higher than demand, prices fall. What it doesn’t tell is that low demand also breeds innovation.
Tech in 2022: There’s More Than One Story
Whether it’s semiconductor manufacturing, EV battery plants, other clean technologies, VC deal volumes, or rising tech employment, the cities and states of the Silicon Heartland are writing their own storyline – and it’s an exciting time.
2022 Year In Review: As Big Tech Stumbles, the Silicon Heartland Continues to Rise
In 2022, it became clearer than ever that the health of the U.S. tech sector cannot simply be measured by what’s going on in traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley or Seattle.
Tough Times, Tougher Cities
These are difficult times for the tech sector. Big names like Amazon, Meta and Twitter are announcing layoffs in the tens of thousands as continued post-pandemic uncertainty hangs over the global economy. But in times like these, it’s worth remembering Sylvester Stallone’s iconic quote from Rocky Balboa: “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
Resilient Cities: Experts Meet in Pittsburgh to Boost Access to Capital and Region’s Tech ‘Brand’
As layoffs roil Silicon Valley, tech industry experts met in Pittsburgh recently to discuss the needs of startups and other innovative firms in the middle of the country to ensure their continued growth. The Oct. 20 event, hosted by One America...
Tech Started in the Steel City
Pittsburgh has been a hotbed for innovation and progress for many years. From the steel industry to technology to medical research.
The Midwest: Where Founders and Investors Meet
One America Works recently convened a series of in-person events in Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bringing together tech startups, venture capital investors, policymakers and other stakeholders in the innovation economy. This week, we’ll focus on our work in Columbus – anchored by the Connecting the Coasts to the Heartland conference – and share some other exciting news from Ohio’s innovation economy.
‘Back In the Game’: Hundreds of Tech Investors and Startups Hold Midwest Summit to Create More Innovation Jobs
Hundreds of venture capital investors and startup companies converged in Columbus, Ohio, to accelerate the pace of tech sector investment and job creation in America’s non-coastal cities, better known as the Silicon Heartland. Investors, founders...
Silicon Chip Manufacturing is Booming in Columbus, Ohio
Silicon onshoring is the process of moving silicon chip production to a new location. This can be done for a variety of reasons, including to take advantage of new tax incentives and to be closer to customers. In recent years, there has been a lot...
Show Me The Money!
Within a few months, the State of California and New York City, representing the largest tech and innovation hubs in the world, will require new job postings to include detailed salary information up front. The data they produce will demonstrate yet again how expensive it has become to recruit and retain top talent in big cities on the East and West coasts.
Drive Capital Raises Another $1B to Invest in Columbus and the Midwest
In recent years, the Midwest has been a hotbed for innovation, with companies such as Amazon, Google, and Uber all setting up shop in the region. And now, there’s another player in the game: Drive Capital.
Columbus: The Smartest City in America?
By harnessing the power of big data, Columbus, OH has established itself as a leading smart city in the world.
Building a Midwest tech hub
Last weekend, a New York Times headline posed the following question: “Can Tech Ecosystems Now Grow Inland?” (Spoiler: They can, and they have been for many years now.) The Times story was based on an interview with AOL founder Steve Case, who observed: “I believe we’ve hit peak Silicon Valley. It’s not that the area won’t continue to attract innovators, but it won’t have the lead it has held for the last decade.”
Recharging the Heartland
Clean energy technologies – or cleantech for short – are making a comeback in the United States. Decades ago, solar panels, electric vehicles and other cleantech products were pioneered in our country, but just as we started using more of those products to power our daily lives, we outsourced the manufacturing to other countries. It’s an all too familiar story across so many industries.
Chip Makers and Life Changers
For years, there’s been a lot of talk about securing a domestic supply chain for computer chips and other semiconductor technologies. But in the wake of the pandemic and the acute global chip shortage it triggered, that talk is turning into action. Chip manufacturers are announcing new plants and expansions worth hundreds of billions of dollars in states like Arizona, Texas and Ohio.
Diverse Places, Diverse People
The geography of the tech sector is diversifying and Heartland cities are making major contributions, as executives and recruiters realize that the highly skilled professionals they have been looking for already exist in America’s small and mid-sized cities.
‘Attracting and Inspiring’ Diverse Tech Talent: An Interview With CCAC President Quintin Bullock
Promoting diversity is both a challenge and an opportunity for the tech sector as it expands outside Silicon Valley and other traditional tech hubs. One America Works sought the expertise of Dr. Quintin Bullock, President of the Community...
To Commute or Not to Commute?
The Return to Office debate continues, with employers and workers pulling in different directions and no clear resolution in sight. That said, tech leaders should seriously consider diversifying their geographical footprint, by opening new offices that are closer to their people, so that traveling to the office isn’t the same ordeal it used to be before the pandemic.
Can I see you in my office?
It’s not too early to assess how “Return to Office” policies are going. While some companies offer flexibility around working remotely, a large number are requiring their employees to come into the office – at least part of the time. Now over halfway into 2022, it’s becoming apparent how it has been going…And safe to say, Not Well.
