Ohio's consumer internet growth is 5% higher than the national average. Home to NASA, American Electric Power, and First Energy, the state has always been a hub for internet startups.
However, are there any big VC firms in Ohio that could help you secure funding for your internet startup?
Of Course! To help you pitch to the right people, we have prepared the following list of the top-ranked startup investors in Ohio who invest in consumer internet.
Get To Know The Top 7 VC Firms in Ohio That Invest in Consumer Internet
| Firm | Focused Sectors | Funding Stages | Notable Investments | Total Investments | Investment Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bessemer Venture Partners | Tech, Agriculture, Health Care, Network Security, EdTech, Banking, Financial Services | Early to Late | Blue Apron, LinkedIn, Skype, Spotify, Shopify | 1,700+ | Up to $100M |
| Index Ventures | Health Care, AI, Cyber Security, SaaS, Logistics, Big Data, Personal Finance | Early to Late | Notion, Discord, Patreon, Wise, Trustpilot | 1,200+ | Up to $50M |
| River Cities Capital | Cloud Data Services, Health Care, AI, Medical Device, FinTech | Growth | SPR Therapeutics, OnCall Solutions, Mindpath | 200+ | Around $20M |
| Rev1 Ventures | Tech, Healthcare, Internet, Fintech, Digital Businesses | Early to Late | Redi.Health, Healthy Roster, Updox | 190+ | Several million |
| CincyTech | Internet, SaaS, Health Care, Cloud Infrastructure, Digital Media | Early to Late | Amify, Tembo, Genetesis, Enable Injections | 160+ | $1M to $30M |
| Drive Capital | Internet, Financial Services, IT, Security, Biotech, Health Care | Early to Late | Duolingo, Root Insurance, Comply365 | 130+ | $500,000 to $10M |
| Heartland Ventures | Tech, E-Commerce, Insurance, SaaS, AI, Consumer Software, Health Care | Early | Third Wave Automation, Parkade, Mimir | 30+ | $500,000 to $2M |
Bessemer Venture Partners
- Website: Home - Bessemer Venture Partners
- Focused Sectors: Tech, Advanced Materials, Agriculture, Internet, Biotechnology, Food and Beverage, Organic Food, Dental, Health Care, Network Security, Information Services, Information Technology, Software, Telecommunications, EdTech, Education, Higher Education, Training, Vocational Education, Banking, Financial Services
- Funding Stages: Early - Late
- Present in: Global, with a strong presence in the United States, Europe, and Asia
- Notable Investments: Blue Apron, LinkedIn, Skype, Spotify, and Shopify
- Total Investments: 1,700+
With roots dating back to 1911, Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) has a legacy as one of the most established venture capital firms in the industry. Initially part of the Bessemer Trust, the firm has since evolved into a major force in global venture capital, managing investments in over 1,700 companies worldwide.
Bessemer is known for its deep dives into industry 'roadmaps,” and it invests accordingly. They also have a panel of some of the most experienced and highly qualified mentors in the US, that help the portfolio companies throughout various stages.
Other than the investment activities, BVP also hosts several prominent events for founders and investors, such as the Seed Summit and Cloud 100. The investment range can go up to $100 Million.
Index Ventures
- Website: Index Ventures
- Focused Sectors: Health Care, Women Founded, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Compliance, Cyber Security, Enterprise Software, Risk Management, SaaS, Security, Cloud Data Services, Hospital, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Employment, Management Consulting, Service Internet, Industry, Software, Information Services, Personal Finance, Information Technology, Real-Time, Sales, Big Data
- Funding Stages: Early to Late
- Present in: London, San Francisco, and New York
- Notable Investments: Notion, Discord, Patreon, Wise, Trustpilot
- Total Investments: 1,200+
Index Ventures brings a bold vision to venture capital, supporting founders who dream big and dare to disrupt. Founded in 1996 by Neil Rimer, David Rimer, and Giuseppe Zocco, the firm operates from key global hubs in London, San Francisco, and New York, investing in transformative consumer internet and technology companies.
When investing in startups, Index Ventures has a 'people-first' approach, seeking founders with a bold vision, commercial acumen, and a passion for building enduring companies.
The investment range of Index Ventures can range up to $50M.
River Cities Capital
- Website: RC Capital | Healthcare Growth Equity Firm
- Focused Sectors: Cloud Data Services, Health Care, Hospital, Logistics, Medical Device, Supply Chain Management, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Internet, Market Research, Messaging, Project Management, Social Media, Software, Medical, Women Founded, Employment, Management Consulting, Service Industry, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Information Technology, Financial Services, FinTech, Payments
- Funding Stages: Growth-stage and later-stage
- Present in: US
- Notable Investments: SPR Therapeutics, OnCall Solutions, Mindpath Health, Bolder Surgical, BardyDx
- Total Investments: 200+
River Cities Capital, founded in 1994, takes a unique approach to private equity, focusing primarily on healthcare and medical technology companies.
To date, RC Capital has made over 200 investments and has had 103 successful exits with a 50% percent successful exit ratio.
When making the investments, the firm typically focuses on growth-stage healthcare companies that can benefit from both capital and strategic guidance, helping them scale rapidly and deliver strong returns for investors.
The investment range of River Cities Capital is around $20M.
Rev1 Ventures
- Website: Venture Capital Funding & Development Studio - Columbus, Ohio | Rev1 Ventures
- Focused Sectors: Tech, Healthcare, Internet, Fintech, Data Security, Data Management, Digital Businesses
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: US
- Notable Investments: Redi.Health, Healthy Roster, and Updox
- Total Investments: 190+
Rev1 Ventures operates at the intersection of capital and hands-on support, providing both funding and strategic resources to early-stage companies.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, and founded in 2013, Rev1 is a startup studio that has driven growth in Central Ohio's startup ecosystem. With over 150 companies funded by 2020, Rev1 has helped generate over $140 million in exits, including notable acquisitions like Updox.
Their investment criteria focus on high-growth startups that can generate high ROI and have a solid growth potential. In terms of exits, Rev1 reported an economic impact with $140 million in exits as of 2020, including notable acquisitions like Updox.
The investment range of Rev1 Vetures can range up to several million dollars.
CincyTech
- Website: Home | CincyTech
- Focused Sectors: Internet, Information Services, Information Technology, SaaS, Software, Data Mining, Enterprise Software, Professional Services, Text Analytics, Advertising, Internet, Data Center, Virtualization, Real Estate, Content Creators, Content Marketing, Digital Media, Health Care, Wellness, Cloud Infrastructure, Communications Infrastructure, Cloud Management,
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: Cincinatti
- Notable Investments: Amify, Tembo, IncludeHealth, Genetesis, XII Medical, TeamCentral, Enable Injections
- Total Investments: 160+
CincyTech, founded in 2005, is a venture capital firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a mission to invest in and grow high-potential startups.
It was founded by Bob Coy, the founding CEO, and Mike Venerable, who joined shortly after its inception. CincyTech has invested $87 million in over 160 startups, helping to attract more than $1.7 billion in co-investment capital, including venture capital. To date, they have achieved 38 successful exits like Airway Therapeutics.
Like most other VC firms, CincyTech focuses on early-stage companies that are working on innovative technologies and research spinouts.
The investment range of CincyTech lies between $1M to $30M, depending on the startup’s estimated ROI and idea market.
Drive Capital
- Website: Drive Capital - Home
- Focused Sectors: Internet, Financial Services, Food and Beverage, Food Processing, Nutrition, Organic Food, IT Infrastructure, IT Management, Software, Computer, Developer Platform, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Network Security, Analytics, Big Data, Internet of Things, Robotics, Information Services, Security, Finance, FinTech, Mobile Payments, Payments, Biotechnology, Genetics, Health Care
- Funding Stages: Early and Late
- Present in: US
- Notable Investments: Duolingo, Root Insurance, and Comply365
- Total Investments: 150+
Drive Capital was founded in 2013 by Mark Kvamme and Chris Olsen, both former partners at Sequoia Capital. The firm is based in Columbus, Ohio, and focuses on investing in startups across the Midwest, often referred to as the 'Driveway,' which stretches from the Hudson River to the Rocky Mountains.
Drive Capital typically invests in technology and information services startups. Their investment strategy revolves around early to growth-stage companies, primarily within the Midwest.
The investment range of Drive Capital ranges between $500,000 to $10M.
Heartland Ventures
- Website: Heartland Ventures - Silicon Valley startups expanding into the Heartland
- Focused Sectors: Tech, E-Commerce, Food and Beverage, Online Portals, Women Founded, CRM, EdTech, Lead Generation, Marketing, Software, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Insurance, InsurTech, SaaS, Artificial Intelligence, Collaboration, Consumer Software, Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Mobile, Business Intelligence, Financial Services, FinTech, Risk Management, Fitness, Health Care, Mobile Apps, Training, Wellness, Medical, Pharmaceutical
- Funding Stages: Early
- Present in: Ohio and Indiana
- Notable Investments: Third Wave Automation, Parkade, ProjectMark12, Mimir, SpidrTech7
- Total Investments: 30+
Funding startups since 2017, Heartland Ventures is a fresh VC firm that was founded by Max Brickman. Based in cities such as Columbus, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, the firm bridges the gap between traditional coastal tech hubs and industrial ecosystems through startups to potential corporate customers early in their growth stages.
The investors from Heartland Ventures focus on startups that are solving modern internet problems such as access control, data security, and accessibility.
The VC Firm mostly invests in early-stage companies, focusing on Seed and Series A rounds, with investments ranging from $500,000 to $2 million.
Wrap-Up:
Summing it up, Ohio is a hub for hundreds of venture capitalists who can help you secure funding for your startup.
However, the secret strategy towards securing that paycheck is by pitching to investors who can truly relate and understand your business idea. Here is how to do that:
- Focus on investors who specialize in your sector or target market.:
- Tailor your presentation to align with the investor’s portfolio and past successes.:
- Show traction and data that prove your startup’s growth potential.:
- Use connections, events, or warm introductions to reach out to the right VCs.: