Cincinnati’s burgeoning technology sector has attracted a record $500 million in venture capital investment during the first quarter of 2026, cementing the Queen City’s position as one of the Midwest’s premier tech hubs.

The Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce released the figures Wednesday, highlighting growth across artificial intelligence, biotech, and fintech startups headquartered in the Over-the-Rhine and Banks districts. Leading the funding round was CincyAI, a machine learning startup that secured $85 million in Series B funding from Silicon Valley investors.

“We’re proving that world-class innovation doesn’t just happen on the coasts,” said Chamber President Brendan Cull. The tech sector now employs over 45,000 workers in the greater Cincinnati area, up 22% from 2023.