Former Sequoia partner Mark Kvamme left Silicon Valley in 2011 and helped turn Columbus into a magnet for tech and advanced manufacturing. Venture-backed firms such as Autonomous Production and Meta’s AI lab have set up near the city, while Intel is building a $28 billion chip fab. The influx mirrors the Bay Area boom of a decade ago.

Brookings data shows manufacturing jobs in central Ohio grew 4.4% between 2021 and 2024, lifting the metro area to 46th nationally. Federal subsidies from the CHIPS and Science Act and state incentives through JobsOhio have accelerated projects, including a $1 billion Anduril drone factory and a $370 million raise by Path Robotics, which now employs 175 people.

The rapid expansion has spurred ancillary growth: a $2 billion airport terminal, modular housing from Connect Housing Blocks, and a vibrant restaurant scene. Critics argue public subsidies risk under‑employment as automation rises, but the tangible job surge and infrastructure upgrades underscore Columbus’s new role as a Midwest tech hub.