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COhatch and City of Dublin to Host Fourth Annual Dublin Pitch Competition to Find Ohio’s Next Breakthrough Startup
Startups to present their ideas in Shark-Tank style competition while competing for investor attention and more than $25,000 in cash and prizes
DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — COhatch, the economic developer of historical properties and coworking company, and the City of Dublin are hosting the fourth annual Dublin Pitch competition on October 15 at COhatch Dublin. Created to connect promising entrepreneurs with capital, visibility and strategic business relationships, the fast-paced Shark-Tank style event invites entrepreneurs from across Ohio to pitch their innovations while vying for funding opportunities, investor interest and more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.
“The Dublin Pitch event started as a small—but mighty—way to put support behind entrepreneurs that are working within our COhatch communities,” said Ryan Fogelman, co-founder of COhatch. “When you look at what our first three winners have accomplished—more than $30 million raised, FDA clearances, major research funding and national innovation recognition—it shows what can happen when Ohio entrepreneurs receive the right resources and build relationships at the right time. These companies are not simply building products. They are strengthening the healthcare, safety and innovation infrastructure our society will depend on in the future.”
Entrepreneurs are invited to submit a three-minute video pitch of their business or idea by October 1 that will be judged on viability, scalability and concept impact. The four-judge panel, consisting of former Dublin pitch winners and investor and entrepreneur Rich Wartel, will review all submissions and select three finalists to pitch live at COhatch Dublin at 6:30 p.m. on October 15. Finalists will be given five to seven minutes for their final pitch and to answer questions.
“Dublin’s economic strength is rooted in our willingness to invest in innovation, connectivity and collaboration,” said Jeremiah Gracia, director of economic development for the City of Dublin. “The Dublin Pitch brings those priorities together by giving emerging companies access to the people, resources and visibility they need to grow. Supporting these entrepreneurs strengthens Dublin’s business ecosystem while helping create technologies, new companies and more jobs that benefit communities throughout Ohio.”
This year’s judges feature prior winners, who have collectively raised more than $30 million since the event started in 2023, and include:
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Teri Sirset, MS, and DASI Simulations, based in the City of Dublin, are transforming structural heart care with AI and 3D modeling. The company has secured FDA clearances, established commercial agreements with leading heart centers and raised more than $12 million.
Aaron Crookes and Apricity Robotics are developing an AI-powered robotic ultrasound platform. Since winning Dublin Pitch, Apricity has raised more than $10 million and received a $1 million NSF Phase II award. Apricity Robotics is in the City of Dublin.
Geoff Bruder and Cleveland-based Sonic Fire Tech are pioneering technology that uses sound waves to suppress fires without water or chemicals. The company was named a CES 2026 Innovation Awards honoree and has now raised $15 million in seed financing—one of the largest seed financings in Ohio’s history.
