Latest Initiatives
The Center for Software Innovation
Envisioned and made possible by Ratmir and the Timashev Family Foundation, the Center for Software Innovation at The Ohio State University is helping spark a new tech ecosystem at the university, in Columbus, and across the Midwest region and the world.
Inspired by his own career and the tech companies he built in Central Ohio, the Center is empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through an interdisciplinary academic program, startup accelerator, industry opportunities, and more. With plans to be located in a new building in the Carmenton innovation district, it will engage partners and attract global corporations to take advantage of Columbus’ vibrant economy, community, and collaborations with The Ohio State University.
Techstars Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University
Working in partnership with The Ohio State University and Center for Software Innovation, Techstars Columbus unlocks new opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs from across the globe to engage in the city’s growing startup ecosystem and to lead future high-growth, innovative software solutions. This new program represents one of the core offerings of the Center for Software Innovation, made possible by the historic $110 million gift from the Timashev Family Foundation to Ohio State in 2023. In the partnership’s first year, the inaugural cohort of Techstars Columbus includes 12 global startups.
Startup Midwest
Hundreds of students, innovators, investors, and partners joined Ohio State for its inaugural summit in October 2023 to celebrate and showcase entrepreneurship across Ohio. Speaking during the conference’s keynote alongside Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach and OSU acting president Dr. Peter Mohler, Ratmir shared with attendees: “This is in our DNA. In Columbus, we are gritty. We know how to get the job done,” he said. “We are accelerating the move Columbus has been making in becoming a global tech hub. It’s been already happening. We are just accelerating.”
Entrepreneurship and Start-Ups
Object First produces hardware products that complement and bolster Veeam software solutions. The first object storage backup storage appliance purpose-built for Veeam, Object First helps midsize enterprise organizations ransomware-proof their backups by delivering effortless out-of-the-box immutability. Ratmir co-founded Object First alongside his longtime business partner Andrei Baronov, who also co-founded and led Veeam with Ratmir.