Great Lakes AI Week is powered by
Enterprise Technology Association, JobsOhio, BGSU, University of Toledo, Actual Reality Technologies
and a coalition of community partners including Bowling Green State University and The University of Toledo.
A Special Thank You To ALl Of Our Sponsors and Partners!
Meet Our Headline Sponsors
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Enterprise Technology Association
FOUNDING ORGAINZATION
The Enterprise Technology Association (ETA) is building the go-to community for the people and companies driving innovation in enterprise tech. Through thought leadership, connection-driven events like AI Week, and an open platform for collaboration, ETA empowers decision-makers, founders, and advisors to stay ahead of the curve. As a Headline Partner of Columbus AI Week, ETA is on a mission to connect the dots between emerging technologies and the leaders shaping what’s next.
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JobsOhio
HEADLINE SPONSOR
JobsOhio is at the heart of Ohio’s transformation into a hub for advanced innovation and economic opportunity. As a private economic development corporation, JobsOhio fuels investment and job creation across the state, accelerating growth in key sectors like AI, tech, and advanced manufacturing. Their support of Columbus AI Week reflects their long-term vision to position Ohio as a national leader in the next generation of intelligent industries.
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Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University is a nationally recognized research institution at the heart of Northwest Ohio's industrial corridor. BGSU combines cutting-edge academic programs with deep regional partnerships, preparing students to lead in AI, data science, and enterprise technology. As the host institution for Great Lakes AI Week, BGSU is committed to positioning the Midwest as a hub for practical AI innovation—connecting research, industry, and the next generation of tech leaders who will drive manufacturing and enterprise transformation across the Great Lakes.
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The University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a research powerhouse in Northwest Ohio, producing the engineers, technologists, and business leaders shaping the future of AI in manufacturing and enterprise. UT bridges academia and industry, training the workforce that drives regional innovation.
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ACTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGIES
Actual Reality Technologies is a Toledo-based consulting and technology firm specializing in augmented intelligence, machine learning, and lean operational transformation. They help manufacturers and enterprises bridge the gap between AI theory and shop floor reality—deploying practical solutions that optimize processes, reduce waste, and accelerate decision-making. From app development to Lean Six Sigma implementation, Actual Reality Technologies brings AI out of the boardroom and onto the production line, where it drives measurable ROI in the industrial heartland.
Meet Our Presenting Sponsors
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Nexigen
As a leading force in cybersecurity and IT innovation, Nexigen is powering the future of digital infrastructure across the Midwest. With a commitment to proactive protection and cutting-edge managed services, Nexigen empowers businesses to grow securely in the AI era. Their role as a Columbus AI Week Headline Partner highlights their mission to help organizations harness emerging technologies while staying safe, scalable, and resilient in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
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Big Kitty Labs
Bold, experimental, and always future-focused, Big Kitty Labs is a digital innovation studio known for turning wild ideas into powerful, real-world products. With a passion for startups and enterprise transformation alike, they blend imagination with execution to prototype and scale game-changing digital solutions. As a Headline Partner of Columbus AI Week, Big Kitty Labs brings unmatched creative energy to the forefront of AI innovation and community growth.
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Tesla
Tesla's mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy, and AI is central to how it gets there. At Great Lakes AI Week, Tesla is offering Full Self-Driving (Supervised) test drives at both BGSU on Tuesday, Nov. 10 and the University of Toledo on Thursday, Nov. 12. Attendees can ride along as the vehicle handles real-world driving with a driver ready to take over, and see one of the most widely deployed applications of AI on the road today.
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EMPOWERED AI
EmpoweredAI is a Toledo-based nonprofit on a mission to 10x the region's tech ecosystem by making augmented intelligence accessible to everyone. They bridge the digital divide by training opportunity-challenged individuals for careers in AI and technology, proving that world-class tech talent doesn't just come from coastal hubs, it's built right here in Ohio. Through education, collaboration, and community-driven innovation, EmpoweredAI is turning Toledo into a breeding ground for the next generation of #SuperHuman technologists who will shape the future of AI in the Midwest.
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Hanson
Hanson Inc is an Ohio-based integrated marketing agency that blends strategy, creative, and technology to drive results for enterprise clients. With offices in Toledo and Columbus, Hanson partners with industry leaders in manufacturing, residential services, and advanced materials to build brands, strengthen lead generation, and craft campaigns that convert. They're not just agency vendors—they're allies who deliver high-impact work while being great to work with. From employer branding to digital marketing hubs, Hanson proves that world-class creative and performance marketing thrive in the Midwest.
Meet Our FEATURED Sponsors
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AXE AI
Dayton-based AXE.AI built an AI-powered platform that automates the heavy lifting of penetration testing, so security teams can finish high-quality tests in days instead of weeks. By pulling dozens of single-use tools into one easy-to-navigate dashboard, Axe frees cybersecurity engineers to focus on what matters most: defending critical systems.
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SkillSpout
SkillSpout is a Cleveland-based AI adoption company that helps organizations put AI to work through strategy, hands-on training, and workflow redesign, guided by its Human-First AI Maturity Model. As an eligible Ohio TechCred training provider that handles the application process end to end, SkillSpout makes responsible AI upskilling accessible to every employee, not just IT.
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THREE SEVEN MARKETING
Founded in Ann Arbor in 2005, Three Seven is a strategy-led B2B marketing agency for technology, manufacturing, and life sciences companies whose products require real explanation. The same senior strategists, designers, developers, and marketers stay on each account from day one, translating what technical teams know into marketing that expert buyers respond to.
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Overlook AI
Overlook AI is a business-led AI management platform that shows leaders which operating AI systems are ready for impact, which need guidance, and what to do next. By organizing AI around business purpose and tying it to validation, verification, and measurement, Overlook helps organizations across cities, healthcare, utilities, and logistics scale what works.
“Arguably the best conference Series we’ve ever been to for Business Development and Forming Real Business Connections”
-Brett Ewing, Co-Founder & CEO of Axe.AI, National Sponsor of AI Week
