AI business selected for Ohio State accelerator program
Gabe Siska | Photo courtesy of Scalable AI
Scalable AI, the company automating back-office operations for small and mid-sized manufacturers, joins Techstars Columbus, one of the most competitive startup accelerators in the world, powered by Ohio State University. The Grand Rapids-based business joins the program's fall 2026 cohort, placing it among nine startups selected from thousands of applicants worldwide.
Launched in 2023 through a partnership with Ohio State University, Techstars Columbus combines the university’s research and entrepreneurial resources with Techstars’ global accelerator model to support founders in AI, software, and deep tech. The program has backed 42 companies and invested nearly $9.2 million locally. Accepted companies receive a $220,000 investment and participate in a three-month, mentorship-driven program, with Scalable AI also connecting with mentors and advisors in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston.
"I started Scalable AI as a student at Grand Valley State University because I'd seen up close how much time manufacturers lose in the back office, time that eats directly into margins that are already razor-thin,” said Josh Ross, CEO and Co-Founder of Scalable AI. “I grew up around this industry and watched family members work incredibly hard, only to have inefficiency chip away at what they earned. Getting into Techstars tells us the problem resonates far beyond West Michigan, and now we have the mentors, capital, and network to solve it at the scale we always imagined."
Ross’ idea took shape while he was job shadowing a mentor and saw firsthand how much of a manufacturer's day disappears into manual back-office work: quoting, order entry, paperwork, and the endless handoffs in between. Through job shadowing and insights from family members working with Ford and Volkswagen, Ross saw firsthand the inefficiencies in back-office operations. What began as a project during his undergraduate degree has grown into a team of 8 sprinting at this problem. Today, Scalable AI automates the back-office work, from quoting and order entry to the paperwork in between. It serves small and mid-sized manufacturers, cutting down administrative expenses and maximizing efficiencies, and sets itself apart by building around how these shops actually run rather than forcing them into off-the-shelf software.
“The three months ahead are about sharpening our focus and building the relationships that turn a strong product into a category leader,” said Gabe Siska, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder of Scalable AI. “Every manufacturer we talk to has the same back-office bottlenecks, which tells us the market is far bigger than any one shop or region. Being embedded in the Ohio State and Techstars networks gives us the reach to move on that opportunity fast.”
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