2025 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees
Presented By: Nationwide Children's Hospital
Ryan Helon
Executive Vice President, Investment Funds
Rev1 Ventures
Ryan's 13-year tenure leading the investment team at Rev1 has driven more than $100 million invested across 149 startups, with participation in over 280 rounds. Known for his partnership-driven approach, Ryan connects founders, co-investors, LPs, corporate partners, and community stakeholders to fuel regional growth. His leadership has produced notable recent investments, including Rev1 leading Power to Hydrogen’s $18 million Series A round and catalyzing Healthplan Data Solutions $15 million growth equity round where he made the connection to the investor that led the round. With a strong desire and steadfast effort to help his portfolio companies succeed, Ryan has built a legacy of impact that mirrors the Columbus Hall of Fame’s highest ideals.
Josh Lau
CEO
Nymbl Systems
The Columbus-based provider of cloud practice management software for Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P), Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT), and Home Medical Equipment (HME) providers recently secured a strategic investment from Frontier Growth. The partnership, valued at more than $15 million, will fuel product innovation and expand Nymbl’s ability to support healthcare providers nationwide. Since relocating to Columbus just two years ago with 30 employees and seed backing from Tamarind Hill, Nymbl has scaled to more than 75 team members and is now positioned for accelerated national growth.
Jamie McKee
Former CEO
StormImpact
Urbint, an AI resiliency platform, recently acquired StormImpact, an Ohio State University spinout that uses machine learning models and data analytics to predict weather-related damages and power outages for electric utilities. StormImpact’s technology is already used in more than 15 states by major utilities, including Southern Company, American Electric Power, FirstEnergy, and Oklahoma Gas & Electric, addressing weather-related disruptions that cost the U.S. grid an estimated $70 billion annually. This acquisition expands Urbint’s AI and Machine Learning capabilities, following its purchases of Competers and WRM Software and a $35 million strategic investment led by S2G Investments.
Andrew Panos
Founder
Equiti
GTCR announced the $180 million transaction in November 2023 and completed it in March 2024, with Cloudbreak now operating as an independent entity under GTCR’s ownership. The deal positions Cloudbreak to accelerate growth, enhance its tech-enabled telehealth services, and expand equitable healthcare access for limited English proficiency and deaf and hard-of-hearing populations. With deep expertise in healthcare technology and corporate carve-outs, GTCR is advancing Cloudbreak’s mission and strengthening its market leadership.
Ole Rosgaard
President & CEO
Greif, Inc.
Approaching its 150th anniversary in 2027, Greif is a global leader in high-performance packaging. Since 2022, under Ole Rosgaard’s leadership, the company has sharpened its portfolio toward growth markets such as Food and Beverage, Flavors and Fragrances, Agriculture, and Pharma. Greif has completed five acquisitions totaling more than $1.1 billion in customized polymer solutions, while also completing the $1.8 billion sale of its containerboard business and announcing the $462 million sale of its timberlands. Together, these transactions will generate over $2.2 billion in proceeds, fueling future growth.
Kyle Shen
President & CEO
Nexceris
The Lewis Center–based clean energy innovator recently completed the sale of its Li-ion Tamer® off-gas monitoring solution to Honeywell, where it will join Honeywell’s Building Automation portfolio to enhance global fire and life safety. Li-ion Tamer®, developed after a catastrophic Navy shipyard battery fire, has delivered more than 400 million hours of sensing worldwide with zero fires. The transaction allows Nexceris to focus on its core business of providing tailored electrochemical and catalyst solutions that help startups get from lab to launch.
Dan Snyder
Founder & CEO
Lower.com
In a major strategic move, Columbus-based Lower acquired Movoto.com, one of the most visited U.S. real estate search portals with more than 150 million site visits in 2024. The acquisition gives Lower a powerful direct-to-consumer discovery platform to complement its mortgage, refinancing, insurance, and banking services. With 1,200 employees across Columbus and Austin, Lower is the largest venture backed home lender in the country. This move strengths its position as a national homeownership brand, advancing its mission to simplify the homebuying journey from search to financing to ownership.
Social Impact
Tony Wells
President
The Wells Foundation
A trailblazer in social impact investing and social enterprise, Tony has launched technology-based ventures, an executive education program for nonprofit leaders, and an impact investing portfolio that has fueled collaborative community initiatives. His leadership has helped generate more than $250 million in donations for over 220 charities, while advancing innovative solutions such as NeighborRelief during the pandemic. A national advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Tony exemplifies servant leadership, collaboration, and social innovation that strengthens communities and drives meaningful change.