OH.io Appointed Kevin Pohmer as Chief Business Officer
The Columbus firm added new leadership as it seeks to scale its model for accelerating startup revenue growth.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Startups
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OH.io has appointed Kevin Pohmer, the former president of Hexure, as its new chief business officer. The startup accelerator currently employs 35 staff and operates out of Upper Arlington.
Why it matters
The hire comes as the Columbus-based firm moves to execute its goal of investing $100 million in 100 startups over five years. OH.io aims to solve go-to-market challenges by providing startups with internal sales and marketing expertise.
OH.io targets tech firms with revenue between $1 million and $2 million, aiming to triple those figures within 18 months. The firm currently retains 100 percent of new revenue generated during the engagement period.
The players
Kevin Pohmer
The new chief business officer of OH.io and former president of Hexure.
Ratmir Timashev
The founder of OH.io who also donated $110 million to the Center for Software Innovation.
OH.io
A Columbus-based accelerator that provides sales and marketing services to startups.
The details
OH.io functions as an operational partner rather than a traditional venture capital fund, embedding its 35 employees directly into portfolio startups to serve as their primary sales and marketing arm. By taking over these functions, the firm seeks to eliminate common go-to-market friction for early-stage companies. The organization has partnered with four firms to date, with Testkube being the first to complete the program.
Timeline
February 2026: Ratmir Timashev launched the firm in Columbus.
Spring 2026: Three former executives filed a lawsuit regarding their termination.
October 6, 2026: The appointment of Kevin Pohmer was announced.
Fall 2026: Groundbreaking for the Center for Software Innovation.
End of 2026: The staff count is projected to reach 50 employees.
The Tech Race
OH.io is positioning itself within the Columbus tech ecosystem by anchoring its operations near the upcoming Center for Software Innovation. This move aligns with the firm's broader target of working with 20 to 25 companies over the next three years as part of its $100 million investment commitment.
Local startups seeking accelerated growth can now engage with the firm's expanded leadership team to deploy its sales-as-a-service model. The firm's ability to hit its staffing goal of 50 employees by the end of 2026 will determine its capacity to onboard new partner companies.
The takeaway
OH.io is attempting to scale a hands-on operational model that requires significant internal headcount to manage multiple startups simultaneously. Investors and observers should monitor whether the firm reaches its 50-person staff target by the end of 2026 to gauge its operational capacity for growth.
Further reading
For more on the local venture landscape, visit Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
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