Cashierless tech in convenience stores | Ohio companies’ funding rounds

Cashierless retail in convenience stores

RALEIGH, NC—AI is having a big moment in retail. North Carolina companies Vontier and Gilbarco Veeder-Root partnered to develop a cashierless retail concept called Nomad and deployed it in a convenience store. At Nomad stores, consumers can tap, insert, or swipe their debit or credit card or use a mobile wallet like Apple Pay for store access. Once authorized, they are granted entry with a “Thank you” and a large green LED indicator. Inside, a fusion of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computer vision and advanced shelf sensors monitor product choices, building a digital basket in real-time.

Accessing your pet’s medical records

NASHVILLE, TN—Tech startup VetVerifi offers an answer to a veterinarian pain point: securing and controlling patient records. The company, which has been selected as one of five finalists for this year’s Startup Pitch Competition hosted by InvestTN, offers secure access to records, such as vaccinations, tests, labs, treatments and more. Last month, the company announced a strategic investment and partnership with Bitwerx, Inc., a software company focused on providing data-driven health benefitting the veterinary market, practice and veterinary healthcare teams

$7.5 million grant to fund tech center

COLUMBUS, OH–Columbus State Community College is launching a new center focused on creating and scaling up the high-demand training needed to fuel the country’s tech-enabled economic growth. Funded by a $7.5 million grant, the National Information Technology Innovation Center (NITIC) will work with employers, community colleges across the country and others to prepare highly skilled technicians through credential programs that take two years or less.

Electric motorbike company surpasses fundraising goal

CLEVELAND, OH—While raising capital has proven to be a little tougher lately, one company has surpassed their fundraising goal by $1 million. LAND, a Cleveland-based electric motorcycle maker and battery technology company, recently wrapped up a successful Series A financing round of $7 million. With the funding, the company upgraded its 30,000-square-foot production facility to include a state-of-the-art assembly line and an expanded design and development center.