Lay of The Land #224: The O.H.I.O. Fund — Origins and Ambitions
On this special episode of Lay of the Land, I’m joined—for the first time—by the two co-founders of The O.H.I.O. Fund, Mark Kvamme and Ray Leach, as well as the fund’s two founding partners, Jill Meyer and Mike Venerable, to share the inside story of how a bold idea became reality.
We explore the inspiration and origins behind a first-of-its-kind strategy designed to generate returns while accelerating prosperity and shaping Ohio’s future. We discuss how, in our first year, we closed on over $230 million in capital from investors and deployed more than $130 million into 19 sector-diverse investments across Ohio’s economy. We also cover what it has taken to build momentum, forge the most powerful network of investors, founders, and operators across the state, and why Ohio’s moment is now—along with the urgency this opportunity demands.
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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out www.theohiofund.com
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00:00:00 - The Birth of the Ohio Fund
00:04:08 - Ohio's Economic Landscape and Historical Context
00:07:06 - The Vision Behind the Ohio Fund
00:09:59 - Building a Collaborative Network
00:13:11 - The Urgency of Now: Why Timing Matters
00:15:53 - Capitalizing on Opportunities in Ohio
00:19:17 - The Role of AI and Innovation
00:22:05 - Success Stories and Impact Investments
00:25:08 - Creating a Unified Ohio
00:27:50 - The Future of the Ohio Fund
00:30:55 - Personal Motivations and Collective Ambition
00:35:10 - Reflecting on Progress and Future Aspirations
00:40:16 - Surprises and Insights from the Ohio Fund's First Year
00:51:07 - Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Growth in Ohio
00:55:06 - Embracing Change and Building a New Future
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SPONSOR:
Roundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.
Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.
Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.
Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.
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Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.
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