The enterprise platform streamlines the behind-the-scenes operations of small to mid-size businesses through intentional processes, resources, and tools
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., September, 2026 — 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 The Ohio State University. Scalable AI joins the program’s Fall 2026 cohort, placing it among a group of 9 startups selected from thousands of applicants worldwide.
Launched in 2023 through a partnership with The Ohio State University, Techstars Columbus combines the university’s research and entrepreneurial resources with Techstars’ global accelerator model, supporting 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 manufacturers shouldn’t have to think about, from quoting to 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.
Scalable AI’s momentum heading into Techstars is anchored by its pilot program through Q1 and official launch on May 7th, which now includes:
9 Shops Enrolled
30+ Active Weekly Users
8.8 Hours Saved Per User Per Week
81% Reduction in Accounts Payable Time Spent
90% Reduction in Sales Data Entry
“The three months ahead are about sharpening our focus and building the relationships that turn a strong product into a category leader. 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,” said Gabe Siska, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder of Scalable AI.
Globally, Techstars has backed 4,900+ graduate companies since 2006, a portfolio valued today at more than $120 billion that includes companies like Chainalysis, Zipline, DataRobot, SendGrid, and DigitalOcean. In 2026, Techstars was named the No. 1 accelerator in the country on TIME and Statista’s inaugural list of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators.
During Grand Rapids Tech Week, Scalable AI co-hosted their event “Smarter Manufacturing Starts Here,” where West Michigan operators shared the real story of bringing AI into their businesses: where they started, what surprised them, and what it took to get meaningful results, while also showing how executive AI coaching with tools like Claude fits into day-to-day leadership. Building on these conversations, Scalable AI brings the insights from Tech Week into its partnership with Techstars as they continue to scale.
About Scalable AI
Scalable AI is an enterprise platform that helps teams build, deploy, and manage AI agents in production without a machine-learning team of their own. Founded in 2025 by Josh Ross, the company is on a mission to make advanced AI infrastructure accessible to any organization, not just the largest tech firms. Learn more at https://www.getscalable.ai
