{"url":"https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2026/04/17/ohio-ventures-timashev-schumann-lawsuit.html","title":"Fired OH.io execs sue Timashev over AI venture.","domain":"bizjournals.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/19867470/pexels-photo-19867470.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"Columbus AI startup executives","category":"Business","language":"en","slug":"cea8290c","id":"cea8290c-a514-4d26-9115-3f1db3b976e9","description":"Fired executives from OH.io Ventures, including CEO Jeff Schumann, sued billionaire co-founder Ratmir Timashev.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Fired executives from **OH.io Ventures**, including CEO **Jeff Schumann**, sued billionaire co-founder **Ratmir Timashev**.\n- **Three top executives** - CEO and two others - were terminated then filed the lawsuit over the AI venture.\n- Signals early trouble in the **$100M Columbus AI startup push**, raising questions on leadership stability.\n\n## The story at a glance\n**OH.io Ventures'** CEO **Jeff Schumann** and two top executives were fired by billionaire co-founder **Ratmir Timashev**, then sued him over their AI startup initiative in Columbus. The article reports this recent split in the firm launched just months ago to attract AI companies. It comes amid hype around Timashev's local investments.[[1]](https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2026/04/17/ohio-ventures-timashev-schumann-lawsuit.html)\n\n## Key points\n- **OH.io Ventures** aimed to bring **100 AI startups** to Columbus with **$100M** from Timashev, using a \"performance venture\" model focused on sales support instead of equity.[[2]](https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2026/02/12/ohio-ventures-ratmir-timashev-columbus-ai-startups.html)\n- **Jeff Schumann**, co-founder and CEO, previously built cybersecurity firm **Aware**; he and two other executives were fired recently.\n- Lawsuit filed after firings, targeting Timashev; full details like claims or amounts not public due to paywall.[[1]](https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2026/04/17/ohio-ventures-timashev-schumann-lawsuit.html)\n- Timashev, **Veeam Software** co-founder and **Ohio State** alum, donated **$110M** to the university and picked Columbus for this venture.\n- Venture promised office space, sales teams, taking **50% of revenue growth** to align incentives.\n\n## Details and context\n**OH.io Ventures** launched publicly in February 2026 as Timashev's hands-on bet on Columbus for AI scaling, contrasting traditional VC by emphasizing sales help for global B2B software firms. Schumann was key operator, with experience proving revenue growth in Ohio.\n\nThe firings and suit mark a quick fallout, about two months after launch coverage; no responses from parties visible in previews or secondary reports.\n\nTimashev's track record includes growing Veeam to **$5B** sale; this was his push to make Columbus a \"startup magnet\" amid regional tech ambitions.\n\n## Key quotes\nNone reliably sourced from full article due to paywall.\n\n## Why it matters\nInternal strife at **OH.io Ventures** threatens a high-profile **$100M** AI ecosystem build in Columbus, potentially slowing startup recruitment. Investors and local boosters may rethink commitments to performance-based models amid leadership fights. Watch court filings or Timashev statements for claims details and venture future.","hashtags":["#ai","#startups","#columbus","#venture","#capital","#lawsuit"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2026/04/17/ohio-ventures-timashev-schumann-lawsuit.html","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2026/02/12/ohio-ventures-ratmir-timashev-columbus-ai-startups.html","title":""}],"viewCount":6,"publishedAt":"2026-04-18T00:04:26.290Z","createdAt":"2026-04-18T00:04:26.290Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-17T00:00:00.000Z"}