Ratmir Timashev, Oh.io Face 3 Ex-Executives' Lawsuits Over Alleged Broken 10% Carry Promise
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 11
Ratmir Timashev, Oh.io Face 3 Ex-Executives' Lawsuits Over Alleged Broken 10% Carry Promise
1 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 11
Summary
Three former Oh.io leaders — ex-CEO Jeff Schumann and executives Kevin Colón and Seth Metcalf — sued in Ohio after alleging they were fired in April for questioning promises tied to the venture.
Their complaint says Ratmir Timashev abandoned a plan to bring outside startups to Columbus, shifted focus to companies he already backed, and reneged on a promised 10% carry interest in the fund.
Oh.io said the allegations are meritless and that it expects to be vindicated; Timashev and the firm have also filed a federal suit against the three, who responded with a separate defamation case.
The legal fight lands as Timashev pushes a $100 million, five-year effort launched in February to bring 100 AI startups to Columbus by funding sales and marketing teams for 18 to 24 months.
So far Oh.io has signed 8 startups, but the dispute clouds Timashev's broader bid to turn Columbus — ranked 29th in a 2025 Brookings AI metro study — into an AI hub.
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OH.io’s $100 Million Tech Lawsuit: Executives, Fraud Claims, and the Future of Columbus AI
Overview
The OH.io lawsuit, active as of June 14, 2026, is a major legal dispute involving OH.io Ventures Inc. and its former executives, arising from firings within the company. This ongoing litigation has significantly disrupted the venture, damaging its efforts to attract startups to Columbus and affecting its public image. Central to the case are allegations of fraud against a prominent university alum and donor, adding to the controversy. Despite these challenges, former leader Jeff Schumann has publicly highlighted his positive contributions during his tenure, aiming to provide context for the management decisions at the heart of the dispute.