Amify: How It Found its Sweet Spot from DC to Ohio

When Chris Mehrabi and his team started shifting Amify's operations from Northern Virginia to Cincinnati, they weren't following a trendy tech migration - they were following talent. "Cincinnati was just a perfect fit for what we needed," Mehrabi explains. "You've got people coming out of Procter & Gamble, Kroger, and other major companies who really understand e-commerce and operations. Plus, the cost of doing business actually made sense."

What started as a small Cincinnati presence quickly became the heart of their operation. The company discovered that they could find equal or better talent for a fraction of DC's costs. "By the time we sold the company, we had moved almost everything to Ohio," Mehrabi notes. "We went from having a few people in Cincinnati to basically just me and one other person left in DC."

JobsOhio Growth Capital Fund played a key role in this transformation. "They get that building an e-commerce company isn't just about software," says Mehrabi. "They helped us think through everything from where to put our fulfillment center to how to build our team. Most VCs understand the tech side, but JobsOhio understood the whole picture."

That comprehensive support proved especially valuable during Amify's acquisition by Cart.com. "They were real partners through the whole process," Mehrabi recalls. "They weren't just asking about closing the deal - they were making sure we had what we needed to keep growing the business through the transition."

Even after the acquisition, the relationship continues to deliver value. As Cart.com approaches its final investment round before going public, Mehrabi still regularly connects with the JobsOhio team on strategic initiatives. "That's the thing about JobsOhio - they're in it for the long haul. They care about building lasting companies, not just quick exits."

For Mehrabi, the experience has been so positive that he plans to maintain Ohio operations in his future ventures. "The state has everything you need to build a serious company - talent, infrastructure, supportive partners. Why wouldn't you want to be here?"

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JobsOhio Growth Capital Fund provides Series A and beyond investments to high-growth companies. As a subsidiary of JobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, the fund offers not just capital but unmatched access and support to help transformative startups thrive. Founders and investors, discover how this evergreen co-investment fund can position your business for success.

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