Cleveland is one of several Rust Belt cities enjoying an economic and cultural renaissance, thanks in no small part to the tech industry. The city may have lost many of the manufacturing jobs that initially sparked its growth, but Cleveland’s growing startup atmosphere is beginning to fill the holes in the local economy. Ruled primarily by healthcare, biotech and finance, Cleveland’s economic landscape includes entrepreneurial talent in every sector from retail to aerospace. The country's tech professionals are beginning to turn their attention to smaller metros as the environment in bigger tech hubs becomes more and more crowded, and Cleveland’s low cost of living, exciting business opportunities and unique cultural scene have turned it into a desirable home base for many aspiring founders.
If you still aren’t sold on Cleveland's merits, take a look at the city’s 27 most promising companies proving Cleveland is a success story worth bragging about.
Top Companies in Cleveland
- Sherwin-Williams
- Parker Hannifin
- Ferro Corporation
- KeyCorp
- TransDigm
- Park Place Technologies
- S&P Data
- Preformed Line Products
- ServiceNow
- Morgan Stanley
Founded: 1991
Focus: Digital Media, E-commerce
What they do: Envisioning a Third Way to Shop®, Qurate Retail Group walks the line between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar environments. The organization harnesses social media and television networks to infuse shopping with storytelling and human interaction. As a result, customers can savor every moment of the buying experience while investing in products and brands they love.
Number of employees: 10,000+
Founded: 1990
Focus: Analytics, HR Tech
What they do: People remain the core of every business, so Paycor has developed a platform that enables companies to maximize their most valuable resources. Paycor’s platform eliminates HR paperwork, allows employees to update profiles on a mobile app, and compiles metrics to determine how current employees can improve their performance. By saving HR time and nurturing talent, Paycor creates a work culture where people can grow and thrive as professionals.
Number of employees: 2,000+
Founded: 1882
Focus: Coatings and Specialty Materials
What they do: When it comes to mastering a polished look and feel, organizations rely on the solutions of PPG. As a global supplier of paints and specialty materials, PPG boasts 47,000 employees across 70 countries. This vast workforce enables PPG to reach an even wider audience with its paints, coatings, chemicals, glass, and other materials. From family homes to wind turbines, countless structures put on a more powerful visual display with the additions of PPG.
Number of employees: 24,000+
Founded: 1985
Focus: Financial Services
What they do: Buying or refinancing a home is a major life moment, so Quicken Loans aims to construct a seamless transition for each customer. With flexible refinance payments and home loans, people can secure their ideal space at an affordable rate. Quicken Loans also features online financial calculators, so customers can make informed decisions and plan the next stages of their lives.
Number of employees: 14,000+
Founded: 1997
Focus: Equipment Rental Services
What they do: United Rentals provides the right equipment for the job whenever immediate needs arise at the worksite. From forklifts to portable bathrooms, the company offers a broad range of products available for rent. Customers can also access equipment services online through a mobile app. This way, teams can acquire the necessary tools to stay on schedule with the resources of United Rentals.
Number of employees: 11,000+
Founded: 1870
Focus: Automotive
What they do: A life in motion should still nourish comfort, and Continental takes this belief to heart. Drivers feel at home while traveling with Continental’s products, which include an augmented reality head-up display and intelligent tires. To make every trip more sustainable, Continental is also creating emission-free vehicles that make longer road trips a breath of fresh air.
Number of employees: 70,000+
Founded: 1942
Focus: Consulting, Fintech
What they do: With a keen eye for opportunity, Crowe professionals are helping businesses find ways to improve their operations. From conducting thorough audits to navigating tax laws, Crowe removes uncertainty and instills leaders with the confidence to embrace fresh strategies. Healthcare, banking, and manufacturing are just a few industries that have felt the lasting impact of Crowe’s guidance.
Number of employees: 6,000+
Founded: 1939
Focus: Insurance
What they do: It’s no accident National General Insurance has become one of the largest automobile insurers in the United States. The company backs up its comprehensive coverages with reliable customer care support. In addition, customers can also purchase policies for their properties, motorcycles, and personal health. People can access the National General Insurance website to complete an online quote, ask questions through a chat feature, and more.
Number of employees: 5,000+
Founded: 1921
Focus: Biotech, Healthtech
What they do: Over the past century, the Cleveland Clinic has become an innovative force within the medical field. Eight regional hospitals, 16 family health centers, and a children’s hospital for rehabilitation are now part of this medical network. To adapt its solutions to the next era of care, the Cleveland Clinic provides virtual visits through the MyClevelandClinic® app and scheduling through the MyChart platform.
Number of employees: 35,000+
Founded: 1866
Focus: Fintech
What they do: Not everyone understands the ins and outs of finance, so The Huntington National Bank supports customers throughout their financial journeys. With a collection of digital banking features, people can track where they spend their money, set spending goals, and better manage their finances. All these perks come with Huntington Checking accounts, allowing customers to stress less about budgeting and spend more time focusing on what matters most.
Number of employees: 13,000+
Founded: 1917
Focus: Greentech, Real Estate
What they do: Rather than impose structures onto environments, HDR integrates its designs with their surroundings to create a seamless experience. As a world-leading design firm, HDR gives careful thought to budgeting, engineering, community impact, and sustainability. Demonstrating a commitment to the entire process ensures that every HDR product enhances people’s daily lives and enriches local landscapes.
Number of employees: 11,000+
Founded: 1903
Focus: Hardware, Software
What they do: Rockwell Automation is giving people the tools to transform ideas into realities with a range of services. Remote access routers, laser scanners, and smart sensors all contribute to a safer and more efficient factory environment. Meanwhile, system design software supports creatives’ visions with 3D technology. From factory workers to architects, professionals are taking control of the creation process with the products of Rockwell Automation.
Number of employees: 22,000
Founded: 1911
Focus: Energy
What they do: To realize a more interconnected and sustainable society, Eaton is introducing a suite of power management solutions. Combining design, data, and cybersecurity, Eaton enables companies to create faster connections without having to worry about breaches. Because of its uninterrupted power supply services, Eaton now supports over 175 countries in their efforts to harness power responsibly.
Number of employees: 51,000+
Founded: 1935
Focus: Financial Services, Fintech
What they do: From governments to individuals, numerous investors place their finances and their trust in the hands of Morgan Stanley. With over 85 years of experience, the firm has developed a customer-first approach that drives every decision. Whether clients are looking to manage their wealth or venture into new markets, Morgan Stanley delivers detailed insights and research to ensure consistent performance for investors.
Number of employees: 87,000+
Founded: 2004
Focus: Cloud, IT
What they do: Because people expect complex products to remain intuitive, ServiceNow has developed a platform that streamlines cutting-edge communications. The Now Platform combines AI, analytics, and cloud technology to enable low-code app creation, mobile onboarding experiences, and customer self-service. As a result, both employees and customers can enjoy smoother interactions with ServiceNow’s products.
Number of employees: 15,000
Founded: 1917
Focus: Manufacturing
What they do: Parker Hannifin develops a variety of motion control technology products for clients in energy, manufacturing, aerospace and other industries. With over a century of engineering experience under its belt, the company designs and builds products like purifiers, medical equipment, gas generators, motor controllers, refrigeration technologies and more.
Number of Employees: 22,000+
Founded: 1919
Focus: Materials Manufacturing
What they do: Ferro Corporation is a materials and chemicals manufacturing company that develops plastics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, performance materials and other products for companies in the industrial sector. Founded primarily to develop porcelain enamel coatings, the company has since expanded to offer a broad range of precision materials to companies in appliance manufacturing, automotive, construction and other industries.
Number of Employees: 18,000+
Founded: 1866
Focus: Retail, Chemicals
What they do: Sherwin-Williams is a retail company that manufactures and distributes paint and painting supplies to individuals and organizations around the globe. Offering everything from house paint to industrial coatings, Sherwin-Williams supports a broad range of customers from individual shoppers to corporations in their painting and color projects.
Number of Employees: 35,000+
Founded: 1924
Focus: Finance
What they do: KeyCorp is a banking company that provides standard personal and business accounting services to clients across the United States. From personal savings accounts to corporate investment banking services, KeyCorp offers financial tools to each of its clients tailored to their particular needs and goals.
Number of Employees: 10,000+
Founded: 1924
Focus: Manufacturing
What they do: TransDigm's team serves the aerospace industry by designing, developing and distributing highly-tuned components for use in air travel technology. Partnering with both commercial and defense aircraft organizations, TransDigm designs and manufactures valves, lighting systems, electronic motors, audio systems, connectors and other devices.
Number of Employees: 10,000+
Founded: 1991
Focus: IT
What they do: Park Place Technologies works with companies of all shapes and sizes to help them adopt IT technologies and integrate them into their pre-existing infrastructures in order to optimize their operations. From cloud asset discovery to data center hardware installation and maintenance, Park Place Technologies provides its corporate clients with holistic IT solutions that elevate performance across their whole enterprise.
Number of Employees: 1,000+
Founded: 2006
Focus: IT, Communications
What they do: S&P Data specializes mainly in call center and contact center technologies, providing companies across North America with options for outsourcing their customer support services and expanding their communications networks. Working with enterprises like McDonalds and Comcast, S&P Data connects its customers with omnichannel outreach tools and helps them take advantage of every possible avenue for accruing revenue.
Number of Employees: 1,000+
Founded: 1947
Focus: Manufacturing
What they do: Preformed Line Products teams up with clients in the communications and energy sectors to design and build technical products to help them do their jobs. The company offers manufacturing services built to meet each clients particular requirements, and its product suite includes items like fiber optic closures, motion control tech, cable storage and other hardware.
Number of Employees: 1,000+
Founded: 1921
Focus: Retail, Electronics
What they do: Vitamix is a kitchen supplies retailer that sells its own patented food blenders for both personal use and for use by commercial food service clients. Vitamix's goal is to help make cooking easier and faster, and its wide range of blenders and related appliances offer customers the option for products that meet their budget and use needs.
Number of Employees: 700+
Founded: 1982
Focus: Logistics
What they do: Horizon Freight Systems is a logistics corporation that operates a national network of freight and shipping vehicles in order to help its clients better track and distribute their products. Offering everything from local shipping to long haul freight transit, Horizon Freight System delivers a variety of intermodal transport services including rail transport, oceanic shipping, trucking, and air freight.
Number of Employees: 500+
Founded: 1973
Focus: Healthcare Technology
What they do: Quadax is an IT developer that offers technology-powered financial management products to companies and organizations working in the healthcare and science sectors. The company's revenue cycle management technology provides its clients with the tools to streamline their revenue intake and pursue avenues for further growth, additionally giving them insight into their cash flow and identifying opportunities to reduce spend.
Number of Employees: 400+
Founded: 1957
Focus: Aerospace
What they do: The engineering team at ZIN Technologies collaborates with companies and organizations in the aerospace industry to build highly-effective and tested products such as electro-optics systems, power systems, imaging tools and others. ZIN Technologies has maintained a strong partnership with NASA over the course of the past 25 years, working with the organization to conduct simulations and mechanical testing as well as supporting them in training and launch.
Number of Employees: 200+
