Will Zell (Vessel) — Empowering Founders and Democratizing VC in Ohio

Will Zell — Founder and Managing Partner of Vessel, founding CEO and now Executive Chair of AssetWatch, and a leading voice in rethinking how venture capital works across Ohio.Will’s path into technology and venture isn’t conventional. He grew up — and still lives — in Bellefontaine, Ohio. At 17, he ran for city council under the slogan “A Voice for the Future.” He spent time in ministry, built a real estate portfolio during the financial crisis, and ultimately found his way into technology startups — learning firsthand what it means to raise capital in a state that consistently punches below its weight in venture investment. After early startup failures, Will co-founded what became AssetWatch, a predictive maintenance platform serving global manufacturers. The company has since raised more than $100 million in venture capital and scaled into a high-growth industrial technology business employing hundreds.But perhaps more interesting than breaking through Ohio’s capital gap is Will’s effort to redesign it. In 2020, he founded Vessel — a diversified venture platform focused on investing in and building category-defining companies in Middle America. Through Vessel and the Ohio Angel Collective, Will is working to expand access to early-stage capital, grow the top of Ohio’s innovation funnel, and shift the ecosystem from scarcity to abundance.In our conversation, we unpack:The structural capital gap facing Ohio foundersWhat it took to navigate AssetWatch through near-zero runway momentsWhy democratizing venture access mattersHow to build a multi-stage venture platform outside the coastsAnd what it would mean for Ohio to invest in innovation proportionally to the size of its economyThis is a conversation about capital formation, ecosystem design, and the long-term work required to build a venture-backed innovation economy in Ohio.00:00:00 Introduction & Show Disclaimer00:00:58 Will Zell’s Background & Early Influences00:04:26 Path to Entrepreneurship & Community Impact00:11:11 Transition from Curiosity to Entrepreneurship00:13:03 Early Business Ventures & Real Estate00:20:01 Entry into Technology Startups00:22:01First Tech Swings & Lessons Learned00:25:58 The Ohio Capital Gap00:31:08 Breaking Through with AssetWatch00:36:59 AssetWatch Product & Impact00:40:22 Transition to Vessel & Venture Capital Access00:45:34 Vessel’s Mission & Structure00:49:07 Goals for Success & Midwest Venture Landscape00:55:16 Power of Community & Culture Change01:00:25 What's Next: Curiosity and Culture Change01:04:35 Founders, Opportunity, and Encouragement01:06:08 Bellefontaine Highlights & Closing01:08:39 Farewell & Closing Credits———For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com———LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/willzell/https://www.ohioangelcollective.com/https://buildvessel.com/https://spiltsocial.com/