TechSolve

What TechSolve does

TechSolve, Inc. is a nonprofit, mission-driven manufacturing operations consulting firm headquartered in Blue Ash, Ohio (relocated from Cincinnati in March 2025) that serves small and mid-sized manufacturers across a seven-county Southwest Ohio region containing roughly 6,400 manufacturers and 1.8 million residents. Founded circa 1984, the firm operates as the designated regional partner of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), giving clients programmatic access to a nationwide MEP network spanning every U.S. state and Puerto Rico. TechSolve reports 40+ years of operating history, with self-described "billions of dollars in impact" generated for Southwest Ohio manufacturers and outcomes verified by non-biased third parties.

The firm's offering is organized around four named service lines: Operational Excellence (lean, Six Sigma, value stream mapping, continuous improvement), Cybersecurity (including a dedicated CMMC Compliance Support practice aligned with NIST 800-171/800-172 and C3PAO audit preparation), Technology and Engineering (ERP selection and implementation, factory automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, IT/OT cybersecurity infrastructure), and Workforce Development (TWI, leadership development, TechCred-aligned credentialing, change management). A diagnostic Assessments module serves as the engagement entry point, with Business Advisory and Peer Councils (CEO peer councils, strategic planning, succession planning) as an executive-level add-on. TechSolve also sells a small physical product line (cast iron chips) via its website storefront. There is no public API, SDK, or software product surface.

The business model is project-based professional services: engagements are quote-based, billed monthly for contracts greater than $10,000 under formal Proposals with reimbursable travel, a 1.5%/month late fee after 30 days, a $500 lost-opportunity fee for late reschedules, and a 10% cancellation fee. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customers span aerospace and aviation, automotive, chemicals and materials, food and beverage, and defense manufacturing verticals, with named SMB and mid-market references including Eco Engineering, GMi, Becker Engineered Systems, Emersion Design, Cleaning Technologies Group, Avari Aerospace, Seal-Tite, The Metalworking Group, and Able Tool/Planet Products. Leadership includes CEO Dan Catalano (joined 2023, 30+ years manufacturing experience) and senior advisors Steve Bebko and Sue Via (each 30+ years). On February 6, 2026, TechSolve began a phased shutdown of all operations after losing $2.5M in funding during a period of expansion, a material adverse change relative to the otherwise expansionary 2024-2025 footprint additions.

Name

TechSolve

Legal name

TechSolve, Inc.

Website

https://techsolve.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TechSolve is a nonprofit, mission-driven manufacturing operations consulting firm headquartered in Blue Ash, Ohio, serving small and mid-sized manufacturers across a seven-county Southwest Ohio region through operational excellence, cybersecurity, CMMC compliance, technology and engineering, and workforce development services as the designated regional partner of the Ohio MEP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Operations Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Corporate IT Training & Upskilling Programs (BPAEANAB)

Keywords

• Manufacturing operations consulting
• CMMC compliance services
• Industrial cybersecurity consulting
• Lean manufacturing consulting
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements billed monthly for contracts greater than $10,000, with reimbursable travel and out-of-pocket expenses passed to the customer. 10% cancellation fee plus indemnification for work-in-process and committed expenses.
2. Training and Workforce Development Programs: Workforce training and development programs, including TechCred-aligned credentialing, TWI (Training Within Industry), leadership development, team leader training, and Skills Development.
3. CMMC Compliance Readiness Engagements: Multi-month fixed-scope CMMC readiness and audit preparation engagements spanning Discovery, Assessment, Implementation, and Preparation phases, typically 3-24 months depending on level.
4. Physical Product Sales (Cast Iron Chips): Sale of cast iron chips as a physical product line offered through the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

TechSolve is a nonprofit manufacturing operations consulting firm serving Southwest Ohio manufacturers with four integrated service lines: Operational Excellence (lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, process optimization), Cybersecurity (IT/OT strategy and CMMC compliance readiness for defense contractors), Technology and Engineering (ERP selection, factory automation, additive manufacturing), and Workforce Development (leadership training, TWI, TechCred-aligned reskilling). Engagements are project-based and quote-priced, with monthly invoicing on contracts over $10,000 and free initial consultations.

Product overview

TechSolve delivers a single, integrated nonprofit manufacturing operations consulting practice organized around four named service lines — Operational Excellence, Cybersecurity (which embeds the CMMC Compliance Support specialty), Technology and Engineering, and Workforce Development — supplemented by Assessments as the diagnostic entry point, Business Advisory and Peer Councils for executive-level support, and the Cast Iron Chips content publication. These offerings sit on top of TechSolve's role as a designated regional partner of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), giving clients access to a national network of resources across every state; together the four service lines, the CMMC specialty, the assessment/onboarding module, and the advisory/council modules form a mission-driven consulting portfolio rather than a licensed software platform, and TechSolve does not expose a public product API, SDK, or marketplace integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Operational Excellence Consulting Manufacturing operations consulting covering lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, business process optimization, inventory management, facilities management, energy efficiency, value stream mapping, and continuous improvement tailored to Southwest Ohio manufacturers across aerospace, automotive, chemicals/materials, food and beverage, defense, and heavy machinery sectors.
• Cybersecurity Consulting for Manufacturers Cyber and physical security advisory, OT/IT cybersecurity strategy, managed risk and resilience, and cybersecurity framework adoption (NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001) for manufacturing operations, including IT/OT convergence strategy for industrial protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, and EtherNet/IP.
• CMMC Compliance Support End-to-end support for defense contractors pursuing Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, including discovery, technical assessment against NIST 800-171 and 800-172, implementation, preparation for C3PAO third-party audits, and ongoing compliance maintenance (SSP, POAM, SPRS documentation).
• Technology and Engineering Consulting Advisory services covering ERP system selection and implementation, IT system optimization, advanced manufacturing technology, factory automation and robotics, and additive manufacturing adoption for manufacturers.
• Workforce Development and Training Workforce training, leadership development, change management, HR services, management recruitment, Training Within Industry (TWI), Team Leader Training, and customized reskilling programs aligned with operational and technology needs, including TechCred-aligned credentialing.
• Assessments Diagnostic assessments used by TechSolve as a starting engagement to benchmark manufacturers against operational, cybersecurity, and workforce criteria and identify improvement priorities.
• Business Advisory and Peer Councils Executive-level services including CEO peer councils, strategic planning, succession planning, financial training, business development strategies, marketing programs, website design and development, exporting strategies, and DoD business opportunity advisory for manufacturers.
• Cast Iron Chips Physical product line (cast iron chips) sold through the TechSolve.org online storefront as a tangible offering alongside the firm's consulting practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cleaning Technologies Group's Garment Division hit a 2.5x monthly equipment production capacity goal in less than 3 months and improved manufacturing efficiency by nearly 60% in the same timeframe.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechSolve is the designated regional partner of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership. This affiliation provides access to the nationwide MEP network across every state including Puerto Rico. TechSolve collaborated with Ohio MEP Sub-recipients at its Blue Ash open house. The MEP relationship is referenced in multiple places on the site, including a customer testimonial that calls TechSolve 'our MEP network partner'.
• BigOrange MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBigOrange Marketing of Cincinnati, Ohio provided the web strategy, design, and original content for TechSolve's refreshed website launched November 22, 2024. Credit is given in the official press release announcing the website launch.
• Blue Ash Business AssociationminorOthersSteve Eroskey, President of the Blue Ash Business Association, attended TechSolve's March 26, 2025 Blue Ash office ribbon cutting. The Blue Ash Business Association is referenced as a local community partner.
• Butler TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerButler Tech hosts TechSolve's Butler County spoke office at 3605 Hamilton Middletown Road, Fairfield Township, OH 45011. Butler Tech representatives attended TechSolve's Blue Ash open house as Ohio MEP Sub-recipients.
• Ohio Department of Higher Education / TechCred programminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechSolve references the TechCred program (Ohio Department of Higher Education), which helps Ohioans earn technology-focused credentials. TechSolve helps manufacturers access TechCred to upskill their workforce.
• Department of Defense (DoD) / Defense Industrial Base (DIB)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechSolve works with DoD contractors to meet CMMC compliance requirements, helping them align with NIST 800-171/800-172, manage SPRS scores, and prepare for C3PAO assessments. The CMMC rule under 32 CFR Part 170 (effective October 2024) and 48 CFR (effective November 10, 2025) defines the regulatory framework TechSolve operates within.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)coreOthersTechSolve aligns its CMMC compliance services with NIST 800-171 and NIST 800-172 standards. NIST frameworks are referenced extensively across TechSolve's CMMC content, and TechSolve cites NIST as the underlying standards-setting authority for cybersecurity practices.
• CMMC Accreditation Body (CMMC AB) and Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechSolve guides manufacturers through C3PAO-led CMMC Level 2 assessments and references the CMMC AB which handles the assessment and certification process. TechSolve notes the C3PAO ecosystem is still coming online, which can cause scheduling delays.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center): IMEC is the Illinois MEP partner delivering operations consulting, training, and technology services to manufacturers statewide. Directly comparable as a state-level MEP nonprofit providing the same suite of operational excellence and workforce services as TechSolve.
• New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP): NY MEP operates as a statewide network of MEP-affiliated nonprofit consulting centers serving New York manufacturers. Comparable as an MEP partner delivering TechSolve's mix of operational, technology, and workforce services.
• Polaris MEP: Polaris MEP is the Rhode Island MEP partner offering manufacturing consulting, training, and growth services to regional manufacturers. Comparable in MEP nonprofit structure and small/mid-manufacturer focus.
• Catalyst Connection: Catalyst Connection is a southwestern Pennsylvania MEP-affiliated nonprofit manufacturing consulting firm serving small and mid-sized manufacturers with operational excellence, technology adoption, and workforce development services, making it the closest peer by mission, structure, and MEP affiliation.
• MAGNET (Cleveland Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network): MAGNET is the Northeast Ohio MEP partner and nonprofit manufacturing consulting organization. Comparable as an Ohio-based MEP delivering operational excellence, technology, and workforce services to manufacturers in a defined Ohio region.
• Wisconsin MEP (Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity): Wisconsin MEP is the state's MEP partner delivering lean, Six Sigma, cybersecurity, and workforce consulting to manufacturers. Comparable as a state-level MEP nonprofit with the same service portfolio and target customer profile as TechSolve.
• CONNSTEP: CONNSTEP is the Connecticut MEP partner, a nonprofit consulting firm providing manufacturing operational excellence, growth services, and training to small and mid-sized manufacturers in its region. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and service mix.

Emerging players

• Coalfire: Coalfire is a cybersecurity advisory firm with deep CMMC assessment and advisory practice serving DoD contractors and manufacturers. Comparable as a CMMC/NIST 800-171 compliance specialist overlapping with TechSolve's cybersecurity service line, though for-profit and national in scope.
• Action Engineering: Action Engineering is a niche consulting firm focused on manufacturing operations, model-based systems engineering, and operational improvement. Comparable as an operational excellence consulting specialist serving small/mid manufacturers, though narrower in scope than a full MEP.
• Redspin (an Optiv company): Redspin is one of the original CMMC C3PAOs and a leading CMMC assessment and readiness firm serving defense manufacturers. Comparable in CMMC advisory capability, though national and C3PAO-focused rather than a regional MEP partner.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/techsolveinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/techsolveinc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TechSolve