Ohio State alumnus and serial tech entrepreneur Ratmir Timashev is writing another very large check to his alma mater, pledging $15 million to help launch an undergraduate program that mixes serious computer science with hands-on business and go-to-market training. The gift continues a streak of campus investments from Timashev and his foundation and lands just as faculty and administrators work a formal degree proposal through Ohio State's review pipeline. Supporters say the major is meant to graduate people who can not only build a product, but help sell it too.
According to Columbus Business First, Timashev's latest pledge is structured to support curriculum development, scholarships and structured, credit-bearing work experiences that are built into the degree. The outlet reported on May 21, 2026 that the planned program would blend business acumen with computing skills in a single undergraduate track.
What the degree will offer
Ohio State has formally proposed a new Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business, to be awarded by the Fisher College of Business in partnership with the College of Engineering and the Center for Software Innovation. The plan calls for a shared core plus two specialization paths: a more technical "Build" track and a more commercial "Launch" track focused on go-to-market roles. A required, credit-bearing paid work component is built into the design so students log real industry experience before they graduate.
University proposal materials submitted to the Council on Academic Affairs describe a timeline that would have the first students entering the major in Autumn 2027, assuming approvals land on schedule.
Timashev’s bigger Columbus bet
The new $15 million commitment is one more piece of a much larger Columbus play for Timashev. He has already made record gifts aimed at boosting Ohio State's software innovation capacity and has put significant private capital into startup-scaling efforts intended to bring companies and jobs to the region. Local coverage has sketched out how that mix of philanthropy, university programming and private investment is designed to help build a more complete tech ecosystem in central Ohio, and Columbus Business First has tracked many of those moves.
Why it matters for students and employers
Administrators and industry partners say the degree is a direct response to employers who want hires comfortable straddling engineering and commercial roles. The target jobs run from AI and machine learning operations and software engineering with a product focus to technical sales and revenue operations. The embedded, paid work experiences are intended to shrink the distance between classroom and first job, while giving local companies a more reliable stream of graduates who are ready to contribute on day one. For Ohio State, the pitch is that this program can scale, converting research and instruction into concrete workforce gains for the region.
Next steps and timeline
Ohio State documents indicate that the proposal has cleared Council on Academic Affairs review and is slated for consideration by the Board of Trustees at its May 21, 2026 meeting. If trustees sign off, the university will then coordinate with state regulators and internal offices to stand up the new major. The Council on Academic Affairs submission spells out the full approval schedule and the curricular structure backing an Autumn 2027 launch for the first cohort.
For Columbus, the $15 million pledge is another brick in an ambitious plan to grow local tech talent, companies and commercial infrastructure. For students, it lays out a clear new path that combines coding and commerce in one degree. University officials and employer partners are expected to watch the trustees' decision closely this month.
