Nikola Labs Inc. has closed a nearly $4 million funding round and signed its first order greater than $1 million from a global manufacturer installing its system of wireless sensors to flag maintenance needs for machinery. The round, again led by Columbus-based Ikove Venture Partners LLC, brings the Westerville startup to a cumulative $10 million in the four years since it spun out of Ohio State University.

VentureOhio, which aims to improve access to capital and foster collaboration in the startup community, published The Watchlist to highlight the 50 preseed to growth-stage companies "most primed for success in 2018 and beyond.”

Nikola Labs Inc. has landed its first big customer account for its wireless charging devices, a top executive hired from Nationwide and a $1.22 million funding round in the past few months.

A startup making wireless power components for the internet of things has raised an additional $2 million and hired the technology's inventor part-time from Ohio State University. Nikola Labs Inc. has raised a combined $4 million – $2.7 million of it this year – since 2015.

Nikola Labs Inc. has closed a $700,000 round from a European investor group, as it works with electronics makers to design components delivering wireless power to the small devices making up “smart homes” and other applications of the “internet of things.”

A Columbus startup working to keep your wireless devices powered longer has won a pitch contest for "internet of things" companies. Ohio State University spinoff Nikola Labs Inc. was named the best pitch winner at the conclusion of the latest three-month Plug and Play accelerator program in Silicon Valley.