Arnie Bellini

Arnie Bellini
Alma materTampa Catholic High School
University of Florida
University of South Florida
OccupationsFounder and CEO of Bellini Capital
SpouseLauren

Arnie Bellini is an American businessman, technology entrepreneur and advocate of sustainability. He is the founder and CEO of Bellini Capital and founder of ConnectWise, a business management software company based in Tampa, Florida. In 2019, ConnectWise sold for $1.5 billion, making it the first Tampa Bay-based technology company to reach unicorn status.[1][2][3][4]

Bellini has been involved in initiatives related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, modernization of education, and natural resource preservation.

In 2025, Bellini and his wife, Lauren, donated $40 million to the University of South Florida (USF), establishing the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing to fill the gap of skilled professionals in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.[5][6] Bellini also led additional cybersecurity education and workforce readiness initiatives at USF and Saint Leo University.[5][7]

Bellini has participated in sustainability efforts in Florida, including involvement in the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act and founding of the nonprofit LiveWildly.com.[8]

He is a triathlete and endurance swimmer who crossed the English Channel in 2013 at the age of 54.[9]

Education

Bellini graduated from Tampa Catholic High School in 1976.[10] He earned an accounting degree from the University of Florida (Summa Cum Laude) in 1980 and completed his MBA in Finance at the University of South Florida in 1981 (Summa Cum Laude).[11][12]

Career

Bellini began his career as a technology consultant with Price Waterhouse from 1981 to 1982.[13]

In 1982, Bellini founded ConnectWise, a business automation platform for technology service and managed service providers that became a leader and innovator in the industry.[14][1][15][3] In 2014, Bellini was awarded EY’s Technology Entrepreneur of the Year.[16] ConnectWise grew under Bellini’s tenure to over 1,200 employees and $250 million annual recurring revenue before being sold in 2019 to private equity firm Thoma Bravo for $1.5 billion.[14][17][4] Following the sale, 74 employees became millionaires.[2][4]

After the sale of ConnectWise, Bellini founded Bellini Capital, where he serves as CEO.[14] The firm invests in cybersecurity software, services, and related fields, and has stated a focus on environmental considerations alongside business growth.[18]

In 2025 Bellini was named Tampa Bay Wave’s 2025 Tampa Tech Legend.[19]

Cybersecurity

Bellini has supported collaborations intended to expand cybersecurity education, workforce development, and the growth of technology companies in the Tampa Bay area.[20][21]

In 2025, Bellini, CyberFlorida and the University of South Florida launched the CyberBay Summit, an annual cybersecurity conference held in Tampa Bay.[20][21] The event brought together participants from artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, academia, government, and the military.[20][21]

Community involvement

After the sale of ConnectWise, Bellini announced an objective to create 70,000 technology jobs in Tampa Bay while also supporting environmental conservation. Subsequent initiatives expanded to other parts of Florida and have focused on the use of advanced technology in education, job creation, and environmental sustainability.[22]

Sustainability

Bellini was involved in efforts supporting the 2021 Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which designated 18 million acres of land as Florida’s Wildlife Corridor. The program has received $2.1 billion in state funding and $348 million in county funding and has reportedly protected 264,000 acres of land from development.[23]

In 2022, Bellini founded LiveWildly.com, a nonprofit focused on public education and outreach related to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.[8][24][17] He also funded and served as executive producer for Protect Our Paradise, a documentary series examining the threats facing Florida’s wildlife, water, and land due to factors like climate change and population growth.[25][26] In 2025, the series received a Suncoast Emmy Award.[27]

In 2024, Bellini worked with Polk County, Florida to preserve 639 acres of land and establish the Bellini Preserve as a public park.[28][29]

In 2025, Bellini and his wife, Lauren, purchased Eagle Haven Ranch on Lake Kissimmee, placing 2,903 acres of the Florida Wildlife Corridor under permanent protections through federal conservation programs facilitated by Conservation Florida.[30]

Education

Bellini supports modernizing education through partnerships with various institutions. In 2022, the Bellinis donated $10.6 million to establish the Bellini Center for Talent Development at the University of South Florida which provides career services, training, and internships for students.[31] The Center connects students to job opportunities in the Tampa Bay business community and has a 90% job placement rate for students who participate in internships.[32] Students in USF’s Muma College of Business and Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing participate in Center programming as part of their curriculum.[31][33]

In 2025, the Bellinis donated $40 million to establish the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing at the University of South Florida.[34]

As of 2025, Bellini and his wife, Lauren, have donated $15 million to Tampa Catholic High School to support the creation of the Bellini Center for the Arts.[10][35]

The Bellinis donated $1 million to St Leo University to create a modern cybersecurity curriculum to address the 4.8 million global job openings in cybersecurity.[7][36]

References

  1. ^ a b "Silicon Valley firm to buy Tampa's ConnectWise, making millionaires out of scores of its employees". 2024-03-08. Archived from the original on 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  2. ^ a b Gurbal Kritzer, Ashley (22 November 2019). "The House the Bellinis Built". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
  3. ^ a b Brezina, Veronica (2022-07-02). "TIETAN awardee: Arnie Bellini is Super Entrepreneur of the Year". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  4. ^ a b c "Tampa Bay area startups spun off from Arnie Bellini's 2019 ConnectWis…". 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2025-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ a b Rundle, James (2025-03-11). "Exclusive | University of South Florida Gets $40 Million to Start Cyber and AI College". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  6. ^ "USF launches Bellini College with $40M gift for AI, cybersecurity - T…". 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ a b "Pasco County university adds cybersecurity certificate program". Business Observer. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  8. ^ a b Duffy, Abigail (2023-10-16). "Creating a Path for the Panther". Naples Illustrated. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  9. ^ "Arnie Bellini Conquers the English Channel". ChannelBuzz.ca. 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  10. ^ a b "Graduate who founded tech firm ConnectWise gives Tampa Catholic a $7 million gift". 2024-03-08. Archived from the original on 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  11. ^ "The Bellinis: Passionate About Giving Back | USF Muma College of Business". www.usf.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  12. ^ "Friday's Last Word: ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini". www.channelfutures.com. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  13. ^ "Arnie Bellini on ConnectWise: 'Never Saw How Big it Would Get'". www.channelfutures.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  14. ^ a b c Fairfield, C. J. "Arnie Bellini: 'It's Time For Some Good Old-Fashioned Competition To Shake Things Up'". www.crn.com. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
  15. ^ Johnson, O'Ryan (25 February 2019). "ConnectWise To Be Sold To Thoma Bravo As CEO Arnie Bellini Steps Aside". CRN. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Global firm recognizes entrepreneurs". Business Observer. 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  17. ^ a b Sowers, Lloyd (2022-08-01). "Tampa Bay tech tycoon turns his talents to protecting Florida's wildlife". FOX 13 News. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  18. ^ "Arnie Bellini's cybersecurity plan for Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay Business…". 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ^ "Arnie Bellini named Tampa Bay Wave's 2025 Tampa Tech Legend". St Pete Catalyst. 2025-10-06. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  20. ^ a b c Arradondo, Briona (2025-10-03). "Tampa's cybersecurity industry lays foundation for CyberBay, a launchpad for tech". FOX 13 News. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  21. ^ a b c "Bay area's leading cybersecurity experts gather for inaugural 'CyberBay' event". baynews9.com. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  22. ^ "Florida tech leader Arnie Bellini focuses time and money on Florida's 'green infrastructure'". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  23. ^ Ritchie, Bruce (26 April 2021). "Tech founder helps push new conservation program to finish line in the Legislature". Politico. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  24. ^ Montgomery, Ben (2022-07-21). "The man behind the push to save wild Florida". Axios. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  25. ^ Media, J. S. R. (2023-10-23). "Chad Crawford: The Florida Outdoorsman Turning Passion Into a Powerful Message". Flamingo Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  26. ^ Protect Our Paradise (TV Series 2023– ) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-04-10 – via www.imdb.com.
  27. ^ Dixon, Drew (2025-01-15). "Documentary series produced by environmental activist organization snags Emmy award". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  28. ^ "A critical stretch of the Florida Wildlife Corridor is preserved in Polk County". WUSF. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  29. ^ "New 640-acre Bellini Preserve open to public, protected from development". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  30. ^ White, Gary. "Conservation group secures protection for 2,317-acre property along Lake Kissimmee". The Ledger. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  31. ^ a b Hayes, Kelly (2022-07-26). "USF breaks previous record, collects over $151M in gifts". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  32. ^ "USF center eyes a goal: someday, a guaranteed job for every business grad". 2024-03-08. Archived from the original on 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  33. ^ "USF receives $10.6 million gift to build talent center". wtsp.com. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  34. ^ "USF launches Bellini College with $40M gift for AI, cybersecurity - T…". 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-04-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  35. ^ "$15M gift fuels Tampa Catholic arts center, fulfilling 'a pledge to God'". 2025-03-19. Archived from the original on 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  36. ^ "The State of the Cybersecurity Workforce". www.isc2.org. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
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