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Arnie Bellini

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Arnie Bellini
Alma materTampa Catholic High School
University of Florida
University of South Florida
Occupation(s)Founder 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, marking the first tech unicorn in the Tampa Bay area.[1][2][3][4]

Bellini has led multiple initiatives in 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 contributed to sustainability efforts in Florida including a lead role in the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act and founding of the nonprofit LiveWildly.com.[8]

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

Education

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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

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

In 1982, Bellini founded ConnectWise, a complete business automation platform for technology service and managed service providers that became a leader and innovator in the industry.[14][1][15][3] 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][16][4] As a result of the sale, 74 employees became millionaires, which boosted Tampa Bay's technology sector by providing talent and resources for regional startups and attracting technology investments to Tampa Bay.[2][4]

After the sale of ConnectWise, Bellini founded Bellini Capital, where he serves as CEO.[14] The firm focuses on balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.[17] Bellini Capital invests in cybersecurity software, services, and talent to support organizations of various sizes.[17]

Community involvement

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Bellini supports initiatives that promote economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability throughout Florida, particularly in the Tampa Bay area.

Sustainability

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As part of his efforts to protect the local ecology, Bellini led the creation and passing of the 2021 Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which designated 18 million acres of land as Florida’s Wildlife Corridor. To date, the initiative has secured $2.1 billion in state funding and $348 million of county funding for the conservation of these lands.[18] As of 2024, these efforts have protected 264,000 acres of land from development.[18]

In 2022, Bellini founded LiveWildly.com, a nonprofit dedicated to the balance of Florida’s economy with its ecology. The foundation educates Floridians about the Florida Wildlife Corridor, collaborates with other conservation organizations, and encourages landowners within the Corridor to apply for conservation easements created by state funding.[8][19][16] He also funded and served as executive producer for Protect our Paradise, a docuseries examining the threat facing Florida’s wildlife, water, and land due to factors like climate change and population growth.[20][21] In 2025, the series and Bellini received a Suncoast Emmy Award.[22]

In 2024, Bellini worked with Polk County, Florida to preserve 639 acres of land and create the Bellini Preserve which serves as a public park and displays the balance of economy and ecology.[23][24]

Education

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Bellini’s goal is to prepare the next generation for the future by modernizing education through partnerships with leading 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.[25] 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.[26] All 8,000 students in USF’s Muma College of Business and Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing engage with the Center as part of their curriculum.[25][27]

In 2025, the Bellinis donated $40 million to establish the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing at the University of South Florida.[28] Their gift was the largest in USF’s history.[28] The College curriculum addresses the growing need of cybersecurity professionals in the United States and contributes to the development of Tampa Bay’s growing cybersecurity sector, positioning Tampa as 'Cyber Bay.'[5] It was the first named school in the United States to combine both cybersecurity and AI education in one college.[5]

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][29] The Center for the Arts nurtures creativity and prepares students for the future, especially as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into society. The donation represents the largest contribution ever made to a Catholic school in Florida.[29] The 28,000 square-foot facility scheduled to open in June 2025 will offer spaces for art, computer graphics, video production, and performing arts while also supporting community outreach enhancing access to the arts.[10][29]

The Bellin’s 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][30]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Silicon Valley firm to buy Tampa's ConnectWise, making millionaires out of scores of its employees". web.archive.org. 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…". archive.ph. 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  5. ^ a b c d 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…". archive.ph. 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  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 c "Graduate who founded tech firm ConnectWise gives Tampa Catholic a $7 million gift". web.archive.org. 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. ^ 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.
  17. ^ a b "Arnie Bellini's cybersecurity plan for Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay Business…". archive.ph. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  18. ^ a b Ritchie, Bruce (26 April 2021). "Tech founder helps push new conservation program to finish line in the Legislature". Politico. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  19. ^ Montgomery, Ben (2022-07-21). "The man behind the push to save wild Florida". Axios. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  20. ^ Media, J. S. R. (2023-10-23). "Chad Crawford: The Florida Outdoorsman Turning Passion Into a Powerful Message". Flamingo Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  21. ^ Protect Our Paradise (TV Series 2023– ) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-04-10 – via www.imdb.com.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "A critical stretch of the Florida Wildlife Corridor is preserved in Polk County". WUSF. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  24. ^ "New 640-acre Bellini Preserve open to public, protected from development". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "USF center eyes a goal: someday, a guaranteed job for every business grad". web.archive.org. 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  27. ^ "USF receives $10.6 million gift to build talent center". wtsp.com. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  28. ^ a b "USF launches Bellini College with $40M gift for AI, cybersecurity - T…". archive.ph. 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  29. ^ a b c "$15M gift fuels Tampa Catholic arts center, fulfilling 'a pledge to God'". web.archive.org. 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  30. ^ "The State of the Cybersecurity Workforce". www.isc2.org. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
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