$40 million gift from Arnie Bellini launches AI and Cybersecurity College
In a historic milestone for higher education and national security, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Arnie Bellini, along with his wife, Lauren Bellini, has made a record-breaking $40 million donation to the University of South Florida.
This transformative gift—the largest in USF’s 70-year history—establishes the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing, the first named college in the U.S. dedicated solely to the convergence of AI and cybersecurity.
Set to open in Fall 2025, the college will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, industry-aligned certifications, and research programs designed to address the growing threats posed by AI-driven cyberattacks.
It arrives at a critical time: the FBI reported over $12 billion in U.S. cybercrime losses in 2023, and the country faces more than 700,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs.
“The future of warfare, economic power, and national security is digital,” said Arnie Bellini.
“Cyberattacks are the new missiles, and AI is the arms race of our time. That changes today.”
Arnie Bellini is the co-founder and former CEO of ConnectWise, a Tampa-based IT and cybersecurity firm that he built into a billion-dollar company before selling it in 2019 for $1.5 billion.
Under his leadership, ConnectWise helped create over 70 millionaires and catalyzed Tampa’s rise as a national tech hub. He holds an MBA from USF’s Muma College of Business (1981) and is a longtime member of its Executive Advisory Council. As CEO of Bellini Capital, Arnie now invests in technology, healthcare, and environmental sustainability ventures.
He is also a passionate conservationist. In 2021, he helped lead the campaign for Florida’s Wildlife Corridor Act and launched LiveWildly, a nonprofit focused on protecting Florida’s natural lands.
Lauren Bellini, a USF alumna with a degree in marketing, is equally active in the couple’s philanthropic efforts. The couple has two sons, Arnold IV and Peter—currently pursuing an MBA at USF.
This isn’t their first gift to USF. In 2022, they donated $10.6 million to launch the Bellini Center for Talent Development at the Muma College of Business.
They also contributed $15 million in 2024 to establish an arts center at Tampa Catholic High School and $500,000 to Saint Leo University for cybersecurity training.
Bellini College represents a first-of-its-kind academic model, fusing AI and cybersecurity in an application-driven curriculum that prepares graduates to counter real-world digital threats.
Courses will integrate AI-powered cyber defense, ethical governance, and strategic partnerships with federal agencies, defense contractors, and Fortune 500 companies.
To further expand the college’s impact, the Bellinis have pledged to match all new donations, dollar for dollar, up to $5 million, aiming to raise an additional $10 million in private support.
“America is under siege in cyberspace,” Bellini said. “We are failing to produce the talent and technology needed to defend ourselves. The Bellini College will train the cyber warriors of tomorrow to outthink, outmaneuver, and out-innovate these threats.”
With U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and more than 25% of Florida’s tech jobs based in the region, the city is quickly gaining a reputation as “Cyber Bay.”
Companies like KnowBe4, ReliaQuest, and Rapid7 already operate in the area, and the Bellini College is expected to accelerate Tampa’s ascent as a global center for digital innovation.
“This investment cements Tampa as a global powerhouse for AI and cybersecurity,” said Will Weatherford, Chair of the USF Board of Trustees.
“USF is leading the way in training the next generation of cyber warriors and AI pioneers.”
“We are at a pivotal moment in history where AI and cybersecurity must evolve together,” said USF President Rhea Law.
“This college will produce the talent and innovation needed to meet the escalating challenges of the digital era.”
“It has been an incredible honor working with Arnie and Lauren as they made this historic investment,” added Jay Stroman, CEO of the USF Foundation.
“Their generosity is inspiring, and their leadership is a powerful call to others.”
The Bellinis’ visionary giving is more than a philanthropic gesture—it’s a strategic investment in the security, talent, and innovation needed to safeguard America’s digital future.
From the tech industry to environmental protection, their legacy continues to shape Tampa Bay—and the nation—for the better.