Happy Thursday! This is Mind Your Business.

The last week in Tampa Bay wasn’t about small wins. It was about commitment. Nine-figure capital locked in around cybersecurity platforms. AI companies made clear bets on defense and national security. Aerospace manufacturing moved from plans to groundbreakings. And local talent pipelines quietly connected Tampa builders to billion-dollar platforms.

This wasn’t a week of announcements for attention. It was a week of moves that narrow the field and set the table for 2026.

🔔 WHAT JUST MOVED
Recent news from the last week shaping Tampa Bay right now.

Here’s what’s on the board:
💰 Nine-figure capital lands across cybersecurity and IT platforms
🧠 Tampa AI firms push toward defense and AGI-scale ambitions
🚀 Aerospace and space manufacturing expand with real facilities
🎓 Talent pipelines connect local builders to billion-dollar platforms
🌎 Florida firms scale outward into national and global markets

Scroll down for the signal…

🔐CYBERSECURITY / FUNDING

Tampa-based CyberFOX secured a nine-figure growth investment to accelerate expansion of its identity and access management platform for managed service providers. Founded and led by CEO David Bellini, the company has grown profitably by focusing on operational security gaps facing MSPs and mid-market enterprises.

The new capital will support product development, partner expansion, and continued hiring as demand for identity security accelerates.

⚡Why It Matters: Late-stage capital at this scale resets expectations. CyberFOX’s raise reinforces Tampa Bay’s position as a serious cybersecurity hub and shows investors are still willing to write large checks for platforms with clear revenue, retention, and operator credibility.

🤖AI / DEFENSE

Tampa-based AI company Partsol announced plans to raise up to $40 million following the launch of its defense-focused division. Led by CEO Darryl Williams, the company has already invested more than $28 million internally to develop advanced AI systems aimed at national security and enterprise applications. The expansion positions Partsol at the intersection of AI research, defense use cases, and large-scale deployment.

⚡Why It Matters: AI capital is moving toward defensible, high-stakes applications. Tampa Bay companies aren’t just building tools, they’re stepping into sectors where execution, trust, and scale matter more than hype.

🛡️CYBER / FUNDING

St. Petersburg-based Shield Technology Partners secured a $100 million investment led by Thrive to accelerate its AI-first managed services platform. CEO Jim Siders said the funding will support acquisitions, automation, and deeper AI integration across Shield’s MSP ecosystem. The company has also highlighted collaboration with OpenAI as part of its long-term platform strategy.

⚡Why It Matters: This is consolidation with leverage. AI-powered MSP platforms are quietly reshaping IT services, and Tampa Bay is becoming a base for companies building that next layer of enterprise infrastructure.

🧠TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

I don’t raise capital, but capital follows me.
I don’t ship code, but platforms depend on me.
When I scale, ecosystems change.

What am I?

(Answers at the bottom of the newsletter)

Pause for some deep thinking…

✈️ AEROSPACE / MANUFACTURING

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft broke ground on a new facility at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, marking a major expansion of its U.S. operations. CEO Markus Bucher said the site will support aircraft completion, maintenance, and delivery, with plans to create more than 200 high-skill jobs. The project represents one of the region’s most significant aerospace manufacturing investments in recent years.

⚡Why It Matters: This is physical, export-driven growth. Aerospace manufacturing brings durable jobs, global exposure, and long-term economic anchors that strengthen Tampa Bay’s industrial base beyond software alone.

🎓 TALENT / ECOSYSTEM

Tampa-based developer training firm CodeBoxx announced a partnership that has already placed graduates inside VideoAmp, a data and measurement platform valued at over $1.4 billion. The collaboration demonstrates how local talent programs are directly feeding high-growth technology companies with immediate hiring needs.

⚡Why It Matters: Talent pipelines matter when they produce outcomes, not press releases. This is proof that Tampa Bay’s workforce initiatives are translating into real jobs at scale-stage tech companies.

🌍 EXPANSION / INDUSTRIAL

Tampa Bay-based Isla Maritime, led by founder Andrew Holmes, expanded operations into the Panama Canal region to support commercial shipping and logistics clients. The move extends the company’s reach into one of the world’s most critical trade corridors while maintaining its operational base in Florida.

⚡Why It Matters: Global expansion from Florida-based operators reinforces the state’s role as a launch point for industrial and logistics companies serving international markets.

😂MEME STREET

WORTHY MENTIONS: UPDATES, EVENTS, RESOURCES, ETC…

RIDDLE ANSWER

Answer: Infrastructure.

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