Built in Ohio: How AgileBlue is putting Ohio on the cybersecurity map

AgileBlue President Tony Pietrocola

When Tony Pietrocola co-founded AgileBlue in early 2020, he didn’t come from a traditional cybersecurity background. But what he lacked in credentials, he made up for with entrepreneurial instinct and an appetite for solving hard problems.

Headquartered in Cleveland, AgileBlue is a fast-growing cybersecurity company that specializes in autonomous threat detection and response. Using artificial intelligence to monitor IT environments in real time, the company is helping businesses stay ahead of increasingly complex cyberattacks—without the usual noise and overhead.

Solving One Big Problem Really Well

“We were built to solve one problem really well,” said Pietrocola. “Organizations are overwhelmed by alerts and lack the capacity to respond fast enough. Our platform uses AI to filter through the noise and take action when it matters most.”

AgileBlue’s timing was bold. The company officially launched in early 2020—just weeks before the pandemic hit. With little time for in-office operations and team building, AgileBlue was forced to quickly adapt to a fully remote environment. Rather than derail their plans, it accelerated them. Today, AgileBlue has team members across Ohio in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and beyond.

Growth Fueled by AI and Urgency

Despite launching during the uncertainty of a global pandemic, AgileBlue has grown steadily thanks to a focused product strategy and increasing demand for cybersecurity solutions. As more businesses digitize and threats evolve, Pietrocola sees AI as a critical advantage in keeping companies secure.

“Cybersecurity has to be proactive,” he said. “Attackers are using AI, so defenders need to use it too. What we’re building helps organizations move faster, respond smarter, and sleep a little easier.”

The Ohio Difference

But beyond the tech, Pietrocola is quick to credit Ohio’s ecosystem for AgileBlue’s success. He points to the region’s talent, cost structure, and work ethic as key differentiators.

“We don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to build something world-class,” he said. “Ohio has people who care, who want to solve real problems, and who understand how to scale a company sustainably.”

That mentality has paid off. AgileBlue now serves clients across the U.S. and continues to expand its platform capabilities. And while cybersecurity remains a rapidly changing space, Pietrocola sees that as an opportunity—not a threat.

Ohio’s Role in the Cyber Future

“This isn’t a hype cycle. AI is going to fundamentally change how security is delivered,” he said. “We’re just getting started.”

As Ohio continues its rise as a tech and innovation hub, companies like AgileBlue are showing that the state’s strength isn’t just in manufacturing or logistics—but in next-generation industries like cybersecurity and AI.

And for Pietrocola, the mission remains simple: keep businesses safe, build great tech, and do it all from a place he’s proud to call home.