.png)
Robots & Pencils, an AI-first global digital innovation firm specializing in cloud-native mobile, web, and app modernization, announced the appointment of Tony Antonelli as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on July 17, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. With over 20 years of experience in SaaS, consulting, and manufacturing, Antonelli brings strategic financial expertise to support the company’s next phase of AI-driven growth. His appointment follows a leadership transition with Leonard Pagon Jr., founder of Next Sparc, taking the CEO role, marking a reunion built on prior collaborations at Next Sparc portfolio companies like Tiger Pistol and Revel Bikes.
Tony Antonelli appointed CFO of Robots & Pencils on July 17, 2025.
Brings 20+ years of experience from Tiger Pistol, Revel Bikes, and Skoda Minotti.
Partners with new CEO Leonard Pagon Jr., founder of Next Sparc.
Named Crain’s Cleveland Business Notables in Finance in 2022.
Robots & Pencils serves Financial Services, Health Tech, and EdTech with AI solutions.
Supports 500+ client engagements across North America, Europe, and Latin America.
Antonelli’s appointment, announced on July 17, 2025, aligns with Robots & Pencils’ focus on scaling its AI-first strategy. “Tony is a powerhouse,” said CEO Leonard Pagon Jr. “He brings a rare ability to combine financial discipline with operational speed.” Antonelli, who continues as CFO at Tiger Pistol, has a proven track record of optimizing capital structures and driving sustainable growth. His prior roles at Skoda Minotti (now Marcum) and Scott Fetzer honed his expertise in audit, financial planning, and team leadership, making him a key partner in navigating the complexities of AI-driven expansion.
“I’ve watched Robots & Pencils grow from a mobile pioneer into a world-class digital innovation firm,” Antonelli said. “We’re not just embracing AI; we’re doing it the right way—with human-centered, AI-enabled solutions.” His experience includes guiding Tiger Pistol, a SaaS digital advertising platform, through high-growth phases, earning him recognition as a 2022 Crain’s Cleveland Business Notable in Finance. As a licensed CPA with BBA degrees in Accounting and Business Law from Ohio University, Antonelli also serves as Treasurer and Board Member for the Kidney Foundation of Ohio, reflecting his commitment to community impact.
Founded in 2009, Robots & Pencils has evolved from a mobile-focused innovator to a leader in AI, cloud-native technologies, and app modernization, with delivery centers in Canada, the U.S., Eastern Europe, and Latin America. The company’s partnerships with AWS, Salesforce, and Databricks support over 500 client engagements across sectors like Financial Services, Health Tech, and EdTech. Recent projects include AI-driven platforms for wealth management and healthcare, with a 30% year-over-year revenue increase reported in 2024. Antonelli’s financial discipline will bolster these efforts, ensuring scalable growth.
The appointment comes amid a leadership shift, with Pagon replacing the previous CEO to accelerate AI innovation. Posts on X highlight excitement for Antonelli’s role, noting his ability to drive financial precision in high-growth tech firms. The broader AI market, projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030, underscores the strategic timing of this move. Antonelli’s experience with Next Sparc’s portfolio, including a 25% efficiency improvement at Tiger Pistol, positions him to enhance Robots & Pencils’ competitive edge against firms like Accenture and Cognizant.
Tony Antonelli’s appointment as CFO marks a critical step for Robots & Pencils as it scales its AI-first solutions. By combining financial acumen with a human-centered approach, Antonelli will drive operational excellence and sustainable growth, reinforcing the company’s leadership in digital innovation across global markets.
Robots & Pencils is a global digital innovation firm helping organizations modernize applications and unlock the full potential of AI, cloud-native technologies. With delivery centers in Canada, the U.S., Eastern Europe, and Latin America, and deep partnerships with AWS, Salesforce, Databricks, and others, the company offers a unique combination of UX excellence and elite engineering talent. Since 2009, Robots & Pencils has delivered forward-thinking solutions across Financial Services, Health Tech, Education, Consumer, Energy, and Technology sectors, earning a reputation as a nimble, high-value alternative to traditional global systems integrators.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.