Mark Rostick is a VP & Senior Managing Director at Intel Capital who co-leads the firm's cloud and data infrastructure investing with board roles at AI and data companies like RunPod, Immuta, MinIO, and autonomous mobility company Beep. Unlike most VCs, he emphasizes first earning the respect of Intel's business unit leaders by deeply understanding their operations before pitching investment ideas, combining his legal and banking background with hands-on portfolio management and investment committee responsibilities.

• Deep interest in enterprise infrastructure and the mechanics of cloud computing. He pays close attention to how major cloud providers create walled gardens using data gravity and looks for startups that solve these inefficiencies, such as when he highlighted how Minio helps enterprises avoid expensive capacity buying by rethinking on-premise infrastructure.
• Strong focus on backing technical teams working on complex backend solutions and open source software. He actively celebrates milestones for companies involved in data privacy, machine learning operations, and application networking, frequently cheering on developer-focused startups like Tetrate and Opaque.
• Appreciation for high-character leadership and healthy company culture. Beyond just the technology, he values the human element of building a business, publicly praising founders who manage to lead with grace and humor while navigating the pressures of growth.
• Enthusiasm for sports and cultural excellence as a way to connect outside of business. He engages with major events like the World Cup and American football, specifically noting the pacing and style of soccer, while also showing admiration for creative mastery in fields like music and poetry.