Trina Van Pelt is a venture capital investor at Intel Capital with 25+ years as a technology dealmaker who has led or closed more than 85 technology acquisitions and investments totaling over $50B, and she serves as a visible policy-facing voice for Intel Capital by personally meeting with bipartisan U.S. Congressional leaders to brief them on venture policy, cybersecurity, and STEM workforce needs. She leads Intel Capital's Frontier Technology focus area covering AI, urban mobility, autonomous transportation, and advanced enterprise software, while also serving as chair of Intel Capital's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiative during a period when the firm deployed more than 20% of new capital into startups led by women and underrepresented founders.

• A strong focus on the convergence of physical and digital worlds, specifically through humanoid robotics and autonomous systems. She frequently highlights how these technologies improve industrial safety and manufacturing efficiency, often citing the rapid development of the robot Figure 01 and its commercial application with automotive partners like BMW.
• Championing women entrepreneurs and diversity within the tech ecosystem. She regularly uses her platform to elevate female founders by conducting interviews about their personal journeys and leadership advice, such as her deep dives with the co-founders of Twelve Labs and MinIO regarding their paths in AI and enterprise storage.
• Enthusiasm for software that drives genuine human connection and the creator economy. She closely follows companies that redefine community building, frequently pointing to the subscription growth and social mechanics of Mighty Networks as a model for how software can foster meaningful relationships.
• Support for applying data and AI to solve critical global challenges, particularly climate change and food security. She values companies that use technology for tangible impact, referencing Gro Intelligence and its use of data to address agricultural stability and environmental concerns.
• Advocacy for strategic partnerships rather than just capital accumulation. She advises founders to view complex sectors like mobility as a team sport, emphasizing that collaborating with the right industry partners is essential for market validation, rather than simply chasing the highest valuation or largest check.