Despite the transition, Rostick emphasized that the firm will maintain its current investment strategy and continue to operate as usual.

In 2024, U.S. venture-backed exits totaled $149.2 billion, significantly lower than in previous years, highlighting the importance of Intel Capital's achievements during this period.

Discussions about the spinout have been ongoing for several years, with serious preparations beginning in early 2024, led by Mark Rostick and Intel Capital head Anthony Lin.

Intel Capital has announced its decision to spin out from Intel, marking the end of a 34-year tenure as the semiconductor giant's venture investment arm.

Despite the excitement surrounding the spinout, there have been departures among managing directors, including several long-term employees, although Intel Capital claims these departures were not related to the spinout.

Founded in 1991, Intel Capital is recognized as one of the first corporate venture capital firms, having invested over $20 billion in nearly 2,000 companies, including notable names like DocuSign and MongoDB.

Intel Capital aims to achieve full independence by the third quarter of 2025, while retaining Intel as an anchor investor and focusing on early-stage investments in sectors like AI and cloud technology.

Mark Rostick, who has been with Intel Capital since 1999, believes the spinout presents new growth opportunities while still allowing the firm to retain some benefits of being a corporate venture capital firm.

The firm’s strong track record, including successful exits like Astera Labs, which went public in March 2024 with a valuation of $5.5 billion, has attracted interest from outside investors despite a challenging venture market.

The spinout occurs during a turbulent time for Intel, which includes the retirement of CEO Pat Gelsinger and delays in significant projects such as the Ohio chip factory.