Lip-Bu Tan

Lip-Bu Tan is a Malaysian-born American business executive and venture capitalist.

Lip-Bu Tan is a Malaysian-born American business executive and venture capitalist. He has been chief executive officer of Intel since 2025 and is the founder of Walden International, a venture capital firm focused on technology investing. He previously led Cadence Design Systems as chief executive officer from 2009 to 2021.

Early life and education

Lip-Bu Tan was born in Malaysia and raised in Singapore. He later studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a Master of Science in nuclear engineering, and at the University of San Francisco, where he earned an MBA.

Career in venture capital

Tan founded Walden International in 1987 and built it into a major technology-focused venture capital firm. His investing has centred on semiconductors, AI, and related deep-tech sectors. He has also been associated with Celesta Capital and Walden Catalyst Ventures.

Corporate leadership

Tan served as chief executive officer of Cadence Design Systems from 2009 to 2021, leading the company for 12 years. In March 2025, he became chief executive officer of Intel and joined the company’s board.

Board and investment activity

He has held roles with several firms and boards across the technology industry. Public profiles describe him as an active investor in semiconductor and technology companies.