Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment organization, today announced the $125 million ;Intel Capital Diversity Fund; to invest in technology startups run by women and underrepresented minorities. The largest of its kind, the fund launches with investments in four companies: Brit + Co, CareCloud, Mark One, and Venafi.

"We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is fundamental to delivering business results," said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. "Our goal with this new fund is to meaningfully support a technology startup workforce more reflective of society, and ultimately to benefit Intel and the broader economy through its success."

Today's news follows the January announcement of Intel's Diversity in Technology initiative, designed to encourage more diversity at Intel and within the technology industry at large. Intel has declared its intent to achieve full representation of women and underrepresented minorities in its U.S. workforce by 2020.

Only 15 percent of venture capital-funded companies in the United States have a woman on the executive team, according to a recent Babson College report, and companies with a woman CEO receive only 3 percent of total venture capital dollars.

Furthermore, less than 1 percent of the founders of Silicon Valley companies are African American or Latino; nearly 100 percent of funded founders are white or Asian, according to industry surveys.