CEO

Michelle Ritter

Michelle Ritter is the founder and CEO of Steel Perlot - an innovation engine and deep tech management company with in-house startups and investment vehicles, focused on four primary verticals: new money and distributed systems, physical sciences, applied AI/ML, and synthetic bio/life sciences. Additionally, Steel Perlot Foundation focuses on creating and investing in key talent and underlying IP that can produce globally scalable platform businesses.

Michelle completed her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, triple majoring in economics (game theory), international studies, and political science. Prior to graduate school, she worked on cyber wargaming at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Michelle then completed her JD/MBA at Columbia University, focusing on securities regulation, alternative assets, and market-making. Throughout this period, she centered heavily on programmable money and created the Steel Perlot model.

Formed in 2021, Steel Perlot now has over 100 employees, primarily situated across in-house financial infrastructure- and alternative asset-related startups and AI-driven cash engines and applied analytics.

Michelle has also embedded philanthropy into the fabric of Steel Perlot. Each startup within the engine must allocate a portion of its profits to impact, placing purpose and responsibility at the center of each company’s growth.

Michelle splits her time between New York and Los Angeles, accompanied by her German Shepherd, Henry.