Who is OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger? The millennial developer caught the attention of Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerberg

Fortune

by Eva Roytburg

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Peter Steinberger, the millennial developer behind OpenClaw, has captivated tech leaders like Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerberg with his innovative approach to artificial intelligence. Known for founding PSPDFKit, a PDF management company that generated over $100 million in revenue, Steinberger made headlines by stepping away from coding after feeling creatively drained by the demands of running a business. However, his return to the AI field with OpenClaw—a groundbreaking open-source agentic platform—has reinvigorated his career and solidified his reputation as a visionary in the tech space. Steinberger’s journey began in rural Austria, where his passion for computers emerged at 14 after being introduced to a PC by a summer visitor. This curiosity led him to study software engineering in Vienna before moving into senior roles in Silicon Valley and eventually founding PSPDFKit in 2011. The company grew exponentially, becoming a cornerstone of PDF management across billion devices used by major brands like Apple and Dropbox. Yet, the pressures of being a CEO—managing boards, dealing with founder conflicts, and constant customer demands—ultimately left Steinberger feeling unfulfilled and creatively stagnant. In 2023, after stepping back from PSPDFKit, Steinberger took a break but remained intrigued by AI’s potential. His rediscovery of the field came in April 2025 when he built a simple Twitter analysis tool, realizing that AI had evolved significantly. This shift allowed him to focus on creating meaningful solutions rather than repetitive coding tasks. OpenClaw, his latest project, stands out as an always-on autonomous AI agent designed to operate locally on users’ machines, offering a unique alternative to traditional AI models that rely on user prompts for interaction. Steinberger’s story is not just about technical innovation; it’s a narrative of personal reinvention and resilience. His ability to pivot from building PDF tools to leading the agentic AI movement highlights the importance of adapting in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. As OpenClaw gains traction, Steinberger is positioning himself as a leader in open-source AI development, aligning his work with the growing demand for more dynamic and user-friendly AI solutions. For businesses and readers interested in tech innovation, Steinberger’s journey underscores the potential

Verticals

businessfinance

Originally published on Fortune on 2/19/2026