Peter Steinberger
@steipete United States601K followers
PSPDFKit founder turned creator of OpenClaw, the open-source personal AI agent
OpenClaw, PSPDFKit (Nutrient), CodexBar +2
exit story · 2021 · developer tools
How Peter Steinberger Sold PSPDFKit (Nutrient) to Insight Partners (2021)
PSPDFKit (Nutrient) was built by Peter Steinberger and sold to Insight Partners in 2021.
Key facts
- Buyer
- Insight Partners ↗
- Year
- 2021
- Price
- Undisclosed
- Revenue at sale
- —
- Years operated
- 10 years
- Channel
- Direct sale
Why they sold: After more than a decade of pouring nearly all his time and energy into the company, Peter felt he needed a break.
The story of PSPDFKit (Nutrient)
PSPDFKit started in Vienna in 2011 as a bootstrapped PDF framework for iOS that Peter Steinberger built. It expanded to Android, web and server SDKs and grew into an enterprise document platform used by companies such as Dropbox, DocuSign, SAP and IBM.
In October 2021 PSPDFKit announced a €100 million strategic growth investment led by Insight Partners, its first outside capital. Peter has since written that he sold his shares in the deal and that Insight acquired a majority of the company. Peter and co-founder Martin Schürrer stepped back from full-time roles, while Jonathan Rhyne continued as CEO. The purchase price for the founders' shares was not disclosed separately.
The company later rebranded as Nutrient. Peter has written openly about feeling empty after the exit. He returned to building in 2025 with AI-focused open-source tools, including OpenClaw, before joining OpenAI in 2026.
Lessons Peter Steinberger shared
- 1.After an exit that took years of all-consuming work, expect a period of emptiness; purpose has to be created again rather than found.
Paraphrased from the maker's public posts and interviews (see sources).
The maker
See the PSPDFKit (Nutrient) product page or Peter Steinberger's full profile for everything they have built since.
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Sources
- insightpartners.com — insightpartners.com/ideas/pspdfkit-announces-e100-million-strategic-investment-from-insigh
- steipete.me — steipete.me/posts/2025/finding-my-spark-again
Facts are taken from the maker's and buyer's public statements and press coverage. Prices and revenue are shown only when publicly stated; self-reported figures are not independently verified.
Keep exploring
PSPDFKit (Nutrient) acquisition FAQ
Who bought PSPDFKit (Nutrient)?
PSPDFKit (Nutrient) was acquired by Insight Partners in 2021 from Peter Steinberger.
How much did PSPDFKit (Nutrient) sell for?
The price was not publicly disclosed.
Why did Peter Steinberger sell PSPDFKit (Nutrient)?
After more than a decade of pouring nearly all his time and energy into the company, Peter felt he needed a break.
How long did it take PSPDFKit (Nutrient) to get acquired?
PSPDFKit (Nutrient) was sold about 10 years after launch, through a direct sale (sold directly to a buyer, often a competitor, customer or acquirer that reached out).
What did Peter Steinberger learn from selling PSPDFKit (Nutrient)?
After an exit that took years of all-consuming work, expect a period of emptiness; purpose has to be created again rather than found.