Peter Klein
About Peter Klein
Peter Klein is a senior finance executive with almost 25 years of experience. He was Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft from November 2009 until May 2013. Before that he spent over 11 years at Microsoft, including as CFO of the Server and Tools and Microsoft Business Divisions. Amy Hood succeeded him as Microsoft CFO.
From January to June 2014 he was CFO of WME, which had just announced its $2.4 billion acquisition of IMG. From 1990 until 2002 he held senior finance roles at McCaw Cellular Communications, Orca Bay Capital, Asta Networks and Homegrocer.com. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and an MBA from the University of Washington.
He has served on several boards. Crunchbase lists Apptio (from November 2013), F5 and Palladyne AI. MarketScreener lists Denali Therapeutics (from 2018), Accolade (lead independent director 2019 to 2025) and NPower Seattle, among others. Board dates differ between sources.
Crunchbase counts 2 personal investments, 1 portfolio company, 0 lead investments, 1 exit (not by IPO) and no companies founded. Its latest listed investment is a seed round in Livible, with the amount and date not shown publicly. Klein has no public track record of frequent angel deals. His public activity is mainly board service.
His clearest AI link is Palladyne AI, which Crunchbase lists as his current board role. Palladyne is the former Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation, and it develops embodied AI software for robots and autonomous systems. In 2016 GeekWire reported that Klein was joining the board of Sarcos Robotics as part of a $10.5 million round from Microsoft, Caterpillar Ventures, GE Ventures and others. That report does not say whether he invested personally. MarketScreener lists his Palladyne directorship as ending in January 2024, while Crunchbase still shows it as current. No other AI angel investments are public.
Klein has not publicly stated a stage focus, sector focus or check size. His board seats cover enterprise software, networking, robotics and AI, health technology and biotech. His experience is in finance, audit and capital markets. He chaired the Audit Committee at Apptio and is audit committee chair at Denali. Founders should treat these as signs of his experience, not as a stated investment thesis.
- Livible: Crunchbase lists a seed round investment; the date and amount are not public.
- Sarcos Robotics (now Palladyne AI): robotics and AI software company; Klein joined the board in 2016 as part of a $10.5 million round, though a personal investment is not confirmed.
- crunchbase.com/person/peter-klein
- geekwire.com/2016/sarcos-robotics-raises-10-5m-microsoft-caterpillar-g
- marketscreener.com/insider/PETER-KLEIN-A0TBHM
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Klein_(CFO))
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladyne_AI
- hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wme-taps-microsoft-exec-p
- fintool.com/app/research/companies/DNLI/people/peter-klein
Investing activity
Peter Klein has made 2 investments according to Crunchbase across 1 portfolio company, and has seen 1 exit.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Peter Klein
Is Peter Klein an active angel investor?
Crunchbase lists 2 personal investments and 1 portfolio company, with no lead investments. Public information shows board service more than frequent angel deals.
What is Peter Klein's background?
He was CFO of Microsoft from 2009 to 2013 and CFO of WME in 2014. He also held finance roles at McCaw Cellular, Orca Bay Capital, Asta Networks and Homegrocer.com.
What is Peter Klein's connection to AI companies?
He is listed as a board member of Palladyne AI, formerly Sarcos, which builds AI software for robots. He joined the Sarcos board in 2016.
What check size does Peter Klein write?
No check size is public. Do not assume a range.
What can a founder expect from Peter Klein beyond capital?
His public record is in finance, audit committees and public company governance. This suggests he could help with financial strategy, but he has not stated what he offers founders.
Is Peter Klein an angel investor?
Yes. Peter Klein invests personally as an angel and is Board Of Director at Palladyne AI. Crunchbase counts 2 investments and 1 exit.
How can founders reach Peter Klein?
Founders on Lounge can see Peter Klein's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add Peter Klein to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.