Mike Schroepfer

Mike Schroepfer is an American technology executive and investor best known for his tenure as the Chief Technology Officer of Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. He played a pivotal role in scaling the company's technical infrastructure to support billions of users and led major initiatives in artificial intelligence and virtual reality. After stepping down from his operational role in 2021, he has focused on climate-focused philanthropy and investing in ambitious scientific research through his role at the Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund and other ventures.

Early life and education

Born in Washington, D.C., he demonstrated an early aptitude for technology and programming. He pursued his higher education at Stanford University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in computer science. His academic work at Stanford focused on distributed systems and computer architecture, foundational knowledge that would later inform his career in building large-scale technology platforms. During this period, the Silicon Valley ecosystem, fueled by the rise of companies like Netscape and Yahoo!, was entering a period of rapid expansion.

Career at Facebook

He joined Facebook in 2008 as its Vice President of Engineering, a period when the social network was experiencing explosive growth but faced significant technical challenges in scalability. He was instrumental in leading the engineering team to rebuild and stabilize the platform's core infrastructure, transitioning it to a more efficient and open-source technology stack. Promoted to Chief Technology Officer in 2013, his responsibilities expanded to overseeing the company's long-term technology strategy, including the development of the Open Compute Project, Facebook AI Research (FAIR), and the acquisition and integration of Oculus VR. Under his technical leadership, Facebook successfully scaled to support over two billion users and made significant investments in fields like machine learning, data center design, and augmented reality.

Post-Facebook activities

He transitioned to a part-time role as a Senior Fellow at Meta Platforms in late 2021, focusing on the company's artificial intelligence and metaverse development efforts before departing fully in 2022. Since leaving his full-time executive position, he has become a prominent investor and advisor, focusing on breakthrough technologies aimed at addressing global challenges. He serves as a venture partner and advisor to the Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, founded by Bill Gates, which invests in companies working on climate change mitigation. He also advises and invests in several early-stage technology companies and research initiatives through his own office, with a particular interest in renewable energy, carbon removal, and advanced scientific computing.

Philanthropy and advocacy

His philanthropic efforts are primarily channeled through the Schroepfer Family Foundation, which supports initiatives in environmental conservation, scientific research, and education. He is a significant donor and board member for organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund and the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. A strong advocate for open science and collaborative research, he has funded projects in areas such as climate modeling, ocean health, and biodiversity monitoring. He frequently speaks at forums like the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence's events, advocating for increased private-sector investment in high-risk, high-reward scientific endeavors to solve planetary-scale issues.

Personal life

He is married to Shari Schroepfer, and the couple has two children. They maintain residences in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been involved in local community and educational initiatives. An avid outdoorsman, his personal interests include mountaineering, skiing, and scuba diving, passions that have informed his commitment to environmental causes. He is also a licensed pilot and has expressed a long-standing interest in aerospace and exploration, themes that align with his support for frontier technology and science.