Alex Backer, PH.D., is the founder and CEO of QLess and serves on the California Institute of Technology Information Sciences and Technology Board of Advisors. He holds a degree in Biology and Economics from MIT and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computation and Neural Systems and Biology from Caltech. Prior to starting QLess, Backer held positions at McKinsey & Co., the Center for Computation, Computers, Information and Mathematics of Sandia National Labs, and Caltech. His research on neural coding and artificial intelligence has been published in the world’s leading publications such as Nature and Neural Computation. Backer has received a number of distinctions including the 2010 inaugural 40 Under 40 from M&A Advisor Recognition Awards and the 2013 International Business Awards’ Gold Stevie for IT Executive of the Year and Silver Stevie for Innovator of the Year.