Andy Allen

President, CEO & Co-Founder of Gritstone bio

Andrew Allen is an Alaskan designer and entrepreneur who has made a name for himself in the tech industry. He co-founded FiftyThree, the company behind the highly acclaimed drawing app, Paper, which amassed over 30 million downloads and received the prestigious Apple Design Award. The app and the company were later acquired by WeTransfer, where Andrew took on the role of Head of Product & Design for the US region.

Besides his work in the tech sector, Andrew is also passionate about film and founded Short of the Week, an online platform that showcases emerging filmmakers. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Washington Division of Design, where he imparts his valuable knowledge and experience to the next generation of product designers.

In addition, Andrew is the founder and CEO of ANDY.WORKS, his latest venture that focuses on crafting fun and useful everyday tools. When he's not building products or teaching, Andrew is involved in woodworking and toy-making, both of which allow him to create tangible objects with his hands.

Overall, Andrew Allen is an accomplished designer, entrepreneur, and creator with an impressive portfolio of work. His expertise spans a diverse range of industries, and he is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge with others.

Highlights

Yesterday · twitter

The more words in your title before the word Designer, the less real work you do.

Dec 14 · twitter

You spent $1000+ on your phone, don't get stuck using the same handful of apps as everyone else.

Great list of recommendations from the @MKBHD studio team.

Thanks for the shoutout as "Most Underrated App" @b_hvrd https://t.co/SVO4hnK29U

Experience

President, CEO & Co-Founder at Gritstone bio (Sep 2015 - Present); Member Board of Directors at Adaptimmune (Jun 2023 - Present); Chairperson of the Board at Peptone (Apr 2023 - Present); Member Board of Directors at Verge Genomics (Jul 2021 - Present)

Board Member at TCR² Therapeutics Inc. (Dec 2018 - Jun 2023); Member Board of Directors at Sierra Oncology (Nov 2017 - Jul 2022); Member Board of Directors at Epizyme (Jun 2014 - Nov 2021); Member Board of Directors at Cell Design Labs (Nov 2015 - Dec 2017); Chief Medical Officer, EVP Clinical and Pre-Clinical Development, Co-Founder at Clovis Oncology (2009 - 2015); Chief Medical Officer at Pharmion Inc (2006 - 2008); VP Clinical Development at Chiron Corporation (2004 - 2006); Global Project Head at Abbott Laboratories (2002 - 2004); Manager at McKinsey & Company (1999 - 2002)