Partner
Los Angeles, CA

Alexander is a partner with Cityfi, leading the firm’s data and technology solutions advisory work. His career spans projects across public, private, and civic sectors to create data-centric solutions for the public interest. He will also be working with Cityfi clients on go-to-market and scaling strategies for growth-stage ventures that operate in the public sector. Alexander is also an Adjunct Professor at UCLA’s Luskin School for Public Affairs, where he launched the UC system’s first course exploring the intersection of technology and policy branded “Digital Government”, and founded UCLA's “Data-Informed Governance” (D.I.G. Initiative), driving data-driven practices into local governments.

Most recently, Alexander was Head of Operations for two growth-stage and venture-backed health technology firms; one specialized in health data and analytics reporting for risk and quality programs, the other ensuring mobility for patients to and from care through technology-enabled medical transportation. In these roles, he designed and built data and technology infrastructure for the nation’s largest health plans and MCOs/HMOs to enhance compliance with the Affordable Care Act and build alignment to value-based care models.

Prior, Alexander founded and scaled a Y-Combinator and venture-backed gov-tech company, Tolemi, that provides data technology solutions for state and local governments. As co-founder and CEO, he grew the firm from a pilot to serving hundreds of localities to address challenges in housing and related urban development issues. Early in his career, he led the execution of data-centric solutions for tracking and dismantling global Human Trafficking rings for the U.S. Dept of State, tracing black market crude oil trading for International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and identifying businesses entangled in narco-terrorism in Latin America for Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC).

He holds an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Education

  • Harvard University,
    Masters in Public Policy, Business and Government Affairs

  • University of Pennsylvania,
    BA in Communications and Commerce

Affiliations

  • University of California Los Angeles Luskin School of Public Affairs, Adjunct Instructor

  • University of California Los Angeles,
    Data-Informed Governance Initiative, Founder

  • Y Combinator alum (Winter 2017 batch)

  • Harvard Innovation Lab - Resident Venture: Venture in Residence

  • Civic Innovation Accelerator alumni

Community involvement

  • Hack LA: Advisor to “Metro On-Time” - app tracking the on-time performance of LA Metro

  • Sierra Club of Los Angeles, Member

Recognition

  • Covered in New York Times, Fast Company, The Atlantic, Wired, Inc., Curbed, Governing Magazine, etc.

  • Amazon City on A Cloud: Innovation Challenge Winner (2017)

  • Boston Magazine “50 on Fire” Smart City Finalist (2016): Recognized as tech company improving urban life

  • GovTECH 100 (2015): Named as a “Top 100” innovative solution transforming public sector

  • OpenData 500 (2015): identified by NYU GovLab as creating economic value from public/open data

  • Open Government Grant (2014): Awardee of $10,000 to advance government transparency

  • Harvard President’s Challenge (2014): $15,000 Economic Development prize-winner

  • Harvard Public Sector Innovation Award (2013): $10,000 winner

Contact: alex@cityfi.co

Public, private, or civic sector?

I’ve always worked in private sector, but mostly on government programs or in highly regulated industries. Anything challenging, interesting, and high-impact will always involve the three collaborating, so it’s really critical to be able to cross the lines effectively

What is your favorite city?

I can find the essential part of any City and love it for that. Every area has something unique about it - history, food, industry, attitude, fashion, etc. Ashtabula, OH; San Bernardino, CA; Bucaramangara, Colombia; Dalat, Vietnam...all of them have a remarkable element. But if I had to choose, Milan blows my hair back.

The biggest mistake you ever made?

In 2005, a small athletic apparel company short on cash offered me some stock as payment to consult them on supply chain integrity in Latin America. I declined the offer. It was Lululemon.