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Robert Chess

Robert Chess

Chairman of BigHat Biosciences, Nektar Therapeutics and Issio Solutions

DirectorPublic companyRoles at 2 startups
Updated Nov 9, 2026·Latest SEC filing Oct 26, 2026·Suggest an edit

About Robert Chess

Rob Chess chairs BigHat Biosciences, Nektar Therapeutics and Issio Solutions. He is also Twist Bioscience's lead director and a Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer.

He previously led Nektar, OPX Biotechnologies and Penederm, and co-founded Biota Technologies. Earlier roles included Intel, Metaphor Computer Systems and the White House. His board service has included Caltech, Bio Ventures for Global Health and the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Experience

This experience comes from official bios and from SEC filings. For roles taken from filings, the years are when the filings name Robert Chess in the role, so the role may have started earlier or lasted longer.

Issio Solutions, Inc. Current
Chairman
2023 – Present · Lafayette, CA
Workforce scheduling and analytics software for healthcare organizations and federal agencies.
BigHat Biosciences, Inc. Current
Chairman
2022 – Present · San Mateo, CA
BigHat combines AI with an automated laboratory to design antibody drugs and advance its own and partners' programs.
Twist Bioscience Corp Current
Lead director (2014 – Present)
Director
2014 – Present · Public company (TWST)
Stanford Graduate School of Business Current
Lecturer in management
2004 – Present
Bio Ventures for Global Health Current
Board member; chairman from 2004 to 2009
2004 – Present
Nektar Therapeutics Current
Chairman of the Board
President and chief executive officer (1991 – 2001)
1991 – Present · Public company (NKTR)
California Institute of Technology
Trustee
2007 – 2023
Biota Technologies
Co-founder
Chairman (2013 – 2019)
2013 – 2019
OPX Biotechnologies
Chief executive officer (2007 – 2008)
Chairman (2007 – 2015)
2007 – 2015
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Director
1997 – 2008
Cotherix Inc.
Director
2006 – 2007 · Public company (CTRX)
White House Office of Economic and Domestic Policy
Deputy associate director (1990 – 1991)
White House fellow (1990 – 1991)
1990 – 1991
Penederm
Co-founder and president
1986 – 1989
Metaphor Computer Systems
Market segment manager
1983 – 1985
Intel
Product manager and strategic marketing manager
1980 – 1983

Key Colleagues at Startups

The people Robert Chess works with at each company, as listed on that company's latest Form D.

BigHat Biosciences, Inc. · Form D, Oct 26, 2026
Peyton Greenside
Peyton Greenside
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, director
Issio Solutions, Inc. · Form D, Jun 30, 2026
AU
Arne Brock-Utne
Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer, director
MM
Mark Musco
Director
YP
Yorick Phoenix
Chief Technology Officer

Robert Chess in the News

Sources

  1. SECBigHat Biosciences, Inc. Form D, filed Oct 26, 2026
  2. SECIssio Solutions, Inc. Form D, filed Jun 30, 2026
  3. SECForms 3, 4 and 5 filed by Robert Chess (SEC filer 1227886)
  4. CompanyBigHat biography of Rob Chess