Victor Allis

Timeline

1. 1988–1989

   Solving Connect Four

   In October 1988, he solves Connect Four, independently of James Dow Allen, with a knowledge-based approach built on nine strategies. In 1989, his program Victor, written with Jaap van den Herik and Jos Uiterwijk, wins the Connect Four gold medal at the first Computer Olympiad in London.

2. 1990–1992

   Computer Olympiad gold medals

   His programs win Awari at the Computer Olympiad in 1990, 1991 and 1992, and Qubic in 1991. At the fourth Olympiad in London in 1992, Victoria, written with Loek Schoenmaker, takes the Gomoku gold, and Lithidion, written with Maarten van der Meulen, takes the Awari gold.

3. 1993–1994

   Go-Moku solved, then a doctorate

   With Jaap van den Herik and Matty Huntjens, he shows in 1993 that Go-Moku is a win for the first player, using a search technique called threat space search. A cum laude MSc graduate in computer science from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, he completes his PhD in artificial intelligence at Maastricht University in 1994 under Jaap van den Herik. The thesis, Searching for Solutions in Games and Artificial Intelligence, introduces proof-number search and dependency-based search.

4. 1997–2010

   Co-founding Quintiq

   In September 1997, he and other former Bolesian employees found Quintiq, a supply chain planning company in 's-Hertogenbosch, on the belief that artificial intelligence can plan a company's production and distribution better than humans, and he serves as its CEO. Shortcuts similar to those in his Connect Four solution help Quintiq make planning decisions. In 2010, he relocates to the company's Philadelphia office, remaining CEO and a co-owner.

5. 2008

   Dutch Entrepreneur of the Year

   In 2008, he is named Dutch Entrepreneur of the Year while leading Quintiq.

6. 2014–2016

   Quintiq joins Dassault Systèmes

   In July 2014, Dassault Systèmes announces a definitive agreement to acquire Quintiq for about €250 million; as co-founder and CEO, he says the Quintiq team is excited and proud to join. The product becomes DELMIA Quintiq in October 2014, and he remains CEO until 2016.

7. Since 2017

   Operating partner and board member

   From 2017, he works as an operating partner with private equity firms and serves on the boards of international B2B software companies. He chairs the board of SpinifexIT and serves as its strategic advisor.

8. As of October 2026

   Chief Pollster at ActiVote

   In 2019, he co-founds ActiVote, a Boston-based election information technology company, with Sara Gifford and Paul-Erik Raué. As of October 2026, he is its Co-Founder and Chief Pollster, the person who runs its polling.