Max Whitby is a filmmaker and scientist, and the founder of three successful digital media companies. He studied philosophy at Oxford University and then joined the BBC where he produced numerous Horizon and Nova documentaries. He has directed nearly a hundred films, mainly about science. Early on, he became involved in the BBC's pioneering Interactive Television Unit and headed a collaboration with Apple in San Francisco. Subsequently he co-led a management buy-out of this BBC group, forming a media publishing company that achieved a successful IPO in 1995.