Cris Mercado is CEO & Founder of GrantAnswers, a data, strategy & product consulting firm for social impact. GrantAnswers has helped client organizations grow operational budgets and earned revenue to +$5MM, accelerate nationwide expansion, and secure funding from top philanthropic foundations and investors. Cris has led initiatives, created content and managed projects to train +650 emerging, diverse technologists for tech careers, to expand opportunities for entrepreneurship nationwide, and to increase higher education access. Trusted by the likes of WSJ, NBC, Teach For America, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce for features, keynotes, and panels, Cris covers workforce development, higher education, entrepreneurship, tech diversity, and his journey from undocumented child to 21 year old, debt-free Ph.D. candidate and Forbes Next 1000 award-winning entrepreneur.