Pantazis Houlis grew up in Κastellorizo (also known as Megisti). He studied mathematics at the University of Crete.

He completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Western Australia, i.e. Master’s degree in Algebraic Graph Theory (Mathematics), Ph.D. in Control Systems (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), and worked as a Professor at the University of Western Australia until 2012. He holds an extensive collection of 4,000 puzzles, 700 of which are his own inventions and prototypes.

Known in the puzzle community with many honours in puzzle designing, he is a member of the International Puzzle Party (IPP). Today, he is a co-founder and research and development manager of MaxxBrain. His aim is to introduce mathematical puzzles to education for efficient and entertaining learning. MaxxBrain works with several Indian state governments and hopes to expand soon in the rest of Asia. He recently founded Greece’s first Puzzle Museum on the island of Megisti, already attracting many Greeks and international visitors.