Darshan Shankar Research by SuperAGI

Executive Summary

Darshan Shankar is the Founder and CEO of Bigscreen VR, a leading innovator in the virtual reality (VR) industry. With a background that includes Y Combinator alumnus status and previous entrepreneurial and software engineering roles, Shankar has positioned Bigscreen VR as both a hardware and software provider in the global VR market. Based primarily in San Francisco with operations extending to Los Angeles and a distributed remote team across six countries, his leadership is central to Bigscreen’s rapid growth and pioneering achievements.

Professional Background

Role and Career Progression

Current Title: CEO & Founder, Bigscreen VR (2014 – Present)

Past Positions: Founder & CEO at Flotype

Technical Expertise: Software Engineering; Platform development; Real-time, immersive media technology

Education: Y Combinator alumnus, University of California, Berkeley

Shankar has demonstrated both technical and leadership competencies, having built mission-critical backend systems (including automation, fulfillment, and ML infrastructure) for Bigscreen’s products. His status as both a technologist and entrepreneur is reinforced by his strong engineering background and his public presence at industry events, such as panels with VR pioneers like Palmer Luckey.

Bigscreen VR – Company Overview

Company Profile

Founded: 2014 by Darshan Shankar

Type: Private, venture-backed by True Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz

Team: Remote, distributed across six countries; office in Los Angeles, CA

Employees: Not specified; global engineering focus

Product Portfolio

Bigscreen Software Platform: Launched in 2016, enabling users to watch movies, play games, and collaborate in VR environments; supports movie streaming through partnerships with major studios (notably Paramount Pictures).

Bigscreen Beyond: Launched in 2023; marketed as the world’s smallest VR headset, with a focus on comfort, ergonomics, immersion, and hardware-software integration. Compatible with SteamVR (including Valve Index, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality) and Meta Quest platforms.

User Base and Reach

User Base: Over 6 million users since product launch

Ecosystem: Cross-platform compatibility and partnerships demonstrate active market engagement and international reach.

Company Values

Diversity & Inclusion: Bigscreen is explicitly committed to workplace diversity and providing equitable opportunity, with clear anti-discrimination and accessibility policies, seeking to broaden representation within its global team.

Funding

Investors: Backed by premier venture capital firms, True Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz, signifying credibility and financial resources for continued product innovation and market expansion.

Industry Position & Notable Achievements

Product Innovation: Bigscreen Beyond’s miniaturized VR headset design directly addresses industry challenges surrounding comfort and immersion, positioning Bigscreen as a forerunner in VR hardware innovation.

Thought Leadership: Shankar’s frequent participation in key industry conferences (e.g., AWE 2024 alongside Palmer Luckey) and active presence on professional and social media platforms underscore influence and thought leadership among developers, partners, and early adopters in the VR sector.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaboration with major studios such as Paramount Pictures has expanded Bigscreen’s reach into VR movie distribution and streaming, bridging content and technology.

Venture Support: Close ties to elite Silicon Valley venture networks through both Shankar’s background and investor support, facilitating partnership opportunities and potential co-development initiatives.

Public Persona and Professional Interests

Professional Networks: 500+ LinkedIn connections; active on X/Twitter (@DShankar) and other industry channels

Interests: Virtual reality innovation, immersive media, software/hardware product development, remote/distributed team management

Shankar demonstrates a consistent commitment to advancing the state of VR technology, with public communication emphasizing product engineering, user experience, and scalable platform development. His personal involvement in both product vision and technical implementation reflects a hands-on, founder-led organizational culture.

Organizational and Strategic Insights

Decision Authority: As CEO and founder, Shankar is the key strategic decision-maker within Bigscreen, involved in both high-level partnerships and core technology development.

Key Priorities: Product differentiation (hardware-software integration, user comfort), platform/ecosystem expansion, and strategic alliances (content, technology partners)

Potential Engagements: Opportunities may exist for collaboration around content distribution, VR hardware supply chains, cross-platform integrations, or leveraging Bigscreen’s community and user base.

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