Professional Background
Paul Katsen is the Co-Founder of Gym Class VR (IRL Studios Inc), a leading virtual reality sports experience platform, particularly popular for its basketball simulation. Gym Class VR allows users to compete, meet new people, and interact in an immersive virtual sports environment. Gym Class has been notably successful in integrating into the Meta Quest ecosystem and securing a significant licensing deal with the NBA to use official team courts and branded apparel.
Prior to founding Gym Class VR, Paul Katsen has held significant roles in notable tech companies:
- Twitter (Group Product Manager): Led product design and full-stack investments for Home Timeline with a focus on personalization and scalability.
- Coinbase: Contributed to consumer product strategy, emphasizing the shift towards cryptocurrency as a primary financial service. Later transitioned to the Developer Platform team.
- Blockspring (Co-Founder & CEO): Developed a serverless computing developer platform which was later acquired by Coinbase.
- Outpost Kitchens (Co-Founder): Operated a 'ghost kitchen' service integrated with major food delivery platforms.
- Mission Measurement (Engagement Manager): Provided strategic growth advisory to executive teams.
- ZS Associates (Analyst): Advised pharmaceutical and medical device leaders on sales operations and marketing strategy.
Education
Paul Katsen's educational background includes:
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Dual Degree in B.S. Systems Integration & Design Engineering and B.S. Finance.
- Y Combinator: Participated in the S14 (2014) and W22 (2022) batches.
- Udacity: Obtained a Self-Driving Car Engineer Nanodegree in October 2018.
Key Achievements and Insights
- Gym Class VR: The platform has become the most downloaded sports VR app on Meta Quest and has raised significant funding, including an $8 million investment announced in August 2022.
- NBA Partnership: The integration with the NBA allows users access to all 30 team courts, enhancing user engagement and brand synergy.
- Product Leadership: At Twitter, led advancements in the Home Timeline's functionality, impacting user personalization at scale.
- Strategic Innovation: At Coinbase, instrumental in pivoting the consumer product towards being a comprehensive financial account for cryptocurrency users.
Key Links and Resources
- [Paul Katsen LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkatsen)
- [Paul Katsen’s Tweets](https://twitter.com/pavtalk?lang=en)
- [Gym Class VR Official Website](https://www.gymclassvr.com/)
- [Gym Class VR on Y Combinator](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/gym-class-by-irl-studios)
- [Gym Class NBA Integration Case Study](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2023/07/24/Technology/nba-gym-class-vr.aspx)
Additional Information
Paul continues to be highly active on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where he shares insights about Gym Class VR's progress and recruitment efforts. Notably, he has emphasized the company’s ongoing growth and development, communicating opportunities for talented professionals to join their high-velocity team in social gaming and VR development.
Note
For a comprehensive understanding of Paul Katsen's professional journey and current ventures, refer to his LinkedIn profile and other provided links. This report encapsulates key professional milestones and the strategic vision driving Gym Class VR forward under Paul’s leadership.
