Gabe Duan
CTO
Gabe Duan, CTO of Next Play, is the architect behind the company’s next-generation sports technology platform. With a strong foundation in software engineering, cloud infrastructure, and immersive computing, Gabe brings a deep technical skillset and visionary mindset to the team. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from Dalian University of Technology—two institutions that shaped his passion for building cutting-edge technology with real-world impact.
Gabe’s journey into tech started at the age of 12 when he began programming in C. Since then, he’s worked on high-performance cloud gaming systems, developed full-stack applications in the MERN stack, and led research on brain-computer interfaces at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and UCLA. At VRVIU, he built a cloud gaming latency benchmark system using YOLOv5n and Rust that achieved over 99.5% accuracy—pushing the boundaries of low-latency interactive experiences.
Gabe also grew up a passionate fan of baseball and basketball, watching games with his family and learning to appreciate the strategy, precision, and teamwork that define great sports moments. That early connection to sports now fuels his work at Next Play, where he builds systems designed to enhance the fan experience and bring people closer to the action.
A long-time Arch Linux user and advocate for open-source technology, Gabe is also passionate about digital freedom, system optimization, and continuous learning. Whether deploying scalable infrastructures on AWS, refining machine learning models for predictive gaming, or optimizing real-time APIs, he leads with precision, creativity, and a deep sense of ownership.
With a unique background spanning neuroscience, machine learning, cloud gaming, and full-stack development, Gabe is perfectly positioned to lead Next Play into the future. His commitment to innovation and lifelong love for sports ensure the company continues to deliver unforgettable interactive experiences for fans around the world.
