Carlton Calvin
Carlton Calvin is President and Co-Founder of Razor, the toy company behind the iconic Razor scooter. Founded in 2000, Razor grew from a Silicon Valley cult trend to America's must-have scooter. A former lawyer and Cornell graduate, Calvin turned a simple idea into a global phenomenon.
Carlton Calvin's Bio
Carlton Calvin is President and Co-Founder of Razor, the company that revolutionized personal mobility with its iconic foldable scooter. Razor designs and manufactures rideables including scooters, RipStiks, Hovertrax, and Crazy Carts, transforming from a Silicon Valley cult phenomenon into America's must-have toy brand.
Before Razor, Calvin pursued a different path. A Cornell University graduate (1984), he trained as a lawyer and dreamed of filmmaking. Too scared to risk Hollywood, he channeled his creativity into product innovation instead.
The spark for Razor came from Calvin's fascination with toy trends. He spotted a simple scooter design's potential and moved fast, partnering with big-box retailers. By summer 2000, just months after launching, Razor was moving roughly a million scooters monthly, capturing imaginations nationwide.
Under Calvin's leadership, Razor has maintained its #1 position in America for over two decades. The company continuously expands its product line—from electric scooters to hoverboards—always focusing on quality and innovation. His ability to anticipate consumer trends has made him a respected figure in the toy and mobility industries.
Today, Razor continues to evolve, embracing electric mobility while staying true to the simple, durable design that made the original scooter a success. Calvin remains hands-on, steering the company through new waves of transportation innovation.
Career Timeline
1984 — Graduated from Cornell University
Earned bachelor's degree from Cornell University
1999 — Conceptualized the Razor scooter
After reading about Razor scooters in Tokyo, contacted the Taiwan manufacturer to explore the concept, realizing the potential of a full-size version for the US market.
2000 — Founded Razor USA
Co-founded Razor USA with Robert Chen and Gino Tsai to manufacture and distribute Razor scooters worldwide.
2001 — Razor named Toy of the Year
The Razor scooter won the prestigious Toy of the Year award, becoming the No. 1 toy in the world.
Episodes
Advice Line with Carlton Calvin of Razor
Carlton Calvin returns to the Advice Line to help early-stage founders work through real business bottlenecks. Sean Barasa asks how to grow his party game Eulogy beyond 1,000 units, Shereen Tippett wants to escape Etsy saturation and build a direct-to-consumer stationery brand, and Mark Ganter needs a strategy for his premium espresso martini when the market is racing toward canned convenience. Guy Raz moderates as Carlton shares practical guidance on licensing, social presence, product focus, and trend timing.
Carlton Calvin: Razor. The wild rise, collapse, and reinvention of a mobile toy empire.
Carlton Calvin turned a simple scooter idea into a cultural phenomenon, then weathered its collapse, and emerged with a reinvention that defied expectations. In this episode, he reveals how recognizing fleeting trends while building lasting brand equity became Razor's secret weapon. You'll learn why the same product that sparked a global craze also nearly sank the company, and how Carlton's pivot into new mobility categories saved the empire. This is a masterclass in riding hype cycles without being crushed by them.
