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Carlton Calvin

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.

1 Episode

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

EP 763

Carlton Calvin: Razor. The wild rise, collapse, and reinvention of a mobile toy empire.

Carlton Calvin
Razor

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.

Sep 8, 202573 min

Related Companies

Razor

Razor

Razor is the worldwide leader in scooters and personal mobility products. Since 2000, the company has sold over 50 million scooters globally, including 15 million electric models, pioneering micro-mobility and making scooters a global phenomenon.

1 episode