As a color man, Tristan Walker could not find a razor that worked. Then he created Bevel
"Shaving irritation and razor bumps [are] make up about 80% of the black men and women globally," Walker said. "If you have curly hair, this is a problem you're likely to meet."
The problem with Walker was that pharmacies predominantly sold multi-leaf razors that are not ideal for removing rough or curly hair and can often cause adult hair.
So in 2013, Walker Walker & Company Brands founded a launch that focuses on selling personal care products for color agents. "[My] The company really started out of my frustrations of not having products I could use," he said.
The first product line from his Palo Alto company was Bevel, which includes a single-blade razor as Walker says works best for skin like him and reduces the problems he experienced with other razors. It also includes a traditional shaving brush, shaving cream and other skin care products.
"The combination of Walker & Company's deep consumer understanding, authentic association with the community and unique, highly customized products, and P & G's highly qualified and experienced people, resources, technical capabilities and global scale will make It enables us to further improve the lives of world-wide multicultural consumers, "said Alex Keith, CEO of P & G Beauty.
Walker & Company will operate as a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble and Walker will continue to earn as CEO.
Walker has "zero concerns" that his startup conflicts with the global giant.
"Procter & Gamble wanted us to be able to maintain autonomy where we could maintain the agility and flexibility that we has always had to reach this consumer, "he said." I care very much about this company that we used blood, sweat and tears. I feel very comfortable and excited about this partnership. Everyone is getting ready for what's next. "
Far from Queens
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Walker, 34, grew up in South Jamaica housing projects in the New York City Borough of Queens. He was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs to support her three children.
"I have a enormous amount of respect and thank you for giving her to it," Walker said.
The drive also a drive in him to succeed early in life so he would be able to take care of his own family.
Walker joined the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz in 2012, where he became an entrepreneur-in-residence and taught in and out of Silicon Valley.
"If I [had] lived in New York, I would not have started this company," said Walker. "I would not have known much about Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley has really taught me to be innovative, to exploit technology in ways [you can] separate yourself from the competition."
Before the P & G acquisition, Walker said that the company raised $ 39 million in external funding over four rounds, including $ 6.9 million in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
"One thing that was very important to me is that people who supported me understood the problem we were trying to solve," Walker said.
He has also won celebrity investors, such as Magic Johnson, John Legend and Nas. "I think the reason Walker & Company resonates with those they act at the same times I do," Walker said. "It's not a special celebrity store they go to. We solve the same issues they have as I have."
Walker is ambitious, but he will be careful about cultivating the business.
"I've learned a lot like a CEO. When you have an ambition to build something that's global in nature, just take some time," he said. "It's about reflecting on the fact that we must have the 150th vision."
