Tristan Walker had a successful run as head of business development at Foursquare before leaving in 2012 to become entrepreneur-in-residence at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. After seven months mulling such issues as childhood obesity and banking, he went after something staring him in the face -- razor bumps. He, like many black men, was plagued by the bumps when he shaved.
"There was no light-bulb moment," said Mr. Walker, 30. "It was 15 years of engaging in this experience."
His startup, Walker & Co., is looking to remedy the dusty ethnic personal-care shelves stocked with products in outdated packaging.
People of color spend nine times the general population per capita on personal care, even if that's not reflected in stores, he said, adding the market is much bigger if you take into account men who don't shave because of razor bumps. Bevel, launched late last year, addresses that need, but by next year Walker & Co. will start rolling out women's brands.
