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Inventor, Carson Kropfl
Carson Kropfl of San Clemente, CA started Locker Board in October 2016, when he was 11 years old. He was on Shark Tank in 2017, landing Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group as his investor. In February of 2020 he landed a licensing deal with Wham-O for both his Locker Board and Streetubez products and gave the exclusive announcement on ABC's hit show 2020.
Wham-O is the inventor of Hula Hoop, Slip 'N Slide and more of your favorite childhood toys. Carson is excited and honored to have partnered with this iconic company and to have his products part of their line up.
History of Locker Board
He had just begun middle school and wanted a skateboard that fit in his backpack and locker. None of his skateboards would, so he decided to create one. His parent's told him he had to clean and do chores to pay for his surf contests and surf lessons. Carson hates to clean, so he asked if he could try selling his Locker Board skateboards instead. Now, he's designed the only non-folding, sustainable skateboard on the market that can fit inside a backpack, appeared on Shark Tank and landed Sir Richard Branson as his investor.
(Read about his first company, Streetubez, here).
History of the Locker Board Deck
At first, Carson personally designed and built every Locker Board skateboard by hand in his modest backyard workshop out of used, recycled boards. After Shark Tank aired in 2017, to keep up with increasingly high demand, Carson hired the renowned board maker PS Stix to handle production and taught them his process of using recycled decks.
Then, in February of 2020 major toy company, Wham-O licensed the rights to Locker Board and has taken over manufacturing, sales and marketing. Due to scale, the decks are no longer made from recycled decks; however they are made from 100% maple wood (much more sustainable then plastic). Wham-O starting selling Locker Boards in retailers across the US and on Amazon in March of 2021. CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW!
Shark Tank and Sir Richard Branson
At age 11, Locker Board founder Carson Kropfl faced the “Sharks” in the season 9 premiere of ABC’s hit business reality show Shark Tank and struck a deal for his innovative skateboard company. The show’s celebrity investors heard the young entrepreneur’s pitch and fought to partner with Locker Board, the first non-folding, compact and sustainable skateboard designed to fit in a locker or backpack.
Now 12 years old, Locker Board founder Carson Kropfl of Orange County, California, impressed the group of “Sharks” with a skate demonstration on his portable skateboard alongside his skater friend Sierra Downer. Carson, who was joined by his mother Carrie Kropfl during his pitch, went in asking for $60,000 for 15 percent equity, and ended up accepting $65,000 for a 20 percent stake. Carson left during the negotiation to call his father, Kieth Kropfl, for advice before accepting Sir Richard Branson's offer.
Sir Richard Branson, business magnate, investor, philanthropist and founder of the Virgin Group, outbid Mark Cuban, billionaire businessman and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, as well as Robert Herjavec, tech entrepreneur and investor, for the opportunity to invest in Locker Board. Branson told Carson that the reason he invested in the 7th grader was because he reminded him of himself.
For press information click here: LOCKER BOARD PRESS KIT
To book Carson for an event click here: BOOK CARSON FOR AN EVENT