#TechCEO: How Min-Liang Tan Turned Razer Into Gaming's Most Iconic Brand

In the last decade, numerous gaming peripheral companies, such as Logitech and HyperX, have successfully capitalized on the booming gaming and esports scene.

However, none have pretty ingrained themselves into gamer culture like Razer. Surprisingly, some gamers are so devoted to the brand that they even opt to tattoo its logo onto their skin.

The gaming accessories market is fiercely competitive, but only a brand like Razer can confidently claim to be the face of modern gaming. This distinction can be attributed to one individual.

The Man Behind Razer

It is always inspiring to hear a rags-to-riches story, and Razer's Min-Liang Tan is no stranger to the challenges of building a company from scratch.

Tan, a true gamer at heart, made the bold decision to leave his law career in Singapore in 2005 to kickstart the gaming accessories company Razer. This decision was not made on a whim; Tan envisioned creating devices that would take gaming to the next level for players like him.

"We said: 'Is there a possibility for us to build a better mouse?' All we wanted to do was to be able to compete with the rest of the gamers out there," Tan revealed in an interview with CNBC.

According to Forbes, Razer secured funding from key investors such as IDG-Accel, Temasek Holdings, Intel, and Li Ka-shing's Horizon Ventures during its early stages. The company's flagship product, the Boomslang mouse, garnered significant attention.

Setting the Standard in Gaming Accessories

Razer initially focused on developing and marketing the Boomslang, a high-end computer gaming mouse focused on speed and accuracy - tailored for the newest high-octane shooters and RPGs.

Razer initially concentrated on developing and marketing the Boomslang. Over the years, the brand has cultivated a vast global following and achieved significant success, with millions of gaming laptops, mice, fitness bands, and tablets sold.

Among Razer's notable achievements are the Razer DeathAdder gaming mouse, which stands as the company's top-selling product, and the widespread adoption of Razer mice, utilized by approximately 8% of professional FPS gamers.

In 2021, Razer introduced the groundbreaking 8 kHz "HyperPolling" technology with the Razer Viper 8K, further solidifying its position at the forefront of gaming innovation.

The company made headlines in November 2017 with the launch of its first gaming smartphone, the Razer Phone, signaling its expansion into new territories beyond traditional gaming peripherals.

Furthermore, the company made strides in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing high-grade designer masks under Project Hazel in January 2021, later renamed Zephyr in October 2021.

In 2021, Razer expanded its product lineup to include gaming chairs with the introduction of the Iskur, followed by the Enki chair marketed for "all-day gaming" comfort.

Keeping the Fire Alive

At the age of 40, Tan earned the title of Singapore's youngest self-made billionaire when Razer went public in November 2017. In the same year, Razer's revenue reached approximately US$4 billion.

"We could have stopped at just making a mouse or hardware. Instead, we've created an entire ecosystem," Tan stated.

Recently, Razer Fintech, Razer's financial technology branch, and its B2B payments unit, Razer Merchant Services (RMS), announced a rebranding. Fiuu debuts a new name, logo, and identity.

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