INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
footwear venture capitalist
The high-heeled, high-priced and hard-to-walk-in pairs beloved by the TV icon are pretty much the least fundable concept in the shoe startup
space lately.Instead, when they do dip their toe in the footwear space, venture investors have been putting a premium on comfort.At least
analysis of Crunchbase data
The vast majority is going to sellers and designers of footwear that people might actually want to walk in.Top funding recipients are a
varied bunch, including everything from used sneaker marketplaces to high-end designers to toddler play shoes
Startups are also experimenting with little-used materials, turning used plastic bottles, merino wool and other substances into chic
wearables.Below, we look at how startups are leveraging market trends to get a foot in the door.Growth marketIt should be noted that recent
footwear funding activity comes on the heels of some positive developments for the shoe industry.First, this is a huge and growing industry
cap of nearly $130 billion
Stocks of several smaller rivals, including Adidas, have also performed well.Third, men are spending more on footwear
Sneakers and sneaker-related businesses account for the majority of footwear startup funding, as consumers increasingly opt for more casual,
sportier styles.Much of the innovation is in the sale and design of pricey, high-performance shoes
in rare and high-end shoes
The three-year-old, Los Angeles-based company secured a $60 million Series C in February.Other sneaker companies to raise funding recently
athletic shoes for children.The spike in sneaker funding comes amid a growth streak for the sector
As mentioned previously, much of that is driven by men
maker of merino wool shoes in casual styles that has raised more than $27 million to date
startups have been kicking up a lot of capital lately
However, designers that offer varied heel heights are still scoring some big rounds
runs the gamut from flats to spike heels.But does it make moneyRecent history shows you can make a good exit with a shoe startup
And you can also flop or stagnate.One of the more noticeable recent flops was Vancouver-based Shoes.com, an online shoe retailer
markdown.Meanwhile, developers of 3D printing and scanning technology are stepping up the pace of MA
But in the exit-driven world of startup financing, it seems clear that Manolo Blahniks are out, while sneakers and insoles are in.
