Koobz closes seed round, bringing total funding to $7.2M
The company is building a US-based 800 3D printer farm for footwear manufacturing
Koobz, a footwear additive manufacturing company, has closed its Seed funding round, reaching a total capital of $7.2 million. The Ventura-based startup is using the fund to build up its manufacturing capabilities, targeting shoes made in the United States using AI, robotics, and 3D printing.
The round was led by Uncork Capital, with participation from Cake Ventures, Antler, V1, Karman Ventures, Pathbreaker Ventures, and Anorak Ventures. These investors trust a vision where advanced manufacturing is essential to America’s industrial future.
Koobz plans to use the funding to move into a new headquarters in Ventura, ending its early chapter of operations run out of a garage. This new space will house its first MVP factory, equipped with 800 industrial 3D printers and targeting production of 200,000 pairs of shoes by the end of 2026. But that’s just the beginning.
Traditional footwear manufacturing is riddled with inefficiencies: each shoe involves 70–200 components, 300–700 steps, and takes 18–24 months from design to store shelves. The system depends heavily on tooling, overseas labor, and large inventories, making it unsustainable for modern consumer demands.
Like other trailblazers in this segment, Koobz introduced a radically simplified approach. By leveraging a monolithic design and just two production steps, Koobz replaces manual labor with full automation. Its fully digital workflow allows brands, influencers, and creators to design, prototype, and start selling new footwear within days, not years—without any investment in molds or minimum order quantities.
With Koobz, there’s no tooling, inventory, or lag between idea and product. Orders are processed in real-time, and once a customer clicks “buy,” manufacturing begins instantly. The goal is to build a Shopify for shoes, but with integrated manufacturing and logistics.
Beyond innovation, Koobz champions local production. All shoes are manufactured in the United States, reducing reliance on overseas factories, minimizing emissions, and supporting American jobs. The move into the new Ventura HQ represents scaling a clean, efficient, and fully domestic supply chain.
Like Zellerfeld, Koobz is building a platform for others. From independent designers to large-scale labels, the platform removes every barrier to entry in footwear. Entrepreneurs can focus on creativity and brand-building, while Koobz takes care of the rest, including manufacturing, shipping, and returns.
