Reebok founder bets on Syntilay’s AI-designed, personalized 3D printed footwear

Boasting Reebok’s founder as an advisor, Syntilay is a luxury footwear brand that uses artificial intelligence and on-demand 3D printing to produce shoes tailored to an individual’s feet. The company founded by Ben Weiss leverages Zellerfeld’s footwear 3D printing platform in the US, Syntilay provides the customization frameworks to make fully mass-customized shoes.

The process is not entirely new; however, as 3D scanning technologies become more accessible and proficient—and 3D printing technologies become more productive—business models introduced over a decade ago are getting closer to reality in terms of potential adoption. This trend is particularly evident across consumer segments such as eyewear, footwear, and sports equipment, as highlighted by VoxelMatters’ massive report on the AM opportunity in the Consumer Products sector.

The emergence of standalone companies leveraging Zellerfeld’s platform demonstrated the viability of this business model and Zellerfeld’s position as the leading global platform for 3D printing footwear. It also demonstrates the viability of filament extrusion technology (FDM or FFF) as a production method through 3D printer farms, something imagined early on, but few believed could be cost-effectively implemented.

With Syntilay, customers scan their feet with a mobile device, and the resulting model captures more than 5,000 data points, which are used to generate a fit-specific digital representation for each foot. Syntilay frames its approach as an alternative to mass-produced sizing, with each pair manufactured to match the scan rather than a standard-size run.

Zellerfeld’s platform is designed to support scan-to-fit production and creator-led footwear releases. There are several such designers around the world—including top brands such as Nike—but Syntilay can boast an advisory roster that includes Joe Foster, the co-founder of Reebok. Syntilay positions a combination of AI-driven design, foot scanning and 3D printing as an end-to-end workflow intended to compress product development and enable individualized output without traditional tooling.

Syntilay already markets several models, including Pulse Podz, Luminez and Xplorer Ultra, with prices generally between $100 and $200. Pulse Podz is a lattice-based 3D printed slide intended to adapt to pressure zones and airflow, while Luminez is positioned as a more automated AI-developed design. The company also promotes in-person scanning through a New York City activation it brands “Syntilay Live in Times Square,” at The Candler Building, to capture foot traffic data for custom-fit production.

Outside the product line, Weiss hosts the business podcast “LegendsNLeaders,” which the show’s materials describe as interviews with entrepreneurs and public figures focused on career building and impact, including guests such as Kevin O’Leary, Howie Mandel, Steve Madden and R’Bonney Nola.