Ventura, Calif.-based Koobz, a pioneer in 3D-printed footwear, is planning a massive expansion of its operations on the back of a $6-million funding round announced this week.
Led by Uncork Capital and supported by Cake Ventures, V1.VC, Karman Ventures, Antler, Pathbreaker Ventures and Anorak Ventures, the new cash infusion adds to $1.2 million in seed funding generated last fall, for full funding of $7.2 million that will be used to open a new factory and scale production over the course of the coming years.
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Koobz founder Kuba Graczyk, a veteran of the 3D-printing industry who immigrated to California from Poland in 2017, said he aims to bring footwear manufacturing back to the U.S. by revolutionizing the space using novel technologies like robotics, automation and 3D printing.
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“After a year of having conversations with major footwear brands, I figured out that what’s needed is a complete reinvention of the way we’re thinking about putting shoes together,” he told Sourcing Journal.
Existing processes, even those used by production juggernauts in Asia, are too reliant on manual input and labor (though automation is picking up quickly). If the U.S. wants to compete in this arena, Graczyk believes it must find a way to manufacture shoes at scale while offsetting the much higher cost of labor—ergo, the focus on automated technology.
Koobz will utilize its new and substantial funding to open a 10,000-square-foot factory in Ventura not far from where it’s been operating: Graczyk’s garage, with a total of 53 3D printers. The added space and capital will allow the company to grow its fleet of 3D printers from 100 at move-in to up to 900 over the course of the next two years, facilitating the production of 400,000 pairs of shoes annually. The opening of this facility and innovation lab will be a preliminary step toward the goal of eventually building a much bigger factory with 4,000-5,000 machines that can produce between 2 million and 4 million pairs per year, the founder said.
By the end of 2025, Graczyk he anticipates acquiring 100 more printers and growing his team from 15 to 40 individuals. “We will create about 40 engineering roles in Ventura, which we believe will have a huge impact on the community. We’re already in process of relocating some of the best talents from all over the states to help us build it,” he said.
Throughout the past two years, he’s enticed former Nike footwear innovation program director Michael Hoffman to join the firm as head of innovation and chief business development officer, technology and engineering expert Tomasz Cieszyński to come on board as chief technology officer, and digital manufacturing, 3D printing and robotics executive John Dulchinos to serve as chief operating officer.
The executive team is united in a belief that “mass customization and personalization” represent the future of footwear. According to Graczyk, major brands—some of which have signed on with the company to produce their first runs of product—see on-demand, quick-turn production as the vehicle for providing shoppers with the exact products they want, when they want them. Manufacturing in California gets brands closer to their end market, shortening the supply chain, and Koobz’ 3D-printing process consolidates the 30-plus inputs and components used to make standard casual and athletic shoes down to just one or two materials, streamlining production.
“This facility will be fully automated with almost zero direct labor involved in the process,” Graczyk said. “Our workflow will allow for on-demand manufacturing for the bigger brands and boutique brands, or even individuals like Instagram influencers or YouTubers.”
A member of the U.S. Footwear Manufacturing Association (USFMA), Koobz was among the American producers that took to Washington earlier this year to implore lawmakers to prioritize domestic production. In recent months, Graczyk said business has indeed picked up, though he attributes that shift, at least in part, to the supply chain upheaval spurred by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. In fact, the influx of interest was a deciding factor in the company’s pursuit of capital for the purpose of expansion.
“‘Liberation Day’ happened, and I would say it was a pivotal moment in our philosophy, in accelerating us into making a decision on fundraising,” he said. “We received so many calls and so many emails. My phone was red hot from the companies that wanted to work with us to help them navigate through [the tariffs], to have some manufacturing capacity in the United States.”
“Many good projects started in that week or two weeks. And that further emphasized that the market is there, demand is there,” Graczyk added. “We’ve gained confidence in the fact that this is a scalable business, and we can create a massive dent in the universe and U.S. manufacturing.”
“Koobz’s ingenuity and capital efficiency drew us at Uncork to lead this seed round,” the venture capital firm’s founding partner, Jeff Clavier, said. “They’re delivering the right solution, at the right time, with the right cost structure for the U.S. footwear industry. We’re thrilled to support the buildout of this manufacturing capability right here in California.”