Koobz Raises $7.2M to Reinvent 3D Footwear Manufacturing
Category: Manufacturing, Venture Capital, 3D Printing Tags: footwear innovation, 3D printing, reshoring manufacturing
Californian startup Koobz secures $7.2 million in seed funding to build scalable, automated footwear production in the U.S., led by Polish founder Kuba Graczyk
Koobz, a Ventura-based startup pioneering 3D-printed, on-demand footwear manufacturing, has closed a $6 million funding round—bringing its total raised capital to $7.2 million. The latest round was led by Uncork Capital, with participation from Cake Ventures, Antler, V1.VC, Karman Ventures, Pathbreaker Ventures, and Anorak Ventures. The funding will be used to launch a new 10,000-square-foot factory in California and significantly scale production over the next two years.
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The company, founded by Polish-born entrepreneur Kuba Graczyk, aims to reshape the U.S. footwear industry by replacing traditional, labor-intensive manufacturing with fully automated, additive manufacturing techniques. The move comes amid growing momentum to reshore production in response to global supply chain disruptions and rising tariffs.
“We’re finally moving out of the garage,” said Graczyk, who previously ran Koobz operations out of his home, housing 53 printers. “With this investment, we’ll ramp up to 900 printers and reach an annual production capacity of 400,000 pairs of shoes—without relying on offshore labor.”
The new facility will serve as a stepping stone to an even larger factory expected to house 4,000–5,000 3D printers, enabling the production of 2–4 million pairs annually. The company plans to expand its team from 15 to 40 employees, creating high-value engineering roles in Ventura, California.
Uncork Capital’s founding partner Jeff Clavier praised Koobz for “delivering the right solution at the right time,” highlighting its potential to transform U.S. manufacturing with an efficient cost structure and local operations.
Koobz’s innovation is grounded in simplifying the traditional footwear production process. While a typical shoe involves 30+ components and assembly lines across multiple countries, Koobz reduces this to one or two materials through 3D printing. This streamlining not only cuts lead times and minimizes labor but enables mass customization for brands and creators.
“This isn’t just about scale. It’s about agility,” Graczyk said. “Our system allows large brands, boutique labels, and even independent influencers to produce personalized shoes on demand—with almost zero direct labor involved.”
The leadership team includes notable industry veterans such as Michael Hoffman (former Nike footwear innovation director), Tomasz Cieszyński (CTO), and John Dulchinos (COO), formerly in digital manufacturing and robotics. Together, they share a vision of hyper-localized, customizable, sustainable footwear.
Koobz’s rise parallels broader industry trends. Competitors like Zellerfeld and luxury brand Gucci have also embraced 3D printing and eco-materials in recent launches. Koobz, however, stands apart with its focus on scalable, domestic infrastructure and a zero-adhesive, stitch-free process.
As a member of the U.S. Footwear Manufacturing Association (USFMA), Koobz is a vocal advocate for reindustrializing the American footwear sector through automation, innovation, and smart policy shifts. “This is just the beginning,” Graczyk said. “We want to make a real dent in the universe—and in U.S. manufacturing.”
