Children’s footwear brand Jbrds has secured $500,000 in new seed funding, which now values the Baltimore-based startup at $5 million.
Co-founded by podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Jay LeBow; former sports industry veteran at Mizuno and Adidas Mike Gugat; and top sporting goods merchant David Hirshfeld, Jbrds offers kid’s shoes anatomically designed to support foot structure and activity requirements at four distinct stages of a child’s physical development.
“After reviewing hundreds of x-rays and evaluating the current offering of generic kids’ footwear, it was clear there was a need in the footwear industry Jbrds could fill,” chief product officer Dr. LeBow said in a statement. “Now, every child can start on the right foot with shoes designed for their developmental needs and crafted with clinical expertise.”