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Vivobarefoot

HardwareLondon, United KingdomFounded 2012· One of 1757 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

British minimalist barefoot footwear brand designing wide, thin, and flexible shoes to promote natural foot movement

CEO / Founder
Galahad Clark
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Growth Stage
Total Funding
$16.1M
Latest Round
Series A
Key Investors
Sofina; The Clark Group (UK); Innovate UK; Stella Investments Overseas; Crowdcube investors

Technology & Products

Key Products

Primus (road running/training); Tracker (hiking/outdoor); Magna (everyday casual); Motus Strength (training); Gobi (lifestyle boots); Ra (sandals); Evo (performance running); ReVivo (refurbished/resale program); VivoBiome (scan-to-print custom footwear system)

Technological Advantage

Patented ultra-thin puncture-resistant sole technology; VivoBiome scan-to-print 3D-printed custom footwear system; ReVivo circular economy resale program; strong B Corp sustainability credentials

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Designs footwear that mimics barefoot biomechanics — wide toe box, zero drop, thin flexible sole — to strengthen feet and improve posture naturally

How They Differentiate

Heritage as seventh-generation cobblers (Clarks family lineage); stronger design/aesthetic focus vs. competitors; highest-ranked B Corp shoe brand globally; VivoBiome custom 3D-printed footwear; ReVivo circular resale program; premium positioning at higher price point

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Health-conscious consumers, runners, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals seeking foot health alternatives to conventional footwear

Industry Verticals

Footwear (athletic, casual, outdoor); Retail (DTC e-commerce, physical stores); Natural health/wellness

Competitors

Xero Shoes; Vibram FiveFingers; Merrell (barefoot line); Lems Shoes; Freet; Groundies

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

FY2024/25 revenue: £91.4M (up 5% YoY); 773,000 pairs sold in 2022; DTC pairs grew 4%, B2B pairs grew 14% in FY2024/25

Major Milestones

2012: Founded by Galahad and Asher Clark; 2016: Raised £1.38M via Crowdcube crowdfunding; 2020: Became B Corp certified; 2023: Launched VivoBiome scan-to-print system; 2024: Completed Series A with Sofina (£12.3M primary); 2024: Exited Crowdcube investors at 75% return

Notable Customers

B2B wholesale accounts; direct-to-consumer across 123 countries; collaborations with Timbaland, John John Florence, Cara Delevingne

https://www.vivobarefoot.com

Recent coverage of Vivobarefoot

Why this company matters

Vivobarefoot occupies a premium niche in the footwear market by rejecting the cushioning and arch support of conventional shoes. Its core premise is that a wide toe box, zero drop, and thin flexible sole strengthen feet and improve posture naturally. The brand's heritage as seventh-generation cobblers from the Clarks family lineage gives it a design and craftsmanship focus that competitors like Xero Shoes and Vibram FiveFingers often lack.

The company's patented ultra-thin puncture-resistant sole provides sensory feedback while protecting against urban hazards. Beyond standard models for running, hiking, training, and casual wear, Vivobarefoot launched VivoBiome in 2023, a scan-to-print system that produces custom 3D-printed footwear. This moves the brand into additive manufacturing for personalized fit, a differentiator in the barefoot shoe space.

Vivobarefoot sells direct-to-consumer across 123 countries and through B2B wholesale accounts. Its ReVivo refurbished resale program and partnerships with Balena on compostable materials and Circ on chemical textile recycling reinforce its B Corp credentials. The brand has collaborated with Timbaland, John John Florence, and Cara Delevingne, and counts Sofina as a strategic investor.

The VivoBiome system represents a strategic moat by combining foot scanning with additive manufacturing, but scaling custom 3D-printed production profitably remains an open question. With FY2024/25 revenue of £91.4M and 5% YoY growth, Vivobarefoot competes on quality and sustainability rather than price, positioning it against both barefoot specialists and premium athletic brands.