Zellerfeld

HardwareHamburg, Germany / Austin, Texas, USAFounded 2020· One of 1757 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Full-stack 3D printed footwear manufacturer and platform for on-demand, customized shoe production

CEO / Founder: Cornelius Schmitt
Team Size: 11-50
Stage: Growth Stage
Total Funding: $15M
Latest Round: Seed
Key Investors: Founders Fund; 468 Capital; Electric Feel Ventures; Valor Equity Partners

Technology & Products

Key Products

Zellerfeld Studio (designer/brand platform for launching 3D-printed footwear); GEN3 autonomous 3D printing system; zellerFOAM TPU material; Desktop printer (in development); Direct-to-consumer shoe sales (sneakers, slides, boots, casuals, barefoots)

Technological Advantage

Proprietary GEN3 autonomous FDM printers purpose-built for footwear; zellerFOAM (recyclable TPU) material; full-stack platform from foot scanning to design to production; multi-color printing capability; on-demand localized manufacturing model

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Zellerfeld produces fully 3D-printed shoes on demand using proprietary FDM printers and zellerFOAM TPU material, eliminating traditional supply chains, inventory, stitching, and glue. Their platform enables brands and designers to launch footwear without factories or upfront costs.

How They Differentiate

Zellerfeld produces a complete one-piece 3D-printed shoe (not assembled components), uses proprietary FDM printers and zellerFOAM material, and operates a platform model (Zellerfeld Studio) that lets any brand/designer launch 3D-printed footwear without factories or inventory.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Footwear brands (Nike, Halo, etc.), independent designers, and direct-to-consumer customers seeking custom-fit 3D-printed shoes

Industry Verticals

Footwear, Fashion, Consumer Products

Competitors

Hilos; Elastium; Koobz

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Opened US production hub in Austin, Texas (2025/2026); expanded from Hamburg-only to dual-continent production; Nike partnership launched 2024

Major Milestones

2020: Company founded; 2023: $15M seed round led by Founders Fund, platform beta launch; 2024: Nike Air Max 1000 collaboration launched; 2025: Desktop printer teased; 2026: GEN3 autonomous printer, Air Max 1000.2 launch, CFO/COO appointments, Texas production hub

Notable Customers

Nike; Halo; Sean Wotherspoon; multiple independent footwear designers on Zellerfeld Studio platform

https://www.zellerfeld.com

Recent coverage of Zellerfeld

Why this company matters

Zellerfeld operates as a full-stack 3D-printed footwear platform, producing complete one-piece shoes on demand using proprietary GEN3 FDM printers and zellerFOAM TPU material. The company eliminates traditional supply chains, stitching, glue, and inventory by printing each shoe as a single unit. Its platform model, Zellerfeld Studio, allows footwear brands and independent designers to launch 3D-printed shoes without building factories or holding stock.

The core technology centers on the GEN3 autonomous printing system, purpose-built for footwear, and zellerFOAM, a recyclable TPU material. Zellerfeld also offers multi-color printing and a foot-scanning workflow that feeds into design and production. A desktop printer is in development. The company operates production hubs in Hamburg, Germany, and Austin, Texas, enabling localized on-demand manufacturing.

Zellerfeld serves major footwear brands and independent designers. Notable collaborations include Nike (Air Max 1000 and Air Max 1000.2), Halo, and designer Sean Wotherspoon. The direct-to-consumer channel sells sneakers, slides, boots, and barefoot styles. Target customers range from large brands seeking custom-fit production to individual designers using the Studio platform.

The company's strategic moat lies in its vertically integrated platform combining proprietary hardware, material, and software. A $15M seed round in 2023 from Founders Fund, 468 Capital, Electric Feel Ventures, and Valor Equity Partners supports expansion. Key risks include scaling production capacity to meet brand demand and competing with assembled-component approaches from Hilos and Elastium.