NEW YORK, NY — IAMBIC has been awarded approximately $1M in grant funding from the National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research program.
IAMBIC, the innovative shoe company disrupting the centuries-old footwear industry with their sizeless, precision-fit footwear driven by proprietary AI algorithms, announced that the team has been awarded approximately $1M in grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This substantial funding enables IAMBIC to scale its cutting-edge precision-fit shoe design and manufacturing, setting the stage for transformative changes in footwear and fashion.
Advancing Technology and Manufacturing
Co-Founders Maeve Wang, CEO, and Chaudhry Raza Hassan, CTO, have spent over 4 years building and perfecting their proprietary approach to footwear, using robust AI technology and science-led, data-driven design features—for a shoe crafted precisely to the individual’s foot shape and biomechanics.
“NSF accelerates the translation of emerging technologies into transformative new products and services,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “We take great pride in funding deep-technology startups and small businesses that will shape science and engineering results into meaningful solutions for today and tomorrow.”
Erwin Gianchandani, NSF Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
Driving Scale and Collaborations
IAMBIC is now poised to set a new standard in the footwear industry. The precision-fit technology promises to disrupt traditional manufacturing methods, leading to a more efficient, sustainable, and health-focused industry. This funding will facilitate the expansion of IAMBIC’s capabilities, bringing AI-tailored shoes to a broader market, working with other footwear and fashion brands, and paving the way for mass personalization.
“This sets the stage for our next phase of growth as we scale manufacturing, expand our innovative product collection, and grow our footprint through exciting industry collaborations,” said Wang.
Maeve Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, IAMBIC
Delivering AI-Tailored Shoes
“We are thrilled to be delivering our precision-fit shoes to customers now,” said Wang. “Our shoes are designed to be truly personalized, and we believe IAMBIC breaks the mold with the power of data, science, and technology.”
The product collection, including the MODEL T shoes, uses technology developed with previous NSF support, now enhanced with new funding. This automated solution for precision-fit footwear includes: (1) a smartphone app that scans your feet and collects your fit preferences using AI, (2) automated personalization of the shoe mold to ensure a perfect fit, and (3) adaptable shoe components that adjust to your unique foot shape.
What the Grant Supports
- AI fit models: Translating a 3-image smartphone scan and comfort inputs into a made-to-fit last.
- Sole Print™ wear analysis: Using tread photos to inform adjustments on future pairs.
- Digital-to-physical craft: Improving the path from geometry to European manufacturing for consistent outcomes.
- Platform robustness: Scaling testing across devices and environments.
Background & Recognition
- Validated at scale: 50,000+ scans; 98% scan-to-last geometry match when captured as directed.
- Protected IP: 12 patent-pending inventions across fit modeling and digital-to-physical craft.
- Industry recognition: TIME Best Inventions.
- Ecosystem support: Stony Brook Center for Biotechnology.
- Design & craft: Designed in New York City. Crafted in Portugal.
About IAMBIC
IAMBIC builds custom-fit footwear from a quick smartphone scan and a short comfort survey. The platform translates 20+ biometric variables into a made-to-fit last and cushioning setup, then learns from wear over time. Signature Fit Guarantee with unlimited refits.
About the NSF SBIR Program
The National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research program funds early-stage technology development at startups with potential for broad impact. Phase II awards support prototyping, validation, and commercialization efforts.
Media Contact
Press inquiries: iambic.co/pages/contact
The most interesting thing about them being crafted just for me is how well they fit. And I hadnever even noticed that my shoes didn't fit right. My other shoes don't hurt me - they just slosharound. With these, the heels actually stay on the whole time and it fits snugly yet stillcomfortably. And I'd never experienced that before. They just stay comfortable all day.
As a runner, as an athlete, just knowing that I'm doing a good service to my body is incredible.It’s the reason that I love my IAMBIC shoes. It's that precision that makes me feel safe to walkdown the street, get on the subway, do my commute, bring my kids to school, and not feelconcerned that I'm doing it in a shoe that doesn't fit right or that doesn't feel good.
The thing that I was surprised by the most with the precision fit is that any pressure points thatI had been feeling with the shoes that I previously came in wearing were completely gone. I waswearing a shoe that wasn't too tight. It wasn't too loose. The sole fit just right. Total comfort.That's the best way to put it.
So I suffer from chronic foot pain and I believe that a lot of that has to do with wearing shoesthat actually don't fit. Whenever I wear my IAMBICs, I've noticed that I have felt less pain,which is really incredible. And they're just so comfortable. I'm not worried about the back of my heel popping out or my ankles not having enough support. Also, they're just so stylish andevery timeI wear them out in the street, I always get compliments, which never happens to me.
A shoe that may feel comfortable for a half hour walk is not a shoe that always feels comfortablefor a three and a half hour walk. So what I like about IAMBIC is, even though the snug fit isthere and it feels comfortable, it also feels substantial enough that I can walk a lot withoutgetting any discomfort. That's just something that's especially important to me and I think theshoe has really delivered that.
The first moment that I tried on my IAMBIC shoes, I noticed a difference. I have small feet. So whenever I try on shoes, I usually expect them to not fit. If they do fit, there's usually some sort of discomfort, whether that's in the toe box or too much space or at the heel. So knowing that this shoe was tailored to my foot was really meaningful. It's rare that you find a shoe like IAMBIC that truly is comfortable, but also hits the markers of style versatility.
I think we're all placed on this earth as unique individuals. None of us are really off the rack in terms of sizing. So for me to have that experience of having something made specifically for me that fit perfectly was something that was a little bit mind blowing. And once I got the shoes, I tried them on, they looked great, they felt great. And honestly, they fit like a glove.