Fashion Startup Birdies Raises $2 Million

Birdies announced the close of $2 million in seed financing. Forerunner Ventures led the round, with participation from Slow Ventures, Graph Ventures, and Social Capital.

Birdies makes a new type of footwear: slippers that are both fashionable and comfortable. Each pair is designed with high-end materials, including arch support, memory foam, rubber out-soles and luxury linings, to relieve pressure and provide durability, traction, softness, and style. The company was co-founded by Bianca Gates, a former leader of retail partnerships at Facebook and Instagram; Marisa Sharkey, formerly a group vice president at Ross Stores; and the management consultancy Bain & Company.

The company revealed that Birdies will use this round of funding to accelerate brand growth through product expansion and increased marketing efforts. The company also plans to open its first store on Union Street in San Francisco in the fall of 2017.