| Hi, Agen. Yeah, those glossy black five-inch Louboutins look hot — until you’re stumbling onto the subway, unable to take one more step in your aching feet. If you’re firmly in the comfy-shoes-only zone, you’re not alone: Across startupland, the route to footwear funding starts and ends with comfortable feet, Crunchbase data shows. We look at the many footwear startups getting sizable funding even in this down market, and some of their, um, interesting shoe creations. U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order this week aimed at curbing American investment into Chinese companies working on technologies like semiconductors and AI that could pose national security risks. But Crunchbase data shows that, at least when it comes to venture investment, the Red Dragon is doing OK. While U.S. venture capitalists have pulled back, their Chinese counterparts continue to fund domestic startups. Crocs is a $6.5 billion company. Birkenstock, the hippie staple-turned-Barbie-meme, is reportedly eyeing an IPO at a valuation over $8 billion. And VCs are taking notice: Over the past year, venture investors have stepped up funding to an array of foot-focused upstarts pitching everything from 3D-printed, custom shoes to chic sneaker marketplaces to vegan high-tops. Related Crunchbase Pro list: Footwear Startups That Raised Funding In 2023 In 2021, investors were throwing wads of cash at HR-related startups that helped companies manage their remote workforces better. That infatuation has certainly worn off: the second quarter of 2023 was the slowest in the sector for venture dollars in three years, Crunchbase data shows. Related Crunchbase Pro query: Funding To VC-Backed HR Tech Startups Hey, startup founders, we get it. Things are tough out there. Revenue multipliers have deflated. VCs are holding tight to their wallets, especially if your company isn’t profitable. But there are ways to get your company through a cash crunch in this crummy market. Let’s discuss three of them. | 
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