Foot Science International

What Foot Science International does

Foot Science International is a privately held New Zealand-based medical device company founded in 1985 that designs, manufactures, and distributes Formthotics, a line of thermoformable custom foot orthotic insoles sold under the Formthotics brand. The company's core technology is the proprietary Formax™ Foam, a plant-based foam produced through a 3D milling process; orthotics are heat-moulded in approximately three minutes to achieve a custom fit for each individual foot, providing biomechanical alignment and neuromotor support. The portfolio is split between a Medical Range (addressing flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and heel pain through podiatrists and physiotherapists) and a Sports Range (targeting athletes and active consumers through sports retailers), with supporting tools including a Selection Tool and a Medical System for clinician training and implementation.

The company monetizes primarily through one-time sales of physical orthotic products via a B2B2C model combining healthcare clinician networks, sports retailers, and a global distributor channel, supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce through regional websites (formthotics.com with country variants for USA, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Argentina, Brazil, Czechia, Norway, Austria, Sweden, Germany, and NZ). It holds ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certifications and is a FernMark-licensed New Zealand-origin brand, with over 40 years of foot science research cited as the evidentiary backbone of product claims. Foot Science International is a small firm (11-50 employees) with no disclosed institutional venture funding; its principal stated growth lever is the breadth of its global distribution and channel-partner enablement rather than capital-led expansion.

Name

Foot Science International

Legal name

Foot Science International

Website

https://footscienceinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foot Science International is a New Zealand-based private medical device company that designs and distributes Formthotics, thermoformable custom orthotic insoles using proprietary Formax™ Foam, sold to clinicians, podiatrists, sports retailers, and consumers across more than 12 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Orthotic Insoles

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (31621), Shoe Retailers (45821)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140)

akta.pro primary industry

Orthotics & Bracing (AFO/KAFO, Spinal, Soft Goods Supports) (HLAHAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foot Care & Orthotics OTC (Corn/Callus Care, Insoles, Athlete’s Foot Treatments) (CRADAMAL), Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear (CRAAACAG), Footwear Components & Materials (Uppers, Soles, Laces, Insoles) (CRAAACAK)

Keywords

• Custom orthotic insoles
• Thermoformable foot orthotics
• Medical foot care devices
• Sports insoles
• Biomechanical foot support

Headquarters

HQ city

Wigram

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Medical Orthotics Sales: Sale of clinically proven orthotic insoles to healthcare clinicians and podiatrists for dispensing to patients with foot conditions such as flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and heel pain. Products are sold through a provider network.
2. Sports Orthotics Sales: Sale of sports orthotic insoles through sports retailers and directly to consumers. Products are custom-fitted in-store and target athletes and active individuals seeking improved biomechanics and injury risk reduction.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Foot Science International designs and manufactures Formthotics, a thermoformable custom orthotic insole brand, using a proprietary plant-based Formax™ Foam produced through a 3D milling process. Each orthotic is heat-moulded in approximately three minutes to deliver a per-individual custom fit. The company sells a Medical Range for clinical foot conditions (flat feet, plantar fasciitis, heel pain) and a Sports Range for athletic performance and injury prevention, distributing through clinicians, sports retailers, and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform.

Product overview

Formthotics, produced by Foot Science International, is a dual-range orthotics portfolio consisting of Medical Range and Sports Range products. Both ranges utilise the proprietary Formax Foam material and thermoformable technology, heat moulded in just three minutes for custom fitting. The Medical Range addresses clinical foot conditions while the Sports Range targets athletic performance enhancement. The products share the same core technology platform—thermoformable orthotics made from plant-based materials via 3D milling—with differentiation through firmness levels, design geometry, and target use case. Supporting tools include a Medical System for clinicians and a Selection Tool for product recommendation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formthotics Medical Range Clinically proven thermoformable medical orthotic insoles custom-fitted in-store via heat moulding to address foot conditions including flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and heel pain. Designed for healthcare clinicians and podiatrists to dispense to patients and backed by independent peer-reviewed research.
• Formthotics Sports Range Sports orthotic insoles providing personalised arch support, biomechanical alignment, and injury risk reduction. Custom-fitted in-store and designed for athletes and active individuals seeking lightweight, discreet support during sport.
• Formthotics Selection Tool A product selection tool that helps clinicians and retailers identify the appropriate medical orthotic solution for specific patient conditions and requirements.
• Formthotics Medical System A comprehensive system for medical professionals that provides training, protocols, and tools for implementing Formthotics in clinical practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heat-moulded in 3 minutes for a custom fit in a single visit
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Global Distributor NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoot Science International operates through a worldwide network of distributors, clinicians, sports retailers, and athletes. The company maintains regional websites for USA, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Argentina, Brazil, Czechia, Norway, Austria, Sweden, and Germany, indicating active distributor relationships across these regions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bauerfeind: Bauerfeind is a large German orthopedic devices company selling braces, supports, and insoles through clinicians and pharmacies globally. A broader orthopedic incumbent whose insoles and orthotic supports partially overlap with the Formthotics Medical Range.
• Birkenstock: Birkenstock is a global footwear and footbed brand whose molded cork and EVA footbeds are sold as standalone insoles and inside its shoes. Comparable in the footbed/orthotic support category but at vastly greater scale and brand recognition.
• Scholl's (Bayer / Dr. Scholl's): Dr. Scholl's is a globally mass-market foot care and insole brand owned by Bayer, sold in mass retail and pharmacy. Comparable end-customer (foot pain, orthotic support) but operates at a much larger, lower-cost, OTC scale than Formthotics.

Direct peers

• Powerstep: Powerstep designs and distributes orthotic insoles sold through podiatrists, pharmacies, and sports retailers in the US and internationally. It competes head-to-head with Formthotics in the medical and sports orthotic categories at a similar price point.
• Aetrex: Aetrex combines comfort/orthopedic footwear with orthotic insoles and foot-scanning technology, selling through specialty retailers and podiatrists. Comparable to Formthotics in the orthotic insole and medical footwear adjacency.
• Spenco Medical: Spenco produces orthotic insoles and foot care products sold through medical, pharmacy, and sporting goods channels. Overlaps with Formthotics across both the medical orthotic and sports performance segments.
• Currex (Soles Your Feet): Currex makes sport-specific dynamic insoles sold through running and sports retailers globally, with strong presence in Europe and North America. Comparable to the Formthotics Sports Range in targeting active consumers through sports channels.
• Superfeet Worldwide: Superfeet is a leading North American brand of premium prefabricated and custom-fit insoles sold through sports retailers and clinicians. It is the most direct like-for-like competitor to Formthotics, targeting the same athlete and clinical end markets with a similar custom-fit in-store proposition.
• Sidas: Sidas is a French custom footbed company, especially strong in ski, outdoor, and running, with a global clinician and retailer network. Directly comparable in business model (custom-moulded insoles via trained fitters) and target athlete/customer profile.

Emerging players

• Phits (RS Print / Materialise): Phits is a 3D-printed custom orthotic insole brand sold through podiatrists and sports retailers, representing the next-generation custom-fit technology that could compete with Formthotics' thermoformable approach over time.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Formthotics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foot-science-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/formthotics

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foot Science International