I love a business that starts in real life—not in a boardroom.
In 2015, Bianca Gates and Marisa Sharkey were hosting friends and kept running into the same problem. They didn’t want to greet guests barefoot, but they also didn’t want to wear clunky, unattractive slippers. And most flats? Cute, yes. Comfortable for hours on your feet? Not really. So they asked a simple question: Why doesn’t a shoe exist that feels like a slipper but looks chic enough for company?
They had no experience in footwear. None. They did what so many modern founders do—they went to Google. They researched manufacturers online, self-funded the business with $100,000, and in November 2015 launched with just 1,800 pairs. Because they were bootstrapping, they could only afford to offer full sizes at first. It wasn’t perfect, but it was out in the world. And that’s what mattered.
They positioned Birdies as a “stylish slipper”—a hybrid that combined sneaker support, slipper softness, and the polish of a fashionable flat. It was niche, and it worked. Then in 2016, everything accelerated when Meghan Markle was photographed wearing them. Suddenly this clever hosting solution became a must-have shoe.
What I really admire, though, is what happened next. They listened. Customers didn’t just want something to wear at home—they wanted versatile, wear-everywhere shoes that felt as good as they looked. So Birdies evolved beyond the original “entertaining slipper” idea and expanded into a broader lifestyle brand. That pivot is what turned a niche concept into a scalable company.
They went on to get serious funding, proving that a simple, relatable problem—when solved well—can attract serious backing.
To me, this is such a VentureMom story. It didn’t start with deep industry credentials. It started with noticing something in their own lives that wasn’t working. Instead of settling, they created the solution. They didn’t wait to be experts. They started, they adjusted, and they grew.
VentureMom Tip
You don’t need to know everything; you just need to pay attention to what’s right in front of you and be willing to build around it.
