Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 6, 2026 7 Startups, Innovation & Technology John Gagliardi, founder and CEO of Kane Footwear, holds one of the company's recovery shoes at its Westport headquarters. HBJ Photo | Michael Juliano Steady revenue growth Gagliardi declined to disclose revenue but said the company has doubled sales annually since its founding. About 250,000 customers purchased their first pair of Kane shoes last year, he said. The shoes retail for about $55 to $60 per pair for children and up to $125 for adult models. The company also sells yoga mats, changing mats for outdoor use and drink coasters, which are made from used Kane shoes and wetsuits. The shoes are sold in about 500 independent stores in the New York metro area and more than 600 retail locations nationwide, including Dick's Sporting Goods and Nordstrom. Manufacturing is handled by a family-owned private- label producer in Brazil. Kane Footwear employs 30 people at its Westport head- quarters who handle operations, customer service and marketing, along with five additional marketing employees from outside the state. Gagliardi said the company does not plan to rush additional product launches. "We're going to let this thing breathe for about a year and then probably launch something new in '27," he said. The global recovery footwear market totaled about $17.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach nearly $29 billion by 2034, according to Precedence Research. Competitors include Oofos, Velous Footwear, Stand+ and Roll Recovery, along with larger brands such as Hoka, Nike and Adidas. Gagliardi said Kane aims to differentiate itself with a product that balances cushioning and support while promoting airflow and circulation. Before Kane Footwear Gagliardi — who grew up in Manhasset, New York — knows firsthand what it's like to recover from strenuous exercise and athletic competition. He is a former professional lacrosse player who spent eight seasons with the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse before retiring in 2009. Major League Lacrosse merged with the Premier Lacrosse League in 2020. He was also a member of the U.S. National Team in 2006, and was inducted into the Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2005, he co-founded Maverik Lacrosse, an equipment and apparel company later sold to private equity firm Kohlberg & Co. in 2010. He also previously helped run No Limits Lacrosse Camps. Earlier in his career, Gagliardi was among the first five employees at Wilton-based Blue Buffalo Pet Food, whose founders are now the largest investors in Kane Footwear, he said. A Step Forward CT recovery footwear maker doubles sales annually, rolls out NFL-inspired shoe By Michael Juliano mjuliano@hartfordbusiness.com A Westport-based recovery footwear startup that says it has doubled sales annually since its 2021 debut is introducing a new product shaped by feedback from NFL players. Kane Footwear, which has expanded into more than 600 retail locations nationwide, has launched an open- back version of its recovery shoe after observing athletes modifying its orig- inal design — cutting or folding down the heel to create slip-on footwear. That insight, gathered during visits to NFL locker rooms, is now informing the company's latest product as it looks to build on its rapid growth. "We let the athletes dictate where our next shoe is going to be by listening to them," said founder and CEO John Gagliardi. Kane Footwear sells "active recovery" shoes designed to reduce muscle fatigue, improve blood flow and alleviate soreness after intense exercise or long periods of standing. Gagliardi, a 51-year-old New Canaan entrepreneur and former professional lacrosse player, developed Kane Footwear to create a recovery-focused alternative to Crocs, the lightweight, perforated clogs commonly worn for casual use. He said he grew up wearing Crocs but wanted to design a recovery shoe using a lightweight foam known as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), opting for a sugarcane-derived version of the material instead of the more common petroleum-based alternative to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. "We made a conscious choice to pay more money to try to do the right thing," he said. Kane Footwear is one of about 30 for-profit companies in Connecticut certified as a B Corp, a designa- tion awarded by nonprofit B Lab for meeting certain social and environmental standards. Gagliardi said he worked with podi- atrist Dr. Daniel Geller and a footwear designer for two years to develop the company's first product, the Kane Revive, which launched in June 2021. The company initially brought it to market through a Kickstarter campaign that raised about $120,000 from more than 1,300 backers. Gagliardi also got help from outside investors, but he provided most of the startup funding. The Revive features ventilation holes, raised footbed nodes intended to stim- ulate circulation, and a heel-to-toe drop designed to reduce strain on the calves and Achilles tendon, he said. The company, which holds six patents related to its footwear, has since expanded its lineup, introducing a children's version in 2023 — Kane Kids — and an all-weather model — Kane Revive AC — with a closed upper and more rugged sole in 2024. The newest version — the Revive OB — removes the back of the shoe almost entirely, reflecting how athletes were already modifying the original design, Gagliardi said. AT A GLANCE Kane Footwear Industry: Footwear Top Executive: John Gagliardi, Founder & CEO HQ: Westport Employees: 35 Website: kanefootwear.com Contact: support@kanefootwear.com

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