In 2015, the idea for Shapecrunch was born out of the personal struggle of Nitin Gandhi, a co-founder of the company, who was suffering from flat feet. For years, he had to face difficulties in getting a pair of custom orthotics to solve his problem. Even if he was able to procure custom-made orthotics, they, however, often resulted in ill-fitting shoe insoles creating discomfort. Nitin realized that making customized orthotics with expensive machinery was complicated. It also increases the final price of the products.
With a huge determination to bring an end to this problem, Nitin along with his co-founder Jatin Sharma decided to implement their prior experience in 3D printing to build Shapecrunch. Their idea was to 3D print the insoles for shoes for perfect fitting.
3D Printing Insoles for Shoes – The Early Approach
Nitin and Jatin decided to bring a revolution in the customized insoles industry. The founder duo aimed to digitize the entire process starting from receiving orders from clients to 3D print the insoles. They launched the Shapecrunch app, where doctors could capture and upload images of the foot of their patients and also enter other necessary details. With the use of smart computer vision and machine learning algorithms, the Shapecrunch app converted the data shared by doctors into a precise 3D model for the 3D printing of shoe insoles. The early responses from the patients turned out to be overwhelmingly positive and praised this initiative of creating personalized insoles which were comfortable and were helping them in relieving pains.
The simplicity of the entire process turned out to be a game-changer. People with foot problems could easily order personalized insoles for shoes from the comfort of their home using the easy-to-use Shapecrunch application. It only required a few photographs of the foot and a few other details for proper customization. The app’s advanced algorithm identified over two thousand points from the feet to create a 3D model. Shapecrunch then used a flexible 3D printed material called Poron to craft personalized insoles.
Finding an Opportunity in an Untapped Market
When Shapecrunch started its journey, the market potential of customized insoles was massive. A significant percentage of the Indian population was suffering from mild to severe flat feet problems. Additionally, knee pain, back pain, and joint pain were often interconnected with foot problems. The market was still untapped in 2015 and it was Shapecrunch who utilized this opportunity to its full potential. They strengthened their presence by collaborating with healthcare officials, doctors and clinics throughout the country.
The Growth Story of Shapecrunch
With their innovative and cost-effective approach, Shapecrunch quickly gained popularity not only in India but also internationally, with a significant amount of insole orders coming in from the United States and European countries. Shapecrunch became profitable in the year 2021 and is showing promising growth in the last few years. The company has expanded its operations throughout India. Moreover, it is presently serving many South Asian, European and North American countries with the help of its strong network of healthcare professionals and engineers. By bringing more doctors, engineers, and designers on board, the company aims to continue creating impactful life-changing products that would impact the lives of millions in a positive way.
Shapecrunch has shown how a simple idea can turn out to be game-changing. With determination and revolutionary thought process of its founders, everything can be possible. The way they unleashed the power of 3D printing with the use of modern technology to improve foot health is laudable. Shapecrunch is not only making the best-personalized insoles for shoes but has also disrupted the traditional insole industry with more accessible and affordable solutions to foot problems!
