Tim Brown
Co-founder of Allbirds
Tim Brown is the New Zealand former professional footballer who co-founded the sustainable footwear brand Allbirds with Joey Zwillinger. He served as co-chief executive and later chief innovation officer; in 2026 the Allbirds brand was sold to American Exchange Group for 39 million dollars.
| Role | Co-founder of Allbirds |
|---|---|
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Co-founder | Joey Zwillinger |
| First product | Wool Runner, March 2016 |
| Brand sold | 2026, to American Exchange Group |
Who is Tim Brown?
Tim Brown is a former professional footballer who played for New Zealand's national team and later became an entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-founder of Allbirds, the San Francisco-based brand that made merino wool sneakers a symbol of low-key, sustainability-minded consumption in the late 2010s. This profile refers to the Allbirds co-founder, not to the design consultant of the same name.
Career
Brown began developing the idea of a simple wool shoe as a passion project in New Zealand, a country with a large merino wool industry. He later partnered with Joey Zwillinger, who brought a background in renewables, to develop the product and the business. Allbirds launched its first shoe, the Wool Runner, in March 2016 and expanded into other natural materials, apparel and its own stores.
- 2016: launch of the Wool Runner
- November 2021: Allbirds lists on Nasdaq
- May 2023: moves from co-chief executive to chief innovation officer
- April 2026: sale of the Allbirds brand and assets to American Exchange Group announced
Influence on the fashion business
Allbirds helped define the direct-to-consumer footwear boom. It combined a minimalist product, natural and lower-impact materials, B Corp certification and carbon footprint messaging with digital-first marketing. The company also faced scrutiny over some of its environmental claims. Its stock market debut in 2021 valued it at around four billion dollars, but sales later declined as competition increased and the brand struggled to find new growth.
On 1 April 2026 the company announced the sale of its shoe business, trademarks and related assets to brand management company American Exchange Group for 39 million dollars, with WSG Brands as a partner. Trade press described the transaction as the founders' exit from the business they created. According to Inside Retail, the remaining listed company then announced a pivot into artificial intelligence.
Why it matters
Brown's story is one of the clearest examples of the rise and fall of venture-backed, sustainability-led consumer brands. It shows how a strong product idea and a clear environmental narrative can build global awareness quickly, and how difficult it is to sustain growth and profitability in footwear once early adopters have been reached.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tim Brown of Allbirds?
Tim Brown is a former New Zealand international footballer who co-founded the footwear brand Allbirds with Joey Zwillinger. The company launched its first shoe, the Wool Runner, in 2016.
What happened to Allbirds?
In April 2026 Allbirds announced the sale of its shoe business and trademarks to American Exchange Group for 39 million dollars, a fraction of its valuation at its 2021 stock market listing.