Allbirds launched in 2016 with the Wool Runner. The company was founded by Tim Brown, a former New Zealand pro soccer player, and Joey Zwillinger, and was based in San Francisco.
The 2026 sale
In March 2026, Allbirds, Inc. agreed to sell its footwear brand, including its intellectual property and inventory, to an affiliate of American Exchange Group, which also owns Aerosoles, for about $39 million, Retail Dive reported. The sale closed in June 2026, according to a company filing, and the former public company renamed itself Smartbird and shifted to AI infrastructure.
The Allbirds website now lists the brand’s operator as AB Dnam, LLC, with its principal place of business on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.
The products
Allbirds is known for the Wool Runner, Tree Runner, Tree Breezer and Cruiser. In July 2025 it released the Tree Runner NZ at $110.
Where to find it
Allbirds closed its full-price U.S. stores in early 2026, and most remaining stores have since closed, Retail Dive reported. The brand sells at allbirds.com.
Sources
- Smartbird (formerly Allbirds): Quarterly report (SEC)
- Retail Dive: Aerosoles owner to buy Allbirds
- Allbirds: Our story
- Allbirds: Tree Runner NZ announcement
Featured photo: Oganguly via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. The photo, taken in 2024, shows the Allbirds store on Columbus Avenue in New York City.
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