Kobe Bryant had a very successful shoe line with Nike. His mamba shoes are still being sold. But according to reports, Kobe had his sights set on bigger things. Prior to his tragic passing, he was planning on launching his own shoe company, called Mamba. It would be the first player owned shoe company.
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According to venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, he was going to leave Nike.
I met with Kobe Bryant in late December 2019. Kobe wasn’t happy with Nike and was going to leave it in 2020. Kobe was going to start Mamba, a shoe company owned by players. He passed away weeks later. What he was about to do in business was going to eclipse his sports career.
— Shervin Pishevar (@shervin) December 29, 2020
Here’s a look at the prototypes below:
2/ These were the designs my team did to show him that day for an independent Mamba shoe company. Here’s calendar details. There were witnesses to the meeting and Kobe’s plans like Gina Ford, who manages Usain Bolt. pic.twitter.com/PgsIDt0P0E
— Shervin Pishevar (@shervin) December 29, 2020
Kobe was trying to incorporate tech into his shoes:
*the the idea of the tracker in back back (attached by strong magnet) connected a great Mamba fitness app and integrated coaching/motivational features.
— Shervin Pishevar (@shervin) December 29, 2020
Kobe reportedly wanted to leave Nike because he wasn’t happy with the way they were marketing his shoes.
He wasn’t happy with Nike’s marketing and promotion commitment to Kobe’s line. And the sales of his shoes were anemic and he blamed Nike. He retained tight control because he didn’t trust Nike’s judgment in design.
— Shervin Pishevar (@shervin) December 29, 2020
Kobe was a super successful businessman, so there’s no telling what Mamba could have become.
I’m sure will find out even more Kobe businesses ideas that have yet to surface.
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