# Joey Zwillinger

> Joey Zwillinger is an engineer, entrepreneur, and investor who co-founded Allbirds with Tim Brown in 2015. He helped develop the footwear brand’s materials-led approach and led it through its 2021 public listing before leaving the CEO role in March 2024. He now co-leads Biologica with Liz Zwillinger and invests through Good Friends.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Biologica; Co-Founder and General Partner at Good Friends
- **Organizations:** Allbirds, Biologica, Good Friends, Solazyme / TerraVia, Deloitte Consulting, Industry Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Colorwave, Wharton Baker Retailing Center
- **From:** San Francisco, United States
- **Education:** BS, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of California, Berkeley, MBA with honors, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Co-founded Allbirds, which sold one million pairs by spring 2018., Led Allbirds through its 2021 public listing., Helped build a brand using merino wool, tree fibers, and sugarcane-based foam.

## Career timeline

- **1999** — Played midfield for UC Berkeley; appeared in three games as a freshman.
- **2004-2007** — Worked at Deloitte.
- **2008** — Worked at Industry Ventures.
- **2009-2015** — Worked at Solazyme, becoming vice president of industrial products.
- **2010** — Graduated from Wharton with an MBA.
- **2015** — Co-founded Allbirds with Tim Brown.
- **2016** — Allbirds launched its Wool Runner in March.
- **2019** — Launched the Purpose Built radio show and podcast.
- **2021** — Led Allbirds with Tim Brown through its IPO; Allbirds and Adidas unveiled FUTURECRAFT.FOOTPRINT.
- **2023-05** — Became sole CEO after serving as co-CEO.
- **2024-03** — Left the CEO role effective March 15; the announcement retained him as director and special adviser.
- **2025-12** — Launched Biologica with Liz Zwillinger.
- **2026-04** — Discussed his revised approach to company building on The New Build podcast.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Allbirds, which sold one million pairs by spring 2018.
- Led Allbirds through its 2021 public listing.
- Helped build a brand using merino wool, tree fibers, and sugarcane-based foam.
- Co-founded early-stage venture firm Good Friends.
- Allbirds collaborated with Adidas on a shoe with a reported 2.94 kg CO2e footprint per pair.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Appeared on The New Build to discuss hiring, capital discipline, and lessons from Allbirds.
- **2025-12** — Launched Biologica with his wife and co-founder, Liz.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jzwillinger/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/joey-zwillinger
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-11