Banzifeet is a novel South African company that is focused on improving the foot development of school-shoe wearing scholars by collaborating with school shoe manufacturers. Prof. Ranel Venter, CEO of Banzifeet and a leading researcher at Stellenbosch University (SU), was one of the first researchers in the country to conduct a study on barefoot running and the adverse effects of ill-fitting footwear on the physical development in children aged 6 – 18 years. The research revealed a significant difference in the foot morphology between barefoot children and those wearing shoes, particularly in South Africa.
Prior to starting the company, Prof. Venter already had strong research interests in the function of the human body, focusing specifically on foot function. In 2016, a joint research project led by the University Hamburg and Stellenbosch University Division of Sports Science, examined children growing up habitually barefoot in Germany and South Africa respectively. The studies run concurrently to ensure that the tests, equipment, and protocols were identical. The results showed significant differences in foot morphology such as the length, width, and motor function between barefoot children in Germany and South Africa. The South African data set included children from various backgrounds, from rural to metropolitan areas. South African children were found to have bigger and wider feet than their shoe wearing counterparts. These findings prompted a comparison with the standard design of school shoes available in South Africa, proving that standard school shoes are too narrow and therefore unsuitable for the wider feet common to South African children.
Equipped with this data, Prof. Venter started approaching local school shoe manufacturers hoping to influence a systemic change. “Consistently wearing ill-fitting shoes can impact foot function and gait, leading to long term effects on foot morphology,” emphasises Prof. Venter.
Prof. Venter quickly realised that without access to sufficient data, shoe companies would not be able to design a standard shape for South African scholars. This realisation led her to partner with Innovus, and with their support, Prof. Venter and her fellow researchers Elbe De Villiers and Marise Breet established Banzifeet.
Banzifeet’s aim is to provide relevant data to existing shoe manufacturers who already have the resources to design suitable shoes for children. Innovus assisted Banzifeet to develop a certification model, unique to SU, whereby companies can measure the standards of the shoe designs. Based on the certification model, companies can obtain either gold, silver or bronze certification.
“The team at Innovus have been instrumental in developing Banzifeet. They have helped guide us through the legal, marketing and general business aspects of the company, says Prof. Venter.”
Since starting the company, Banzifeet have developed a prototype with a partner company which underwent testing in local schools. This data has been added to their database. They also now have a 3D foot scanner to assist with data accuracy. The company have plans to expand to Africa and to develop other shoes in addition to school shoes.
They have plans to start a dialogue with the relevant policymakers to influence the standards relating to the manufacturing of school shoes. Prof. Venter acknowledges that there has been some progress made, using an example in Kylemore, Stellenbosch where a local shoe company has installed a shoe library to accommodate the growing feet of children in the community by providing them with better fitting shoes for their growing feet.
Prof. Venter emphasises the need to challenge the stigma surrounding being barefoot, often associated with poverty. She advocates for embracing the barefoot culture, citing its health benefits, particularly in the development of feet and ankles in younger children and especially children who participate in sports.
In conclusion Prof. Venter reflects on entrepreneurship as a researcher, highlighting that “starting a business is not just about money, you need to be passionate about making a difference. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, or if there isn’t immediate success, just be resilient.”