AnbaoLe Files IPO Prospectus for Its Proprietary 'Water-and-Oil Slip-Resistant Shoes' Validated by Over 10,000 Tests in Medical Settings

Perhaps even Zheng Guochao himself never imagined that he, who once dealt with “code” on a daily basis, would one day travel far and wide to develop a pair of non-slip shoes, and even embark on an entrepreneurial venture.

Zheng Guochao, aged 41 this year,Founder of Zhejiang Anbaole Anti-Slip Shoes。

On October 18, 2016, Zheng Guochao’s nine-year-old son accidentally slipped and fell while running from the playground into the classroom, requiring five stitches for his wound. Watching his child lying on the hospital bed, screaming in agony from the pain, Zheng Guochao was heartbroken. It was at that moment that he began searching extensively for a pair of shoes that could truly provide effective anti-slip protection.

“At first, it was for my child, out of fear that he might fall again in the future. But during the search, I”Findings"Whether they are branded shoes on the market or ordinary shoes marketed as anti-slip, their actual slip-resistance ratings are extremely low."“, not what I wanted,” Zheng Guochao told VCBeat.

“No, can’t we create one?” Zheng Guochao, a daring and adventurous soul at heart, paused his current work and conceived the idea of starting a second venture. “In the past, I wrote code and launched a software company to make a living. Now, by crossing industries to develop anti-slip shoes, I aim to better safeguard my family’s safety,” said Zheng Guochao.

Where does the technology behind Anbaole anti-slip shoes come from? How effective is their slip resistance? With these questions in mind, we conducted an in-depth interview with Zheng Guochao, lifting the veil on this so-called “tech-enabled shoe” that claims to be packed with cutting-edge innovations.

“Young children, aging parents, pregnant mothers... for them, the cost of falling is too high,” said Zheng Guochao. Before developing anti-slip shoes, Zheng Guochao came across the following statistic:Each year in China, millions of people suffer injuries from slips and falls, resulting in direct economic losses exceeding RMB 100 billion.

According to data released by the Ministry of Health, hospitalizations due to fractures, sprains, and other injuries caused by accidental slips account for 35% of all cases, with the majority being elderly individuals and children. The proportion of fall-related injuries among the elderly is as high as 63.8%, and currently, the number of elderly people disabled due to falls on slippery surfaces has reached 969,000.

“Before accidents occur, having a pair of slip-resistant shoes could significantly reduce the likelihood of such injuries,” pointed out Zheng Guochao. Through market research, he found that in addition to the elderly, children, and pregnant women, special occupational groups such as courier personnel, food service workers, and healthcare professionals also have a demand for slip-resistant footwear.

“Conservative estimates place the market demand for anti-slip functional footwear at over 300 million people, indicating significant market opportunities.“Zheng Guochao said. Driven by these dual forces, Zheng Guochao made up his mind to launch a startup focused on anti-slip shoes.”

In the early stages of his venture, Zheng Guochao initially intended to develop only anti-slip materials for supply to shoe manufacturers. However, despite visiting numerous shoe factories in Wenzhou, he found none willing to collaborate. Some believed that rubber and gum soles already provided sufficient slip resistance, making further investment unnecessary; others considered the cost too high and were unwilling to increase their footwear production expenses.

Although he faced numerous rejections, Zheng Guochao did not stop there. In his view, once a decision is made to pursue something, one must strive to make the attempt.

The core of non-slip shoes is the anti-slip material.In early 2017, Zheng Guochao learned that South Korea had developed an anti-slip material that might be suitable for manufacturing anti-slip shoes.Upon receiving the news, Zheng Guochao immediately purchased a flight ticket and rushed to South Korea. Regrettably, this trip did not meet his expectations.

“The Korean side, at my request, developed a prototype of anti-slip shoes using newly developed anti-slip materials. However, testing revealed that these shoes failed to achieve effective slip resistance on wet and oily surfaces,” said Zheng Guochao.

He introduced,The slip resistance index of ordinary shoes is approximately 0.1–0.4 (EU standard). Values below 0.5 are considered less safe, while those reaching 0.5 are relatively safe.“"My ideal non-slip shoes would not slip even on wet and oily surfaces, which requires a high level of technical expertise. The anti-slip index must be at least 1.0 to achieve this, but no products available on the market at that time could meet this requirement."“Zheng Guochao said.”

Upon returning to China, Zheng Guochao was determined to build a team and devote himself to the research and development of anti-slip technology that could realize his ideal goals.

In October 2017, Zheng Guochao assembled his own team, comprising high-caliber experts in materials science from Japan, South Korea, and China. The following January, he founded Wenzhou Anbaole Footwear Technology Co., Ltd., positioning it as an innovative technology enterprise “dedicated to the research, development, and commercialization of new materials.”

After months of research and development,In May 2018, Anbaole launched its first-generation anti-slip material, independently developed in-house. This high-performance anti-slip material, which integrates nanomaterials and a patented formulation based on ionic polymerization, boasts anti-slip technical indicators that are more than twice the European standards.

(The image shows Anbaole anti-slip shoes)

“Our first-generation material,The slip resistance index has increased from an initial value of approximately 0.3 to a current maximum of 1.3, far exceeding the European standard (0.5).“It leads the industry in balancing abrasion resistance and slip resistance,” Zheng Guochao introduced.

Behind the success of this technology lies more than 10,000 rounds of iterative testing and refinement. “The initial prototype we developed used an extremely soft material that was entirely unsuitable for anti-slip footwear. The R&D team spent countless days and nights in the laboratory, continuously experimenting and improving, before the first generation of the material was finally unveiled,” remarked Zheng Guochao.

Entrepreneurship is indeed challenging, but when it yields results and achieves its desired goals, all the hardships transform into sweet rewards.

Zheng Guochao told VCBeat that after the first-generation material proved successful, they promptly applied for a national patent. Subsequently, they accelerated the application of their anti-slip technology and materials to footwear manufacturing, successfully developing multiple high-performance anti-slip shoes.

“With every additional person wearing Anbaole, one more person is safeguarded.” This is how Zheng Guochao puts it, a phrase he has also adopted as his company’s slogan.

# What Makes Anbaole Anti-Slip Shoes Unique?Zheng Guochao introduced that Anbaole anti-slip functional shoes not only incorporate patented rubber formulations combining nanomaterials and high-polymer polymers, but also feature a specialized tread design. Their slip resistance coefficient exceeds the EU SRC standard, ensuring safe, non-slip walking on wet or oily surfaces.

Specifically, it manifests in three major aspects:I. Block-type anti-slip texture.Unique Anti-Slip Texture Design: A Novel Block-Style Tread Pattern Enhances Ground Friction and Efficiently Channels Away Slip-Causing Liquids, Providing Stable Support.

II. Revolutionary Anti-Slip Material.Patented rubber formulation integrating nanomaterials and ionomer polymerization, combined with a specialized low-temperature design, delivers optimal slip resistance, ensuring secure, non-slip walking on oily, wet, or icy surfaces.

III. Slip-resistant while ensuring comfort and foot protection.While incorporating special anti-slip materials in the outsoles, Anbaole has conducted over 10,000 ergonomic tests to achieve technological breakthroughs in aspects such as last design, uppers, and insoles. The footwear is engineered to conform to foot anatomy, offering cushioning, reflective elements, and ankle-sprain prevention, thereby pursuing enhanced comfort on a foundation of safety.

Zheng Guochao stated,Currently, Anbaole’s anti-slip shoe products hold 8 national invention patents, 13 utility model patents, and 14 design patents.The product line covers non-slip shoes suitable for multiple scenarios, including oil-prone, wet, and icy surfaces, as well as specialized series for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and healthcare professionals.

“In recent years, we have also focused the research and development of anti-slip footwear on the medical sector,” said Zheng Guochao. Through visits to hospitals, Zheng Guochao and his team identified pain points and needs in medical settings. In hospital wards and corridors, floors are often covered with vinyl flooring. After cleaning staff mop these surfaces, they become extremely slippery. For surgeons in operating rooms, blood spilled on the floor during procedures also poses an invisible hazard.

“These hidden hazards in medical scenarios represent a significant market opportunity for anti-slip footwear.“Zheng Guochao stated that he subsequently led the R&D team in designing anti-slip shoes intended for healthcare workers and other relevant personnel.”

“Our designed non-slip shoes do not slip on wet or oily surfaces, effectively preventing these hidden accidents.”Moreover, each pair of shoes features specialized memory foam insoles that provide comfort and alleviate foot fatigue, ensuring healthcare professionals do not experience tired feet even after prolonged standing.“Zheng Guochao said.”

Zheng Guochao revealed,AnbaoLe has partnered with multiple institutions to offer cost-effective anti-slip products.Moving forward, Anbaole will continue to expand its product pipeline by developing customized anti-slip footwear for other vertical sectors, thereby meeting the needs of diverse populations.

It is reported that Anbaole has recently developed a series of anti-slip footwear specifically designed for the elderly’s daily wear and use. The newly launched GO-MAX Outdoor Light Travel series, tailored for middle-aged and senior citizens for walking and tourism, offers comfortable fit and ankle support. Its anti-slip performance indicators exceed European standards by more than twofold, garnering significant popularity among older adults.

“Everyone is a cherished treasure in someone’s heart; every increment in travel safety adds another layer of loving protection,” said Zheng Guochao. Recently, he has been continuously receiving thank-you messages from customers. For him, the greatest sense of fulfillment in his career lies in effectively safeguarding the travel safety of workers across various occupations and industries.