Brooke Torres

Brooke Torres is the Founder and CEO of Hilma Running, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) running shoe brand specifically designed for women.12 As an ultra-marathon runner herself, Torres founded Hilma to address the gap in the market for running shoes that truly fit and support women's feet.1

Background and Motivation

Torres's journey to create Hilma began after her college graduation in 2013 when she signed up for a marathon.1 This experience empowered her and led her to question why existing running shoes weren't meeting women's needs. She spent time investigating the industry, connecting with footwear companies, running stores, podiatrists, and supply chain workers to understand the problem better.1

Hilma Running

Hilma Running uses mass personalization and patent-pending fit technology to revolutionize women's running shoes.1 The company's approach is based on the understanding that women's feet have a unique geometric shape and are not simply smaller versions of men's feet.2

Key features of Hilma Running include:

• Three different fits with a 90% try-on success rate
• Personalized shoe fitting using data and quizzes
• Shoes designed for various purposes, from urban walking to moderately technical trails2

Achievements and Recognition

Torres has successfully raised $3 million in seed funding for Hilma, attracting investments from prominent figures in the footwear industry, including:

• Jeanne Jackson, a former Nike president
• Roth Martin, Rothy's co-founder
• Paul Hedrick, Tecovas founder
• Jason Jacobs, former CEO and founder of RunKeeper1

Professional Qualities

Torres is known for her curiosity, discipline, and strong work ethic.3 She learns quickly, takes feedback well, and is described as one of the best hires by a previous employer.3

Brooke Torres continues to lead Hilma Running, focusing on creating running shoes that cater to the specific needs of women runners and promoting women's participation in sports and outdoor activities.24