UCalgary alumna gets high marks for innovative medical concept at Pitch@Palace competition

Imagine being asked to present your idea for a product to an audience of CEOs, potential investors, business partners and 40 other entrepreneurs vying to take the top spot at an international competition.

That’s exactly where Breanne Everett found herself last weekend as she prepped to promote her company, Orpyx, in St. James Palace, London, as part of the Pitch@Palace Commonwealth Summit.

The event, founded by the Duke of York in 2014, provides a platform for entrepreneurs from Commonwealth countries to share their work with a diverse international audience.

Everett, a UCalgary alumna (MD’09, MBA’13), is the co-founder of Orpyx, a company focused on the development of sensors in shoes that help patients monitor pressure in their feet. The technology is particularly important to those who suffer from circulation issues brought on by neuropathy, such as diabetes.

Orpyx finished second in the competition, and Everett says the event provided a fantastic networking opportunity, allowing her to connect with investors, strategists and distributors. She cites her connections in Canada with playing a part in her rapidly growing and successful venture. 

“I am overwhelmed by the amount of support we have received,” says Everett, “from the university, Calgary, the province, and the Rideau Hall Foundation. It’s really an incredible ecosystem that is building.”