After suffering her own physical setbacks before and after childbirth, Karen, a born serial entrepreneur, saw an ever-expanding market for men and women suffering from urinary incontinence and few reusable options. Her first company began exclusively importing and distributing a few niche brands worldwide, and in less than two years, has expanded into a direct-to-consumer medical supply business.
Frustrated by the lack of reusable products for women, she began to develop a medical device aimed at the younger and more athletic female market. Fast forward to 2022 and the Cntrl+ bladder support pessary is patented, applying for FDA status, and undergoing clinical control trials at the University of Ottawa.
With 1 in 3 women suffering from urinary incontinence, and a market that is worth over $3.2B, Karen’s latest company Cntrl+ Inc. aims to disrupt the category with its environmentally friendly option.