OptiRTP attended the 27th Annual AmCham–DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards in Auckland on 17 September. As a client of the U.S. Commercial Service and an active participant in SelectUSA programmes, including attendance at the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit, OptiRTP continues to engage with U.S. commercial and economic development stakeholders as it develops its U.S. market-entry plans.

OptiRTP congratulates all of this year’s winners and finalists. The breadth and calibre of companies represented on the night provided a strong illustration of the commercial relationships being built between New Zealand and the United States and the depth of New Zealand capability succeeding in and alongside the U.S. market.

During the evening, OptiRTP Founder & Director Bogdan Anich and CEO Jon Doherty had the opportunity for a brief discussion with U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Jared Novelly, facilitated by the U.S. Commercial Service. The discussion provided an opportunity for OptiRTP to outline its forward U.S. plan, including an initial civilian market-entry strategy and plans to develop U.S.-based pilot studies in high-performance sport, building on the company’s experience in New Zealand.

OptiRTP also outlined subsequent areas being considered as part of its longer-term U.S. development strategy, including potential future studies relevant to veteran populations and research programmes examining pain, sleep and pharmaceutical tolerability. These prospective programmes sit alongside the company’s planned regulatory development, including its intended FDA De Novo pathway toward Class II classification. Longer term, successful regulatory and evidence development could support the company’s exploration of applicable reimbursement pathways and potential co-therapy research with pharmaceutical companies. All such pathways remain subject to the required clinical, regulatory and reimbursement processes.

The high-performance sport component provided a particularly relevant point of discussion given Ambassador Novelly’s background in sports management and his ownership of Australia’s Illawarra Hawks basketball team.

OptiRTP acknowledged the continued assistance of the U.S. Commercial Service in facilitating the introduction and helping the company navigate U.S. market entry. OptiRTP looks forward to continuing its engagement with the U.S. Commercial Service, SelectUSA and the U.S. diplomatic mission in New Zealand as it works to secure U.S.-based pilots and evaluates potential locations for its future U.S. operations.