E3Discussions - April 2026 Edition!

Claire Budge, founder of Orbitor Performance Limited, is on a mission to transform how young athletes train. Inspired by her daughter and backed by decades working wth children, she's created The Orbitor a multi-sport ball launcher giving kids consistent, confidence-building practice they've been missing. With E3Design helping bring her prototype / test rig to life, Claire's turning a simple idea into a powerful tool for the next generation of talent.

Can you describe the innovation you’ve developed and what makes it unique? 

The Orbitor is a multi-sport ball launcher designed to give young athletes consistent, repeatable practice at home. What makes it unique is its ability to deliver controlled passes, throws, or feeds across football, basketball and netball, allowing children to train independently without needing a partner. It focuses on building confidence through repetition, something that is often missing in traditional training setups. 

What inspired you to launch Orbitor Performance? 

What really inspired the idea was my daughter, who plays as a goalkeeper at academy level. She had an important trial coming up and I wanted to help her practise, but I quickly realised I couldn’t consistently deliver the ball in the way she needed. The whole session turned into her laughing at me trying to replicate realistic shots and passes. But beneath that moment was a genuine problem. If I couldn’t provide the quality and consistency she needed, how many other children were in the same position? That experience highlighted how limited independent practice can be, and how much confidence is affected when children can’t rehearse skills properly. 

My background in education, including working as a teacher and Ofsted inspector, showed me that many children struggle with confidence in sport. I saw first-hand that the biggest barrier wasn’t always ability, but access to consistent practice. The Orbitor was created to remove that barrier and give children the opportunity to practise anytime, anywhere, in a simple and engaging way. 

Tell us a bit about you and what keeps you motivated? 

I’ve spent over 30 years working with children and young people, from early years through to secondary education. What keeps me motivated is seeing the impact of confidence on a child’s development. Whether it’s in the classroom or on a pitch, confidence changes everything, and The Orbitor is about giving more children that opportunity. 

What have been some of the challenges you have faced in the development stage? 

One of the biggest challenges has been balancing innovation with practicality, ensuring the product is technically strong while still being simple and accessible for families. Developing prototypes, refining the design, and navigating funding and manufacturing processes have all required resilience and adaptability. 

What kind of support has been most valuable to you while building your business? 

Support from innovation networks, engineering partners like E3 (who delivered the prototype on time with excellent communication throughout), and business programmes has been invaluable. Being able to test ideas, receive feedback, and access specialist knowledge has helped shape both the product and the business strategy. 

How has your understanding of innovation evolved since starting the business? 

I’ve realised that innovation isn’t just about having a new idea. It’s about solving a real problem in a way that people can actually use and benefit from. It requires constant testing, listening, and refining rather than trying to get everything perfect from the start. 

What does the future look like for Orbitor Performance? 

The future includes refining the prototype, safety testing, scaling production and developing more advanced versions of the product. The long-term vision is to move into international markets. 

What has been the most rewarding part of this process? 

The most rewarding part so far has been receiving the proof of concept prototype from E3 and seeing the idea begin to turn into something real. Up until that point, it had been drawings, conversations and iterations, but holding a physical version of The Orbitor was a significant moment. It made the vision tangible and reinforced that this could genuinely become something that makes a difference to young athletes and their confidence. 

Another standout moment was Demo Day at the end of the six-month Tees Valley programme I recently completed, where I had the opportunity to share that vision publicly. Being able to present the journey, the problem and the solution to a wider audience, and see genuine interest and belief in the idea, was incredibly rewarding. It marked a shift from building in the background to stepping forward with confidence in what The Orbitor can become. 

What advice would you offer to someone considering starting a business built around innovation? 

Start with a real problem, not just an idea. Be prepared to adapt constantly and don’t wait for everything to be perfect before taking action. Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, and keep your focus on the impact you want to make. 

E3D would like to thank Claire for taking the time to chat with us and involving us in this project. We loved the engineering challenge of building the test rig (and firing footballs around the office!) and it was great going to the Riverside Stadium in March to celebrate the Stable Demo Day 2026 with Claire and the Tees Valley Labs. We're excited to be a part of Orbitor Performance Ltd's journey and can't wait to see where it goes next!