Alberta’s signature startup showcase, Launch Party – presented by Alberta Innovates – has unveiled its Top 10 companies for 2025.
Among the finalists is VL Energy, a Calgary-based clean energy innovator that continues to gain attention for its AI-driven approach to emissions monitoring and industrial efficiency.
Founded in 2014 by Ling Bai, VL Energy – formally known as Virtual Leader Energy – is commercializing its Predictive Emission Monitoring System (PEMS), an AI-powered platform that helps industrial operators optimize combustion processes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and maintain continuous regulatory compliance. The enhanced system delivers measurable performance:
- Continuous, regulator-approved emissions compliance without costly analyzers
- 5-10% improvement in efficiency through real-time optimization
- Significant reductions in GHG emissions and operational downtime
Bai says the Launch Party recognition “celebrates our journey in building an AI-powered, regulator-approved emissions monitoring solution that helps industries cut costs, improve compliance, and accelerate the energy transition.”
It’s been an eventful year for Bai and her team.
In February, the Alberta Government announced funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) focusing on innovative technologies which can advance emerging industries. VL Energy secured $2.24 million in funding under ERA’s Industrial Transformation Challenge to install and demonstrate an advanced monitoring system that uses machine learning to monitor, predict, and reduce emissions in combustion equipment like combined heat and power systems.
In June, VL Energy was recognized by CleanEnergy.ca as one of five clean energy innovators to watch at the Global Energy Show Canada held in Calgary.
In October, Bai represented VL Energy on a Canada Trade Mission to Italy, led by the Canadian Trade Commissioners and the Embassy of Canada. With Europe accelerating its transition toward Net Zero, Bai sees major potential for collaboration between Canadian clean technology and European industrial innovation.
“AI-based emissions intelligence can transform how industries operate,” she says, pointing to the opportunity for Canadian-developed monitoring systems to deliver practical, scalable emissions solutions worldwide.
By turning real-time data into actionable insights, VL Energy is establishing itself as a sustainability enabler for heavy industry – offering a cost-effective, intelligent path toward cleaner, more efficient operations.
For the first time ever, the public will have the opportunity to watch all Launch Party Top 10 finalists pitch live on stage on November 3 with the community casting votes for the Community Choice Award. Winners will be announced on November 6 during Calgary Innovation Week.