What began as a spark of inspiration at the 2024 Avatar Studio has become a powerful new entrant in Canada’s energy innovation space. FlexConnect, founded by a team of engineers with deep roots in oil and gas, is reimagining how commercial and industrial electricity users can support a more reliable power grid — starting with an unexpected hero: the grocery store freezer.
Through a blend of software, sensors, and market insight, FlexConnect enables cold storage facilities to become smart, responsive energy assets. By intelligently shifting refrigeration loads without compromising food safety, their solution offers customers a chance to save on energy costs while contributing to grid stability during peak demand.
Backed by mentorship, funding readiness support, and industry connections through Avatar Innovations, the team is charting a course to scale its impact across Alberta and beyond. FlexConnect’s innovation is already being piloted with grocery retailers, demonstrating that even legacy infrastructure can become part of a modern, flexible, and low-carbon energy system.
“We’re engineers at heart,” said a member of the founding team. “But we’re also parents, consumers, and Albertans who want to help build a more resilient grid for everyone. FlexConnect is our way of doing that — practically, and with purpose.”
With FlexConnect, the energy transition isn’t just about the future. It’s happening right behind the freezer aisle.
This article is part of Innovation+ in the Plus 15, a special editorial series from the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum and Digital Journal that explores how Calgary-based companies are innovating.
