Tracy O'Rourke

Updated April 2025

Before founding Vivid Edge, Tracy O’Rourke built a dynamic career in the corporate world. With a deep understanding of global financial markets and scalable business models, she set out to create a commercial venture with a social purpose, one that could drive meaningful change in the energy sector.

Tracy was inspired by the success of aircraft leasing, where businesses rent rather than buy, and wondered: could the same principles be applied to energy efficiency? Could a new approach to financing help large multinationals accelerate climate action? The challenge was clear — unlike aircraft or motor leasing, energy efficiency projects lack a recoverable asset, making traditional financing models unsuitable.

An innovative model

Drawing on her expertise, Tracy developed an innovative funding structure providing 100% finance for energy upgrades in buildings. Crucially, this was designed as a smarter, more efficient alternative to the traditional energy performance contract, stripping away unnecessary complexity and delivering better value for money for businesses. By simplifying the process and reducing financial barriers, Vivid Edge makes energy efficiency projects more accessible and scalable for businesses.

Vivid Edge’s smart delivery model consistently reveals substantial energy-saving opportunities. The company has delivered remarkable results, including reducing lighting energy consumption by 82% for a major telecommunications customer or identifying up to 60% energy waste in a state-of-the-art facility. These accomplishments drive cost and carbon reductions, improve working environments from a wellness perspective and support broader sustainability objectives.

A growing market

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global investment in energy efficiency reached $660 billion in 2024, with a need to triple this to $1.9 trillion annually by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets. Tracy has strategically positioned Vivid Edge to capitalize on this expanding market by offering a service-oriented model that simplifies energy efficiency projects for businesses.

Addressing climate inequity

Tracy’s purpose-driven leadership is grounded in a strong belief in climate equity. She recognizes the profound injustice that those who suffer most from climate harm are often those who contribute the least to it. Through Vivid Edge, Tracy is helping those who contribute the most to climate change reduce their emissions. By accelerating carbon reduction where it matters most, Vivid Edge contributes meaningfully to global climate goals.

As a sought-after public speaker, Tracy shares her insights on energy efficiency, climate action, and women’s entrepreneurship at conferences and industry events. She also supports the next generation of female leaders through her active involvement with the Cartier Women’s Initiative community.

A Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Bankers in Ireland, Tracy combines financial acumen with a passion for innovation and sustainability. With an easy-to-export model and a clear focus on measurable impact, Tracy and Vivid Edge are leading the shift towards a sustainable, service-driven approach to energy efficiency and proving that smart finance can be a powerful force for good — one that benefits businesses, communities and the planet alike.