Links

• Website: cleanr.life
• Socials:
  • Max Pennington: LinkedIn
  • David Dillman: LinkedIn
  • Chip Miller: LinkedIn
  • Terry Moore: LinkedIn
• ODP Article: https://ohiodeals.substack.com/p/from-clevelands-labs-to-global-impact

Journey

CLEANR, founded in June 2022, by Max Pennington (CEO), David Dillman (CTO), and Chip Miller (COO), with Terry Moore as Executive Chairman, is a Cleveland-based environmental tech startup born at Case Western’s think[box]. Its patent-pending VORTX technology, inspired by whale shark and manta ray filtration, captures 90%+ of microplastics (down to 50 microns) from washing machines—the #1 source of the 1.5M tons polluting oceans yearly. With $2.3M raised (Seed, 2024), 6 “Best of IFA 2023” awards, and partnerships with GKD and manufacturers (45% of Europe’s market), it’s Ohio-made at 11201 Cedar Ave. Pre-revenue, pre-orders are live (June 2025 delivery), aiming for OEM integration to protect Lake Erie and beyond.

Location

HQ: 11201 Cedar Avenue, Suite 708, Cleveland, OH 44106

Leadership

Contact: max.pennington@cleanr.life

• Max Pennington (Co-Founder & CEO)
• David Dillman (Co-Founder & CTO)
• Chip Miller (Co-Founder & COO)
• Terry Moore (Executive Chairman)

Alignment

Stage: Seed (post-$2.3M raise, seeking $3.5M)
Industry: Environmental Technology
Key Achievements:

• Invented VORTX technology, capturing 90%+ microplastics (50 microns)
• Won 6 “Best of IFA 2023” awards; launched CLEANR for Washing Machines
• Certified microplastic capture efficiency with Shaw Institute
• $2.3M raised (Seed, 2024, angel investors in/out of Cleveland)
• Partnerships with GKD, Case Western, University of Akron, 5Gyres, 4Ocean
• Pre-orders launched; university program (CWRU, UAkron, USA)

Upcoming Milestones:

• U.S. filter launch (June 2025, pre-orders delivering)
• OEM integration contracts with washing machine manufacturers (2025-2026)
• IP updates (patent pending, 2025)
• Series A raise ($3.5M target, 2026-2027)

Fundraise Details

• Target: $3.5M (Series A, future)
• Committed: $2.3M (Seed, 2024)
• Co-investors: Cleveland and external angel investors (non-public)
• Round Open: Current round closed; Series A TBD (2026-2027)
• Round Close: TBD
• Valuation: TBD

Asks

• Warm intros to investor in relevant industries
• intros to washing machine OEMs (e.g., Samsung, LG)
• Regulatory expertise for global compliance