#211: Max Pennington (CLEANR) — Microplastics, Macro Solutions Lay Of The Land podcast

Content provided by Jeffrey Stern. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jeffrey Stern or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Lay of The Land »
#211: Max Pennington (CLEANR) — Microplastics, Macro Solutions

5d ago 1:06:37

MP3•Episode home

Max Pennington is the Co-Founder & CEO of CLEANR, an innovative company that uses filters to prevent microplastics from entering water streams.

Max graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where he co-developed CLEANR’s innovative VORTX filtration technologyb. Inspired by nature, VORTX biomimcry is capable of removing over 90% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater. Microplastics pollution is a severe and growing environmental crisis, with trillions of tiny plastic particles contaminating ecosystems worldwide, affecting marine life, human health, and the overall environmental balance. Under Max's leadership, CLEANR has garnered significant recognition, including the American Filtration and Separation Society’s New Product of the Year Award for 2024, and has raised approximately $7 million in funding, positioning it at the forefront of the fight against microplastics pollution

With washing machines identified as the #1 source of microplastic pollution, CLEANR’s biomimicry filtration solutions are not only essential but increasingly requisite. The company is actively partnering with major universities and sustainability organizations, implementing their retrofit filters at campuses nationwide and is collaborating closely with leading global washing machine manufacturers to integrate VORTX directly into new appliances, aiming to make sustainability an effortless choice for consumers.

I came away from this conversation inspired as Max exudes passion for solving this problem and has been incredibly impressive organize to that end. Please enjoy this awesome conversation with Max Pennington

00:00:00 - The Invisible Crisis of Microplastics
00:08:51 - The ThinkBox: A Hub for Innovation
00:15:14 - Engineering Solutions: The Vortex Filter
00:22:52 - Cleaner: A Filtration Technology Company
00:29:43 - Navigating Market Strategies and Regulations
00:36:16 - Understanding the Challenge of Selling Solutions
00:38:55 - Fundraising and Vision for Cleaner
00:42:17 - Iterative Design and Prototyping Process
00:45:55 - Differentiation and Competitive Strategy
00:48:20 - Excitement for Market Launch and Consumer Impact
00:51:28 - Leadership Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Journey
00:54:45 - Overcoming Challenges in Product Development
00:58:03 - Radical Ideas for Addressing Microplastic Pollution
01:02:25 - Cleveland's Role in the Fight Against Microplastics
01:03:55 - Hidden Gem

-----

LINKS:
https://www.cleanr.life/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-t-pennington/

-----

SPONSOR:

Roundstone Insurance

Roundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.

Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.

Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.

Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.

-----

Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.

Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.

Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/

Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayoftheland

https://www.jeffreys.page/

218 episodes

#Entrepreneur #Business #Cleveland #Entrepreneurship #Startup #Ecosystem #Scene #Blockland #Jeffrey Stern #Land