Max Pennington is the CEO and one of the co-founders of CLEANR, a Cleveland-based platform filtration technology startup venture focused on tackling microplastics at its source.

Max graduated Summa Cum Laude from Case Western Reserve University with his degree in Chemical Engineering. Max was selected as a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in the Green Tech space for his work at CLEANR, as well as Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 in their 20s.   Max co-developed CLEANR’s patented, award-winning VORTX technology, which is inspired by nature based on how fish filter out their food. 

CLEANR’s VORTX technology won the American Filtration and Separation Society’s New Product of the Year Award. CLEANR has launched their first product, powered by VORTX, CLEANR for Washing Machines, which can attach to any washing machine and capture over 90% of microplastics down to 50-micron - our laundry is the largest source of microplastics into the environment. CLEANR for Washing Machines won a CES Innovation Award in Home Appliances in 2026. 

CLEANR is actively developing products that capture microplastics both leaving and entering your home, including drinking water filtration with their VORTX technology. CLEANR’s work in fighting microplastics pollution has been featured in Forbes, the NY Post, the front page of the Plain Dealer, the SF Chronicle, Anthropocene Magazine, and more.

Max Pennington is the CEO and one of the co-founders of CLEANR, a Cleveland-based platform filtration technology startup venture focused on tackling microplastics at its source. Max graduated Summa Cum Laude from Case Western Reserve University with his degree in Chemical Engineering. Max was selected as a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in the Green Tech space for his work at CLEANR, as well as Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 in their 20s.   Max co-developed CLEANR’s patented, award-winning VORTX technology, which is inspired by nature based on how fish filter out their food. CLEANR’s VORTX technology won the American Filtration and Separation Society’s New Product of the Year Award. CLEANR has launched their first product, powered by VORTX, CLEANR for Washing Machines, which can attach to any washing machine and capture over 90% of microplastics down to 50-micron - our laundry is the largest source of microplastics into the environment. CLEANR for Washing Machines won a CES Innovation Award in Home Appliances in 2026. CLEANR is actively developing products that capture microplastics both leaving and entering your home, including drinking water filtration with their VORTX technology. CLEANR’s work in fighting microplastics pollution has been featured in Forbes, the NY Post, the front page of the Plain Dealer, the SF Chronicle, Anthropocene Magazine, and more.

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CEOs You Should Know - Cleveland

Max Pennington is the CEO and one of the co-founders of CLEANR, a Cleveland-based platform filtration technology startup venture focused on tackling microplastics at its source.

Max graduated Summa Cum Laude from Case Western Reserve University with...

Max Pennington, CEO Cleanr

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