Clean Earth Rovers cofounders named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list
Duo’s UC Venture Lab-backed startup is valued at $3 million
A pair of graduates of the University of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab program were recognized as being among the top entrepreneurs in North America as part of the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Clean Earth Rovers cofounders Michael Arens and David Constantine were named to the 13th annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the energy category. They’re part of the 600 honorees across 20 industries recognized by Forbes.
Clean Earth Rovers is developing autonomous rovers that clear debris, which Arens likened to “Roombas for coastal waterways.” The startup has deployed its rovers near San Francisco and in South Florida to clear plastic, hurricane debris, oil spills, dead fish, seaweed and more from coastal waterways. The startup also has developed DataPods that can monitor water quality.
According to Forbes, Clean Earth Rovers is valued at $3 million and projected to make $1.2 million in revenue in 2024.
Featured image at top: Clean Earth Rovers CEO Michael Arens, left, works on the startup’s autonomous rover. Photo/Clean Earth Rovers
Innovation Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Cincinnati sees record rainfall in weekend deluge
July 21, 2026
The Cincinnati Enquirer talks to UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor Patrick Ray for context about a July 17 rainstorm that dumped a record amount of rain on parts of Cincinnati.
Putting preschool into perspective
July 20, 2026
Preschool and childcare can be difficult to navigate for parents, as Spectrum News 1 Ohio recently reported. Waitlists are long, and factors like cost, location and transportation can limit options. According to a recent study published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, only 41% of 3- to 4-year-olds in Ohio were enrolled in preschool between 2020 and 2024 — a 4% decrease from pre-pandemic numbers. For University of Cincinnati early childhood education faculty member Chad Nunamaker, that statistic has caveats.
Ticks that survive pesticides can withstand colder winters
July 17, 2026
Ticks that survive less-than-lethal doses of pesticide are able to withstand dangerous cold, which could help them expand their range farther north, according to researchers at the University of Cincinnati and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.