Clean Earth Rovers Scales Autonomous Pollution Response
Just eight years ago, Michael Arens, Clean Earth Rovers co-founder and CEO, was in his Xavier University dorm dreaming up a viable way to rid the ocean of plastic pollution and close the data gaps plaguing coastal water quality management. From sketchbooks and garage-built prototypes, that vision has since grown into a fast-scaling marine robotics and water data company that builds “Roombas of the seas” to monitor and clean our coastal waterways.
The Technology: An End-To-End Solution Suite
Today, Michael and his team have successfully automated waterway pollution monitoring and management for cities and contractors. Their DataPodTM Smart Buoy collects real-time water quality data like temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and bacterial indicators, providing early-warning insights on threats such as harmful algal blooms, fish kills, acidification events, and runoff contamination. Gilligan AITM and DataHubTM ingest and analyze this data, creating visualizations and actionable pollution risk forecasts. When a pollution event strikes, users can schedule a rapid service using the The Rover AVProTM, an autonomous vessel that cleans affected waterways. Ready to implement at our ports, marinas, and open waterways, Clean Earth Rovers developed a true end-to-end solution suite for healthy and safe waterways in just a few years.
Braid Theory’s Role: Manufacturing, Scaling, and Commercializing
As part of Braid Theory’s Blue Futures Incubator and The Continuum Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, Clean Earth Rovers has accelerated its growth with targeted commercialization support. Through The Continuum Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, Clean Earth Rovers was selected to receive a Technology, Development, and Commercialization (TDC) award, a non-dilutive grant dedicated to advancing commercialization and market readiness. With this award, the team will produce, test, and scale its DataPodTM technology to support broader commercial deployment in the Southern California region.
In parallel, participation in the Blue Futures Incubator provided ongoing strategic guidance from the Braid Theory team, contributing directly to Clean Earth Rovers securing a contract with the Port of Los Angeles and fully transitioning operations to Los Angeles County. Arens shares, “Working with the Braid Theory staff and mentors through the Blue Futures Incubator and the Continuum Accelerator program has been monumental for Clean Earth Rovers’ recent successes in 2025.”
This momentum has enabled the team to fast-track growth, including the successful manufacturing and deployment of a fleet of Rover AVPros’ now operating across Southern California, Ohio, and throughout North America.
Beyond product development, Clean Earth Rovers has taken major strides in commercialization and market traction. “Participating in the Blue Futures Incubator and The Continuum Ocean Enterprise Accelerator allowed us to go back to basics, stress-test our hypotheses regarding product-market fit, and reposition our competitive edge and storytelling. Since completing the program, our team has procured contracts servicing the Port of Los Angeles, launched new product iterations, added critical staff members, and created a roadmap for 2026 focused on continued growth,” says Arens. Clean Earth Rovers’ long term vision is to become the world’s leading producer of water quality data and to build the largest autonomous pollution response network globally - ensuring that no community is ever far from rapid environmental remediation.
Reflecting on the year’s progress, Arens adds, “The Braid Theory programs are designed to support entrepreneurs in the emerging BlueTech industry and are led by experts who serve as true catalysts for growth.”
Clean Earth Rover’s Next Chapter
Clean Earth Rovers is officially moving its headquarters to AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles this year and expanding its presence in key coastal markets. As part of this expansion, the team has hired five new team members in the LA area to assist with field operations within the Port of Los Angeles and other nearby service regions.