The 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 class had a distinctive Case Western Reserve University flair, as four Case School of Engineering alumni and innovators were among the list of influential young minds.
Among the honorees in 20 categories ranging from AI to venture capital: the founders of CLEANR, a startup based in the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box]—Max Pennington (CWR ’22), David Dillman and Chip Miller—and social media influencer Xyla Foxlin (CWR ’19).
Forbes recognized CLEANR in the “Energy & Green Tech” category for its development of an innovative filter that catches more than 90% of microplastics found in washing machines, which are the No. 1 source of the microscopic pollutants. At the time of the 30 Under 30 announcement, the company had already raised more than $9 million in capital.
“We won a pitch competition at think[box] and used that money to buy our first washing machine,” said Pennington, co-founder and CEO of CLEANR. “I pretty much forgot that I’d submitted the nomination to Forbes months ago, so it was amazing to get the email that we’d been included on the list. It's a great recognition for the team, and for Case Western Reserve, think[box] and Cleveland, and we're very proud of it.”
Foxlin claimed a spot in the “Social Media” category for her innovative approach to teaching engineering that’s earned her more than 1 million social media followers. Her video lessons cover topics such as rockets, boatbuilding, composite fabrication, math and physics.
This isn’t the first time Forbes has recognized Foxlin; in 2018, the publication highlighted Foxlin as one of three “inspiring role models … to close the STEM gender gap” because of the YouTube channel she started in Sears think[box] while a CWRU student. She also now has a permanent presence in think[box] with a life-size, 3D-printed orange statue that was part of a Smithsonian Museum exhibit on women trailblazers.
Now in its 15th year, the Forbes 30 Under 30 list spans 20 categories, with the top rising entrepreneurs chosen from more than 10,000 applicants. Forbes editors look for scale, impact, creativity and potential for success as the main drivers of the selection process.
Case Western Reserve University students, postdocs and alumni have landed on the Forbes list before, such as:
