Jake Short Acquires Controlling Stake in Underwater Drone Startup for Ocean Cleanup
The 23-year-old entrepreneur Jake Short has acquired a controlling stake in AquaClear Robotics, a Seattle-based startup specializing in autonomous underwater drones used for ocean plastic removal, according to a press release issued Tuesday morning. Short, known for his disruptive ventures in renewable energy and logistics, will invest an undisclosed seven-figure sum to scale the company's fleet of drones from 50 to 200 units by the fourth quarter of 2025. The acquisition, finalized on Monday, aims to accelerate the removal of microplastics from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, with Short citing the urgent need for "commercially viable environmental technology" as the primary motivation. Industry analysts note this move positions Short as a leading figure in the blue-tech sector, potentially increasing the startup's valuation to over 50 million dollars within the next 18 months.