What do you get when two corporate guys with zero science degrees decide to grow microalgae? In Columbia, you get BrightWave—a startup proving that brains, business chops, and a little “aha!” moment can outpace lab coats.
Founded in 2019 by Tim Shaw (ex-UPS supply chain guru) and Ken Peretti (software sales veteran), BrightWave builds sleek “photobioreactor” tanks that make algae farming smarter, cleaner, and way more scalable. These glowing tanks are already selling worldwide—feeding industries from food to fuel to cosmetics. Yep, the same green goop that clogs ponds is being transformed into biofuels, face cream, even sustainable aviation fuel.
BrightWave joins a growing Baltimore-area startup scene that’s scrappy, innovative, and surprisingly global. Their success story isn’t about textbooks or test tubes—it’s about taking risks, spotting opportunity, and proving that the tiniest cells can make the biggest waves.
