Bellingham-based startup Tidal Vision, which uses a biomolecule extracted from crab shells to create an array of sustainable products, has acquired former customer Clear Water Services, a water treatment company headquartered in Everett.
"We've learned that the better we also become at the application of our technologies, the more rapid both adoption and further technology developments become," Craig Kasberg, co-founder and CEO of Tidal Vision, said in a news release.
The companies didn't disclose financial terms of the deal, which was announced Tuesday.
With the acquisition, Tidal Vision now has about 180 employees, a spokesperson said, with all 100 employees at Clear Water Services joining the company.
Tidal Vision was founded in 2015. The company extracts a biomolecule called chitosan from crab shells that can be used for water treatment, agriculture and textiles instead of toxic or non-biodegradable materials. This biomolecule binds to heavy metals and other pollutants in stormwater using what is called a cationic charge, which in turn cleans the water for use. Tidal Vision gets its crab shells from a seafood plant in Bellingham that processes for multiple crabbing companies.
In addition to two facilities in Bellingham, Tidal Vision has a facility in South Carolina. After extracting the chitosan from the crab shells, Tidal Vision sells what remains to a fertilizer company. Tidal Vision had about 40 employees in April of 2022, when it acquired ViaeX Technologies, a Bay Area startup that also focuses on chitosan innovations, for an undisclosed amount.
Clear Water Services, founded in 1998, works with clients to meet water quality and regulatory goals. The company offers solutions for construction companies, industrial clients and municipalities. Clear Water Services has locations in California, Michigan and Florida, in addition to Washington.
In the release, Tidal Vision said acquiring Clear Water Services allows the company to deploy its technology in a wider range of applications. The Tidal Vision spokesperson said the company will funnel more resources to Clear Water Services and look to grow the brand.
"The Clear Water Services division will both grow faster and innovate more in partnership with Tidal Vision," the spokesperson said in an email.
