Gabe Mott
Chief Operating Officer @Aspire
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WORK HISTORY
Chief Operating Officer @Aspire
As COO of one of North America\'s most innovative ag-tech startups, I led operations, engineering, capital projects, plant systems, quality, IT, and technical services over a 12-year span. My role evolved from hands-on pilot trials to managing a team of 150+ and delivering a $100M+ automated facility.Capital Projects• Directed design, build, and commissioning of a $100M+ first-of-kind insect protein facility, including an 85k sf, 96k-pallet ASRS warehouse. Delivered during COVID amid major supply chain, vendor, and workforce constraints.Systems & Process Leadership• Created a PMO that raised capital project success rates from 40% to 95%; designed systems, trained staff, and deployed company-wide.• Built KPI trees for ops, engineering, R&D, and QA—embedded into dashboards and team routines for data-driven execution of continuous improvement exercises.Operational Leadership & Turnaround• Steered operations through CEO transition. Later served as Acting CFO during financial distress, managing cash planning, lender negotiation, and a 120-person layoff. Maintained plant continuity through receivership.Quality, Regulatory & Risk• Designed and implemented a five-tier biosecurity and pest program—achieving zero disease outbreaks.• Managed Class-1 FDA recall with no consumer incidents or regulatory penalties.• Oversaw operations in a HACCP- and SQF-certified facility, including selection of SQF, initial certification, internal audits, certification renewals, and continuous improvement systems aligned with global food safety standardsFunding & Stakeholder Engagement• Secured $30M+ in non-dilutive government funding for CapEx, OpEx, and R&D.• Supported $100M+ in equity raises with technical diligence, financial modeling, and strategy development.Innovation & IP• Oversaw teams solving frontier problems in insect ag-tech, yielding 7 patents (co-inventor on 5) and step-change improvements in biological productivity and process capability.
EDUCATION
Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Carleton University
Master of Science - MS, Neuroscience
Carleton University
Bachelor of Science (BSc), Neuroscience
McGill University
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Strategy and Global Leadership
SKILLS
ABOUT GABE MOTT
I’m a seasoned executive who spent over a decade helping build one of North America\'s most innovative ag-tech startups—beginning with a business plan in Montreal that won the $1M Hult Prize in 2013, transitioning operations across three countries, and scaling to 150+ people. As COO, I led operations, engineering, R&D, capital projects, quality, and plant systems, overseeing everything from benchtop trials to the design and launch of a $100M+ fully automated insect protein production facility.I thrive where strategy meets execution: building systems, solving complex technical and biological challenges, designing capital-intensive processes, and driving cross-functional performance. I’ve developed and deployed project management systems, overseen FDA recall response, led teams through organizational rebuilds, created IP portfolios, secured $30M+ in government funding, and supported $100M+ in equity raises.I’ve also stepped into key interim roles—including Chief Science Officer and Acting CFO—to stabilize and transform core business functions when needed. These rotations deepened my cross-functional leadership and strengthened my ability to drive results under pressure.I bring a track record of leading teams through scale, transition, and operational complexity. I’m especially effective in growth-stage or mission-driven organizations that demand rigor, adaptability, and a blend of systems thinking and hands-on execution.Based in Ontario and open to the right opportunities, I’m always interested in conversations with leaders and organizations focused on building exceptional operations, products, and impact.
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