CodiKoat Appoint Blake Gudgel As CEO
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Blake Gudgel as our new CEO.
Blake joins CodiKoat at a crucial moment in our history. Having spent the last 16 years leading the development and operations efforts in early-stage technology companies in the US & Europe, he will now use his expertise to lead CodiKoat to the next step in our growth.
Blake brings with him deep experience in product development, finance, commercialisation, corporate partnerships, scaling and culture, all of which will be crucial for CodiKoat as we move forward.
Having earned degrees in Entrepreneurship/Venture Management and Marketing from the University of Oklahoma, Blake’s primary career focus has been on developing scalable technological solutions for positive social impact, with a focus on health technology, military robotics, materials science and pharmaceuticals.
For two years, Blake worked as Director of the Office of Technology Development at his alma mater, where he led the tech transfer teams responsible for commercialising University’s IP portfolio via licensing with public & private companies, spin-outs, collaborative partnerships and direct investments. Blake also has deep government advocacy experience, working at the intersection of health policy and new technology, developing partnerships with multiple US federal departments, agencies, tech companies and some of the largest health systems in the US to launch new technologies to improve health and economic outcomes.
Blake is excited to be joining CodiKoat, and he sees the potential for the company’s technology to have a meaningful lasting impact on public health:
“It’s an incredible time to be joining this company and I’m excited to get going. The promise of material science keeping surfaces free of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants has intrigued me from the beginning of my career. Not much has changed in the last decade in terms of these promises transitioning into meaningful real world impact because the origin of most have been solutions looking for problems.
CodiKoat is different. We have already developed solutions for the key limiting factors: achieve meaningful levels of efficacy, speed to meaningful efficacy, broad spectrum efficacy and application to multiple substrates. This team has shifted the category, and we’re just getting started, with a pipeline of novel IP behind us.
I look forward to announcing a sizable new funding round, which will aid us in bringing our first products to market and building out a team of additional leadership roles to execute our plans for regulatory approvals and large market launches in 2023. We have an amazing year ahead!”
Blake’s appointment as CEO is timely, as CodiKoat’s operations continue to grow. We have recently expanded our presence at The EpiCentre in Haverhill, as well as strengthening our scientific team with a number of key appointments.
The company also launched its first product to the market, with the HEPA PLUS filter powering the new Vent-Axia PureAir Room 500 X air purifier.