Sher Butt

Sher Butt

Y Combinator Logo Batch: S18

Achievements

  • Co-founded CB Therapeutics in 2015 and led through Y Combinator in 2018
  • Pioneered biosynthetic production of cannabinoids using yeast and sugar, eliminating plant cultivation
  • Founded CB Labs and established a cannabis testing lab as Chief Scientific Officer
  • Held leadership roles at Novartis, Steep Hill Lab, and Naturalena Brands, managing research and operations
  • Serves as venture partner at Pioneer Fund and on the board of TryptageniX
  • Holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from UC Davis and an MBA from UC San Diego's Rady School

Listen up about Sher Butt

Yo, you gotta hear about Sher Butt. This guy’s a straight-up biotech wizard who jumped into the startup game and crushed it. He’s the co-founder, CEO, and on the board of CB Therapeutics, a total big change in biotech. Basically, they’ve cracked the code on making cannabinoids and other high-value molecules using yeast and sugar. No plants needed, which is wild, super fast, super clean. That’s some advanced shit.

Sher’s been in the scene since way back. He co-founded CB in 2015, right around the time he was still deep in his research grind. Before all that, he was at Novartis and Steep Hill Lab, big pharma and testing labs, getting the real-world experience in science and operations. Dude’s been around the block, leading labs, managing projects, building teams. You can see he’s got that mix of hardcore science and business hustle.

He’s also got a solid educational background, a biochemistry degree from UC Davis and an MBA from UC San Diego’s Rady School. That combo? That’s the magic combo for turning science into startups. That’s what sets him apart, he’s not just a scientist, he’s a builder, a leader, a strategist.

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What’s super inspiring is how he’s taken all that background and jumped into biotech with both feet. He co-founded CB Labs, a cannabis testing lab, before launching CB Therapeutics. He’s been all about pushing boundaries, from research to commercialization, making sure these innovations actually get out into the world.

And the process’s about more than just tech, Sher’s also deep into investing and backing other startups. He’s a venture partner at Pioneer Fund and sits on the board at TryptageniX, helping companies level up. He’s not just building his empire; he’s out here lifting others as he goes.

His story is about relentless curiosity, a deep love for science, and a hunger to make real impact. Starting in labs, moving into leadership, and then building a company that’s pushing the frontier of biotech, that’s no small feat. It’s clear he’s driven by a desire to solve big problems, to innovate in ways that actually matter.

Bottom line: Sher Butt is the real deal. A scientist turned biotech founder who’s reshaping how we think about cannabinoids and cellular agriculture. He’s got that rare combo of technical genius and startup hustle. Honestly, he’s someone to watch because he’s not just doing cool science, he’s changing the game.

Founder ID: 105978

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