# Lishan Zhao

> Lishan Zhao is a chemist, engineering-biology executive, and founder of Shanghai-based Cataya Bio. After studying chemistry at Fudan University and earning a doctorate at the University of Minnesota, he engineered industrial enzymes at Diversa and spent 2008 to 2021 in R&D leadership at Amyris, where he helped move more than ten bio-based products from laboratory work toward commercialization and built the company's China business. At Cataya, his organizing idea is that biotechnology companies should join discovery, scale-up, manufacturing, and market delivery rather than treating them as separate worlds.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman and CEO at Cataya Bio
- **Organizations:** Cataya Bio, Amyris, BioVerdant, Diversa Corporation, University of Minnesota, Fudan University
- **Education:** BS in Chemistry, Fudan University, MS in Organic Chemistry, Fudan University, PhD in Chemistry / Biological Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- **Known for:** Helped develop Amyris's synthetic-biology platform and bring more than ten bio-based products from laboratory work toward commercial production., Led the development of Amyris's business in China., Led or participated in programs involving artemisinin, farnesene, and steviol glycosides, according to Cataya and investor biographies.

## Career timeline

- **2000** — Completed a University of Minnesota doctorate under Hung-Wen Liu; his dissertation examined deoxysugar biosynthesis and engineered biosynthesis of methymycin/pikromycin analogs.
- **2000-2006** — Worked at Diversa Corporation as a scientist focused on discovering and engineering enzymes for industrial applications.
- **2006-2008** — Worked at BioVerdant, including as Director of Biology.
- **2008-2021** — Served in research and development leadership at Amyris, ultimately as Vice President of R&D and President of China.
- **2014** — Presented the artemisinin industrialization story and engineered farnesene production during a month-long academic visit to Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
- **2021** — Founded Cataya Bio in Shanghai.
- **2022** — Cataya announced a Series A round exceeding RMB 100 million, followed later that year by an A+ round exceeding RMB 100 million.
- **2023** — Cataya announced a RMB 250 million Series B round to strengthen its R&D platform and manufacturing scale-up.
- **2026** — Cataya broke ground on Phase II of a planned pharmaceutical-excipient production project in Qidong.

## Achievements

- Helped develop Amyris's synthetic-biology platform and bring more than ten bio-based products from laboratory work toward commercial production.
- Led the development of Amyris's business in China.
- Led or participated in programs involving artemisinin, farnesene, and steviol glycosides, according to Cataya and investor biographies.
- Is listed as an inventor on numerous patents covering industrial enzymes, terpene production, and steviol-glycoside biosynthesis.
- Co-authored a 2023 commentary on the current state and prospects of China's synthetic-biology industry.
- Built Cataya through four disclosed financing rounds in its first two years, including a RMB 250 million Series B announced in 2023.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Cataya exhibited bio-based personal-care ingredients at in-cosmetics Global 2026 in Paris.
- **2026-03** — Cataya announced that its 6'-sialyllactose ingredient had obtained FDA GRAS status for the U.S. market.
- **2026-02** — Cataya broke ground on Phase II of a Qidong pharmaceutical-excipient project designed for 2,200 metric tons of annual capacity.
- **2025-10** — Cataya and NAGASE announced a successful 15,000-liter demonstration production run for a sustainable personal-care ingredient.
- **2025-07** — Cataya announced FDA GRAS status for its first human milk oligosaccharide product, 2'-fucosyllactose, and support from Shanghai authorities for AI integration into its synthetic-biology platform.

## Links

- Website: https://cataya.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lishan-zhao-63132b2

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/lishan-zhao
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-27