What if the next generation of medicine could start with something as ordinary as an orange peel?
For Kareem Abdur-Rashid, a University of Toronto (U of T) Arts & Science alumnus and entrepreneur, that question is no longer a metaphor, it's a reality. As Co-founder and COO of Kare Chemical Technologies (Kare), Abdur-Rashid is transforming citrus waste into the foundation for safer, more accessible pain therapeutics. Guided by scientific rigor and a deeply personal mission, he is working to bridge a persistent gap in healthcare: the need for effective long-term pain treatment.
The Chemistry of a Startup
Abdur Rashid’s journey began in the classroom. He entered the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) as a forensic chemistry student, drawn to science that felt practical and impactful. “I was always in love with science, but I didn’t want a desk job,” he says. “I wanted to do science that felt meaningful.”
As his interests broadened to chemistry and biology, Abdur-Rashid volunteered in multiple research labs and completed his undergraduate thesis under Professor Scott Prosser, deepening his understanding of how chemistry could translate into real-world medical applications.
He went on to pursue a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry during the turbulence of the COVID-19 period, while building the foundations of Kare alongside his father. While he initially planned to pursue doctoral studies, the accelerating growth of the company forced a pivotal choice. “At some point, you realize you can’t do everything at once—you have to fully commit to building what you’re creating,” he reflects. Ultimately, he stepped away from his PhD to focus entirely on the business, carrying forward the research-driven mindset shaped by his time at U of T.
A Family-Driven Mission
Kare’s origins are deeply rooted in family and community resilience. The journey began with his father, Dr. Kamal Abdur-Rashid, who migrated with his family from Jamaica to Toronto, shifting from academic science to entrepreneurship.
The mission became even more personal when Abdur-Rashid’s cousin was diagnosed with epilepsy. As the family explored treatment options, cannabidiol (CBD) emerged as a promising avenue—despite the social stigma surrounding it at the time. “Looking at the research, it was clear that CBD was a real medicine,” he says. “It was changing people’s lives for the better.” This realization reinforced Kare’s core value: Creating a product so trustworthy and reliable that you would want your own family to take it.
The focus now was on helping a family member and making a difference with similar patients, but the road wasn’t easy; early fundraising efforts were met with skepticism from traditional investors who questioned the viability of a lean startup in the capital-heavy pharmaceutical space.
But determination and perseverance stood out, including personal efforts like selling their family home to fund the vision, along with immediate community support. Friends and supporters contributed what they could, often from hard-earned savings. “This is my $10K. It’s hard-saved money, but I believe in what you’re trying to do,” Abdur-Rashid recalls. This grassroots support allowed the team to persevere through lean periods and challenging times.
Upcycling waste into medicine
Kare’s breakthrough lies in its innovative approach to cannabinoid production. Rather than relying on cannabis plants, the company utilizes limonene—a key chemical compound found in orange peels. Limonene is an abundant byproduct of the citrus industry, usually discarded after juice production.
“We kind of play Lego with orange peels,” Abdur-Rashid explains. By starting with Limonene, and adding other pieces, Kare creates cannabinoids that are scalable, consistent, and significantly more affordable. Today, their platform includes CBD, THC, CBN, and many novel compounds. The focus remains on developing non-narcotic alternatives for chronic pain and “non-psychoactive” THC analogues that retains therapeutic benefits without the associated side effects.
Navigating entrepreneurship as a Black founder
As a Black founder in the pharmaceutical and healthcare space, Abdur-Rashid is aware of how limited representation shapes the entrepreneurial landscape and public perception. “When I go to conferences, we’re kind of the odd ones out,” he says. “There are very few people like us in healthcare and pharma.”
He credits supportive ecosystems like the Black Founders Network (BFN) and U of T Entrepreneurship (UTE) with helping to navigate these structural barriers. Beyond professional resources, Abdur-Rashid emphasizes the power of the Black entrepreneurial community. “There are social aspects you don’t have to explain—when you’re speaking with other Black founders, people just understand,” he says. “The people you’re pitching against are often the ones cheering the loudest.”
His hope is that Kare’s success will pave the way for more Black scientists to enter the startup space. “If we can help put a drug on the market, that’s a line in the sand. If seeing what we’re doing helps someone else start, that matters—it's the beginning of a new wave of entrepreneurs.”
Advice for Aspiring Founders: The Work Behind the Wins
Building a pharmaceutical company involves navigating immense uncertainty, from supply shortages to economic shifts. Abdur-Rashid is quick to challenge the romanticized image of the “overnight success.”
“The big successes are celebrated, but all the struggle and failure behind them is invisible,” he explains. “When you start a company, you do everything; you’re the leader, the scientist, the salesperson, and the janitor.”
That experience reshaped this understanding of what it takes to build something sustainable: Resilience, humility and willingness to learn through uncertainty. It also reinforced the importance of community and connection.
When asked to describe his journey in one word, he chooses serendipity, not as a matter of luck, but as a result of sustained effort. “When you keep pushing, you earn the moments when things finally come together.”
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In the context of Black History Month, Abdur-Rashid’s story is a powerful addition to the legacy of Black innovators in Canada—a testament to what happens when scientific expertise meets community-driven purpose.