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Laura Smoliar is a Founding Partner at the Berkeley Catalyst Fund, the Founder of Cria Innovations, and the Executive Director of Stanford University Taiwan Science and Technology Hub in the Bay Area. She previously founded Mobius Photonics in 2005, serving as Chairman and CEO until its successful acquisition by NASDAQ IPGP. Smoliar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Columbia University and a doctorate in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley under the guidance of Yuan T Lee. Through the Berkeley Catalyst Fund, she directs pre-seed and seed-stage investments ranging from $100,000 to $5 million into startups emerging from UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Her current focus centers on advancing early-stage deep tech, life sciences, and cleantech ventures while fostering international scientific collaboration across the broader Silicon Valley ecosystem.
Laura Smoliar stands as a prominent Partner at Berkeley Catalyst Fund, a venture capital firm dedicated to transforming groundbreaking research from UC Berkeley into successful, high-growth companies. As a key figure at Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Laura leverages her unique blend of scientific expertise, entrepreneurial acumen, and investment insight to identify and nurture the next generation of innovative startups. Her role involves comprehensive deal sourcing, rigorous due diligence, and providing strategic guidance to portfolio companies, helping them navigate the complex journey from concept to market leader.
Laura Smoliar’s investment focus is deeply rooted in disruptive technologies, particularly within deep tech, life sciences, advanced materials, and sustainable solutions. She is keenly interested in companies that are developing fundamental scientific breakthroughs with the potential for significant societal and economic impact. Her ability to understand complex scientific principles allows her to effectively evaluate the technical viability and market potential of early-stage ventures, making her an invaluable asset to founders operating at the cutting edge of innovation. She actively seeks out opportunities that emerge from the vibrant research ecosystem of UC Berkeley, fostering a direct link between academic discovery and commercial success.
Before her impactful tenure at Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Laura Smoliar built a distinguished career spanning academia, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, establishing a strong foundation in scientific research. This academic rigor seamlessly transitioned into entrepreneurship when she co-founded Nanosys, a pioneering company in quantum dot technology. Her experience at Nanosys provided her with firsthand knowledge of the challenges and triumphs of building a deep tech company from the ground up, from securing intellectual property to scaling operations and achieving market penetration.
Following her entrepreneurial success, Laura Smoliar further honed her investment skills as a Venture Partner at Khosla Ventures, one of the most respected venture capital firms globally. This role deepened her understanding of venture capital dynamics, portfolio management, and strategic growth, preparing her for her current leadership position. At Berkeley Catalyst Fund, she applies this extensive background to empower founders, offering not just capital but also mentorship, strategic connections, and a deep understanding of the scientific and business landscapes. Her commitment to fostering innovation and supporting visionary entrepreneurs makes Laura Smoliar a pivotal force in the venture capital community, driving forward the commercialization of transformative technologies.
Laura Smoliar is a distinguished Partner at Berkeley Catalyst Fund, an investor with a strong scientific and entrepreneurial background, focusing on early-stage deep tech and life science companies emerging from UC Berkeley.
Laura Smoliar invests in groundbreaking early-stage companies, particularly in deep tech, life sciences, advanced materials, and sustainable technologies, often originating from the UC Berkeley ecosystem.
Laura Smoliar works as a Partner at Berkeley Catalyst Fund, a venture capital firm that supports startups emerging from UC Berkeley's research and innovation.
