Fundraising Fox

Laura Smoliar

InvestorFounder

Founding Partner at Berkeley Catalyst · Board director at Water Harvesting

San Francisco Bay Area

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

FoundedWater Harvesting

About

Founding Partner who combines mentoring of technical entrepreneurs with philanthropy. Founded Mobius Photonics in 2005, which was acquired by IPG Photonics (NASDAQ:IPGP), where she served as Chairman and CEO. She has worked across hardware industries including data storage, displays, lasers, and biotech instrumentation. Received a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley and holds a B.A. from Columbia College.

Board director at Water Harvesting

Intro paths

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In turn, Laura can intro founders to Water Harvesting's investors below.

Water Harvesting's investors · 1

Berkeley CatalystBerkeley · since 2018

Co-founders at Water Harvesting

OY
OMAR YAGHIExecutive Officer, Director
FR
Frank RamirezExecutive Officer, Director
WG
WILLIAM GALLOExecutive Officer, Director

Experience

  1. Quantum DenmarkCEO, Quantum Denmarkcurrent2025 — presentCopenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
  2. DFM - Danish National Metrology InstituteCEO, Quantum Denmarkcurrent2025 — present
  3. Cria Innovations, LLCManaging Directorcurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  4. Berkeley Catalyst FundFounding Partnercurrent2016 — present
  5. Water Harvesting IncBoard Member (Past Chair)2018 — 2026San Francisco Bay Area
  6. Stanford UniversityExecutive Director, Taiwan Science & Technology Hub2023 — 2025Palo Alto, California, United States
  7. Nelumbo, IncBoard Member2017 — 2025San Francisco Bay Area
  8. NAMUHBoard Member2018 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
  9. Global Innovation Foundry, LLCManaging Director2014 — 2022Silicon Valley, CA
  10. Columbia Technology VenturesMember of the Executive Advisors Network (XAN)2016 — 2018New York City Metropolitan Area
  11. Independent ConsultingConsultant2013 — 2014Los Altos, CA
  12. Peppertree Engineering, Inc. (acquired by Enlumen Technologies)CEO2009 — 2013Mountain View, CA
  13. Mobius Photonics, Inc. (acquired by IPG Photonics)Founding CEO & Chairman2005 — 2009Santa Clara, CA
  14. Lightwave Electronics (acquired by JDSU)Product Development Manager2001 — 2005Mountain View, CA
  15. Silicon Light Machines (acquired by Cypress Semiconductor)Manager, Device Reliability & Sr. Member of the Technical Staff2000 — 2001Sunnyvale, CA
  16. Laser-Based Display Start-UpFirst Employee1998 — 2000
  17. Seagate TechnologySr. Advisory Scientist in Interface Physics1996 — 1998Fremont, CA
  18. Academia Sinica, TaiwanFellow1995 — 1996Taiwan & Germany

Education

  1. University of California, BerkeleyPh.D.1990 — 1995
  2. University of California, Berkeley, College of ChemistryPh.D., Chemistry1990 — 1995
  3. Columbia UniversityA.B. Summa Cum Laude, Chemistry1986 — 1990

Skills & more

FundraisingEngineering Management11Hardware Development5Start-ups99Venture Capital42Semiconductors38Engineering18Solar1Electronics9Entrepreneurship79Solar Energy6Business Strategy21
+12 moreCross-functional Team LeadershipProduct ManagementProduct MarketingCorporate DevelopmentNew Business DevelopmentCleantechCompetitive AnalysisBusiness PlanningPublic SpeakingProduct/service DevelopmentStrategyStrategic Planning

From Laura's professional profile.

Deals · 2

Water HarvestingBoard seat

via Berkeley Catalyst · filed Aug 2019 · $8M raise

Nelumbo Inc.Board seat

via Berkeley Catalyst · filed Nov 2017 · $5.6M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Colleagues at Berkeley Catalyst

Drew Lanza
Partner at Berkeley Catalyst
Joky Kong
Partner at Berkeley Catalyst
Ted Hou
Managing Partner at Berkeley Catalyst

Frequently asked questions

Where does Laura Smoliar work?
Laura Smoliar is Founding Partner at Berkeley Catalyst and Founder at Water Harvesting.
What check size does Laura Smoliar write?
Laura Smoliar typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
What companies did Laura Smoliar found?
Laura Smoliar founded Water Harvesting.

Same school

Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,341

Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General CatalystBrendan Bulik-SullivanInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAnthony LinHead of Intel Capital, Corporate Vice President at Intel CapitalScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital

+ 1,335 more

Also attended University of California, Berkeley, College of Chemistry2

Jessy RivestInvestor at Khosla VenturesLan WuAnalyst at Fusion

Also attended Columbia University687

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Erica VanInvestment Director at Intel Capital

+ 681 more

Shared employers

Also worked at DFM - Danish National Metrology Institute2

Lars BarklerESG & Climate Ambassador at Scale CapitalMarianne ThellersenBoard Member (PSV Foundry) at PreSeed Ventures

Also worked at Stanford University647

Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanEngineer, founder, angel investor, author of The Network State, and founder of Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDeep NisharInvestment Team at General CatalystPaul KwanInvestment Team at General CatalystBryan OffuttInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 641 more

Also worked at NAMUH2

Kulika WeizmanGeneral Partner at Creative VenturesManuel GonzalezPartner at AgFunder

Also worked at Academia Sinica, Taiwan3

Jack WangInsights Manager at McKesson VenturesDerrick ChengFounder at Overstand LabsHau ChuFounder/Chief Engineer at Unifold