Laura Smoliar
InvestorFounding Partner at Berkeley Catalyst · Board director at Water Harvesting
San Francisco Bay Area
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
Find your path to Laura
748 people in our graph share verified history with Laura — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Paul KwanunlockedLaura: together at Stanford University (2023–2025)
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×5Laura: together at University of California, Berkeley
×2Laura: together at Columbia University
×3Laura: together at Stanford University
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
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In turn, Laura can intro founders to Water Harvesting's investors below.
Water Harvesting's investors · 1
Co-founders at Water Harvesting
OY
OMAR YAGHIExecutive Officer, Director
Experience
- Quantum DenmarkCEO, Quantum Denmarkcurrent2025 — presentCopenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
- DFM - Danish National Metrology InstituteCEO, Quantum Denmarkcurrent2025 — present
- Cria Innovations, LLCManaging Directorcurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Berkeley Catalyst FundFounding Partnercurrent2016 — present
- Water Harvesting IncBoard Member (Past Chair)2018 — 2026San Francisco Bay Area
- Stanford UniversityExecutive Director, Taiwan Science & Technology Hub2023 — 2025Palo Alto, California, United States
- Nelumbo, IncBoard Member2017 — 2025San Francisco Bay Area
- NAMUHBoard Member2018 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
- Global Innovation Foundry, LLCManaging Director2014 — 2022Silicon Valley, CA
- Columbia Technology VenturesMember of the Executive Advisors Network (XAN)2016 — 2018New York City Metropolitan Area
- Independent ConsultingConsultant2013 — 2014Los Altos, CA
- Peppertree Engineering, Inc. (acquired by Enlumen Technologies)CEO2009 — 2013Mountain View, CA
- Mobius Photonics, Inc. (acquired by IPG Photonics)Founding CEO & Chairman2005 — 2009Santa Clara, CA
- Lightwave Electronics (acquired by JDSU)Product Development Manager2001 — 2005Mountain View, CA
- Silicon Light Machines (acquired by Cypress Semiconductor)Manager, Device Reliability & Sr. Member of the Technical Staff2000 — 2001Sunnyvale, CA
- Laser-Based Display Start-UpFirst Employee1998 — 2000
- Seagate TechnologySr. Advisory Scientist in Interface Physics1996 — 1998Fremont, CA
- Academia Sinica, TaiwanFellow1995 — 1996Taiwan & Germany
Skills & more
FundraisingEngineering Management11Hardware Development5Start-ups99Venture Capital42Semiconductors38Engineering18Solar1Electronics9Entrepreneurship79Solar Energy6Business Strategy21
+12 more
Cross-functional Team LeadershipProduct ManagementProduct MarketingCorporate DevelopmentNew Business DevelopmentCleantechCompetitive AnalysisBusiness PlanningPublic SpeakingProduct/service DevelopmentStrategyStrategic PlanningFrom Laura's professional profile.
Deals · 1
Water HarvestingBoard seat
via Berkeley Catalyst · filed Aug 2019 · $8M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Per SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Berkeley Catalyst
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Laura Smoliar?
- 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.
- Where does Laura Smoliar work?
- Laura Smoliar is Founding Partner at Berkeley Catalyst and Board director at Water Harvesting.
- What check size does Laura Smoliar write?
- Laura Smoliar typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- What boards does Laura Smoliar sit on?
- Laura Smoliar holds tracked board seats at Nelumbo, Water Harvesting.
- Where did Laura Smoliar go to school?
- Laura Smoliar studied at University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D.); University of California, Berkeley, College of Chemistry (Ph.D., Chemistry); Columbia University (A.B. Summa Cum Laude, Chemistry).
Same school
Also attended University of California, Berkeley2,000
Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersSteve WozniakCo-founder of AppleTony XuCo-founder & CEO of DoorDashAravind SrinivasCo-founder & CEO of Perplexity AIAli GhodsiCo-founder & CEO of DatabricksRyan PetersenFounder & CEO of Flexport
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley, College of Chemistry3
Also attended Columbia University1,122
Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
+ 1,116 more
Shared employers
Also worked at DFM - Danish National Metrology Institute2
Also worked at Stanford University1,044
Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at AnthropicAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)
+ 1,038 more
