Connecting visionaries across science & technology, academia, government, and investment to build ecosystems that drive global impact.
At Cria Innovations, we specialize in forging connections that drive meaningful impact in science & technology ecosystems worldwide.
Our niche lies in navigating the complexities of cross-border collaboration, investment, and partnerships with academic spin-outs and tech startups. What sets us apart is our deep integrity, technical expertise, and cultural sensitivity—key ingredients for transforming daunting challenges into value-creating opportunities.
We bring together stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.
With proven experience in academic spin-outs and constructing hybrid university-affiliated venture capital funds, we make collaboration seamless.
About the Founder
Laura Smoliar, Ph.D., founder of Cria Innovations, combines decades of expertise in science, technology, and global partnerships. As a founding partner of Berkeley Catalyst Fund, she supported UC Berkeley's College of Chemistry and managed 26 diverse startups. She also co-founded Mobius Photonics, forging key partnerships with Japanese corporations and steering the company through challenging economic times to success.
