Where Innovation Ecosystems Come to Life
We combine CIC’s global platform with deep expertise and hands-on execution.
CIC Catalyst is CIC’s consulting and delivery arm, designing, building, and scaling innovation ecosystems worldwide.
We partner with corporations, startups, governments, and institutions to build stronger ecosystems, accelerate innovation, and drive sustainable growth.
OUR Foundation
Where Innovation Scales Globally
Catalyst builds on CIC’s proven legacy, operating independently as a global leader in scaling innovation.
With roots in CIC’s expansive campuses, spanning 1.5M square feet across North America, Europe, and Asia Catalyst leverages deep expertise in ecosystem development, bespoke programming, and district consulting. Its work is grounded in a track record of building industry clusters and advancing innovation at scale.
Focused and globally oriented, Catalyst extends this foundation to help partners scale innovation across markets, sectors, and geographies worldwide.
OUR ECOSYSTEM
How Catalyst Delivers Impact
At Catalyst, Our Leadership Team Is At The Heart Of Our Vision And Growth
Victor Mulas
Chief Innovation Officer & President
Victor leads Catalyst and serves as CIC’s Chief Innovation Officer, driving global strategy at the intersection of innovation, policy, and entrepreneurship.
With over 20 years of experience, he has advised governments, corporations, and startups worldwide on building and scaling innovation ecosystems. Prior to CIC, he worked at the World Bank, where he led smart city and entrepreneurship initiatives across multiple regions.
Victor also contributes to public policy, serving as a Startup Fellow for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. A former research scientist at the China Institute of Technology, he brings a data-driven perspective to innovation and competitiveness.
Carrie Allen
Managing Partner, Catalyst Advisory
Carrie leads Catalyst’s advisory practice, helping organizations design and implement strategies for innovation at scale.
An experienced innovation leader and entrepreneurial founder, she has worked across industries to guide institutional transformation and build high-impact platforms. Her expertise spans strategy, system design, and global innovation initiatives.
Carrie focuses on enabling organizations to translate ideas into scalable solutions through thoughtful design and execution.
Dougan Sherwood
Partner, CAtalyst Advisory
Dougan leads innovation district strategy and ecosystem development initiatives across global markets.
With decades of experience at CIC, he has played a key role in shaping the organization’s growth, from its early days in Kendall Square to expanding internationally. He was instrumental in launching CIC’s presence at the Cortex Innovation District in St. Louis.
Dougan specializes in designing and implementing environments that foster innovation, collaboration, and long-term economic impact.
Shino Tsuchiya
Partner, Catalyst APAC
Shino focuses on building innovation ecosystems and partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region.
She began her career in the NGO sector, working on mission-driven and accessibility-focused web development projects. She later founded Impact Hub Tokyo, where she supported Japan’s startup ecosystem through cross-sector collaboration and community building.
At Catalyst, Shino leads large-scale innovation initiatives and partnerships, driving ecosystem growth and impact across Japan and beyond.
Trevor Brennan
Director, CAtalyst Global Expansion
Trevor leads the global scaling of Catalyst’s innovation and real estate platforms.
With more than 20 years of experience, he has worked across real estate, consumer services, and professional services, helping organizations expand across borders.
At Catalyst, Trevor partners with governments, institutions, and developers to build resilient innovation infrastructure that supports economic development and long-term value creation worldwide.
Quinn Harvey
Director, Catalyst Construction & Design Management
Quinn leads global design, construction, and implementation for CIC, overseeing the development and execution of its expanding portfolio.
She began her career at CIC in Operations before helping to establish the organization’s Design Team. As a designer and later a project manager, she contributed to major expansions in Cambridge, Boston, St. Louis, and Philadelphia, including CIC’s first wet-lab buildout.
With a background in architecture and construction management, Quinn brings deep expertise in both design and project execution, delivering high-quality, scalable environments that support innovation.
Lindsay Clark
Director, catalyst Advisory
Lindsay oversees operations at Captains of Innovation, managing finance, sales, marketing, legal compliance, and service delivery.
An experienced operator and strategic leader, she has a strong background in operations management, business development, and organizational growth. She has led complex initiatives, including expansion efforts and large-scale contract delivery.
Lindsay brings a data-driven and execution-focused approach, ensuring operational excellence and sustainable growth.
Brendan Sullivan
Director, Catalyst Advisory
Brendan leads business development and strategic partnerships for Catalyst Advisory, driving global expansion and supporting the growth of innovation ecosystems.
He began his career building and scaling clean energy startups across four countries in sub-Saharan Africa before joining CIC, where he led expansion efforts in major markets including New York City and Tokyo. He has also played a key role in developing partnerships that support growth across startups, enterprises, and public sector stakeholders.
With a background in business development and market expansion, Brendan brings deep expertise in partnership strategy and execution.
Alejandra Winter
Director, catalyst soft landing
Alejandra leads Catalyst’s global market entry and soft-landing programs, supporting startups as they expand into new regions.
With over a decade of experience, she has helped more than 200 startups from Latin America, Asia, and Europe scale into the U.S., Japan, and other international markets. She also leads Catalyst’s International Programs, developing industry-focused cohorts that drive measurable growth.
A trained engineer and design thinker, Alejandra brings deep expertise in internationalization, ecosystem building, and cross-cultural innovation.
Ayano Kagami
Director, Catalyst APAC
Ayano leads startup support and life sciences innovation initiatives across international markets.
She holds a Ph.D. in Life Sciences and previously worked at Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), focusing on R&D and science policy.
Since joining Catalyst, Ayano has led global expansion programs, startup accelerators, and life sciences initiatives, bridging research, policy, and ecosystem development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Curious how Catalyst works in practice? Learn more about how Catalyst typically operates as an innovation, strategy, and venture-building partner.
CIC Catalyst is an innovation consulting and venture-supporting organization that helps companies, governments, and institutions design, launch, and scale science-based startups and commercialization ecosystems. It focuses on translating early-stage research and deep-tech innovations into real-world solutions through structured programs, partnerships, and global ecosystem building.
CIC Catalyst collaborates with a wide range of partners, including:
- Corporations seeking innovation strategies
- Governments and public agencies
- Universities and research institutions
- Startups and entrepreneurs
- Investors
Our role is often to connect these groups into a functioning innovation ecosystem.
CIC Catalyst offers services such as:
- Strategy & Ecosystem Design
- Innovation strategy development
- Ecosystem consulting outcomes & products
- Ecosystem building (hubs, clusters)
- Commercialization & Venture Acceleration
- Venture acceleration
- Commercialization orchestration
- Science-based startup support
- Programs & Platforms
- Program design (accelerators, challenges, labs)
- Vertical clusters
- Market Access & Startup Connection
- Startup scouting and matching
- Global market entry support
- Partnerships & Stakeholder Activation
- Stakeholder engagement and partnerships
We often tailor solutions rather than offering one-size-fits-all programs.
Unlike traditional consulting firms that focus on analysis and recommendations, CIC Catalyst emphasizes execution. We actively help launch ventures, build innovation programs, and operate initiatives, not just advise on them.
CIC Catalyst is not a venture capital firm, but it may support venture creation and connect startups with funding sources. In some cases, it helps design investment strategies or collaborates with investors as part of broader innovation programs.
Clients typically gain:
- New ventures or pilot projects launched
- Stronger innovation ecosystems
- Strategic partnerships
- Practical, scalable solutions rather than just reports
The focus is on measurable impact and long-term capability building.
We take a structured, hands-on approach to delivering innovation outcomes. Our team works closely with your stakeholders to define the problem, identify opportunities, and develop validated solutions. From concept through to pilot and scale, we lead execution, ensuring ideas are tested, refined, and ready for real-world impact.
Yes. A core strength of CIC Catalyst is designing and activating regional innovation ecosystems. This includes connecting local stakeholders, attracting startups and investors, and creating programs (like accelerators or hubs) that drive long-term economic growth and innovation capacity.