Kiara Thomas

Kiara Thomas is an Innovation & Technology Scout at Noble Corporation, where she develops the company’s offshore drilling innovation pipeline, evaluates early-stage technologies, and advises leadership on strategic investments that enhance competitive positioning. She brings a strong venture and startup background, having founded a startup accelerator and served as a Venture Partner at a Los Angeles based AI fund, where she built startup growth programs, led diligence, and supported AI and industrial technology portfolios. Kiara has successfully launched a university innovation pipeline program delivering a projected 7,499:1 return over a 5–7 year horizon, demonstrating her ability to bridge academic research, startups, and large-scale drilling contractors. Her expertise spans innovation strategy, new business development, partnerships, and systems thinking, with a consistent focus on converting technical potential into scalable, market-ready outcomes.