‘A huge loss for Texas’: Austin entrepreneur, UT faculty remembered for helping others  – The Daily Texan

Entrepreneur Joshua Baer died in a plane crash in Laredo, Texas, on June 18. He founded Capital Factory, a firm that helped startups find investors and clients, and later joined the UT community through the Department of Computer Science. Most recently, he co-taught the Longhorn Startup Seminar and Lab. 

In 1996, Baer founded his first startup while studying computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. He founded and involved himself in several more ventures before founding Capital Factory in 2009, a company that helps support new startups here in Austin, according to his LinkedIn profile. PitchBook, a market analytics firm, named Capital Factory the most active investor in Texas every year since 2010. Currently, Capital Factory has invested in over 800 companies across the space, energy, bio and defense sectors, according to their website. 

“He was a true super connector,” wrote Bryan Chambers, president of Capital Factory, in a LinkedIn post. “The ripple effect of Josh’s impact will be immeasurable. He was the most passionate founder and entrepreneur I have ever worked with.” 

Baer joined the UT community in 2011 as the Department of Computer Science’s entrepreneur in residence, according to his LinkedIn.

“Through his mentorship, generosity, and leadership in Austin’s startup community, he helped countless students take their first steps as entrepreneurs,” said Peter Stone, chair of the Department of Computer Science. “Josh’s influence will be felt for years to come through the students he inspired, the founders he supported, and the community he helped build.” 

In 2023, then-Mayor Steve Adler gifted Baer the keys to the city of Austin on behalf of the Capital Factory faculty.

“He dedicated his life to helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality,” Capital Factory wrote in a statement. “His impact on the city of Austin, the state of Texas, and the countless founders he supported cannot be overstated.”

In March, Capital Factory launched STATION Austin, a nonprofit continuing Capital Factory’s mission of helping startups. 

“The passing of Josh Baer is a huge loss for Texas,” U.S. Representative John Carter wrote on X. “He was a disruptor, a brilliant innovator, and had immense enthusiasm for helping others succeed.” 

Baer is survived by his wife, Amy, and their three children.