Man who died in Texas plane crash was a key figure in seeding Austin’s technology boom

Joshua Baer, 50, died in a small jet crash on a Texas highway near Laredo on Tuesday after pilots reported mechanical problems and requested an emergency landing. Baer was a central figure in Austin’s tech industry, founding Capital Factory in 2009, a venture capital firm supporting startups ranging from robotics to autonomous ships. Baer described himself as an ‘Austinpreneur’ and emphasized helping others launch businesses, even listing his life strategy as ‘Plant lots of seeds. Water everyone’s. Repeat.’ His LinkedIn profile highlighted his mission, and he was honored with a key to the city in 2023 by Austin’s mayor. Capital Factory’s downtown office sits among tech giants like Google, reflecting Austin’s booming innovation ecosystem. A software developer by training, Baer graduated from Carnegie Mellon University before moving to Austin in 1996 to work at Trilogy Inc. He later focused on fostering startups, often engaging with high school students and serving as an ‘entrepreneur in residence’ at the University of Texas. His passion for tech-driven change and community impact was widely recognized, with Austin Technology Council CEO Thom Singer calling him a visionary. Baer was aboard the crashed jet with three survivors, whose relationship to him was not immediately confirmed. His LinkedIn noted he had a wife and three children. Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn expressed sadness over his loss, with Cornyn calling Baer an ‘innovative & creative leader’ in Austin’s entrepreneurial culture. Capital Factory co-founder Bryan Chambers described Baer as a ‘true super connector,’ known for hosting business chats at a local coffee shop. Baer’s dedication to Austin’s tech scene was lifelong, from his early email marketing business to his later role as a mentor and investor. His death leaves a ‘hole in the heart of Austin,’ according to Singer, underscoring his influence on the city’s tech growth.