Culturati Summit

We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of Joshua Baer.

Josh was a founding member and sponsor of Culturati, the founder of Capital Factory, and one of the early builders of Austin’s tech ecosystem.

He saw what was coming before most. He started his first company from his college dorm in 1996, and went on to help create the infrastructure Austin entrepreneurs would come to rely on. From email to startups to coworking to AI, Josh was always an early adopter, moving toward the future with curiosity, courage, and optimism.

In a recent conversation with our friend Brett Hurt, Josh said, “I try to just be a positive influence… How do I make sure that I’m at least contributing to these things getting better?”

He did.

For founders. For Austin. For Culturati. For the people and communities he believed in, connected, challenged, and helped along the way.

We are grateful for his belief, his generosity, and his lasting influence. Our hearts are with his family, the Capital Factory team, and everyone feeling this loss.