Capital Factory issues statement after CEO dies in Laredo plane crash

Capital Factory issues statement after CEO dies in Laredo plane crash LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Capital Factory confirmed Thursday to KGNS that its co-founder and CEO died Tuesday evening in a private aircraft crash near Laredo. Joshua “Josh” Baer, a former Texas Tribune board member, died in a plane crash in Laredo. Baer was the founder and CEO of Austin-based startup accelerator Capital Factory and was traveling with five others to Austin from San José del Cabo, Mexico. “Josh was a fearless leader, a brilliant partner, and a dear friend to so many of us,” Bryan Chambers, president of Capital Factory, said. Chambers said the organization “remains fully operational” and is committed to continuing Baer’s mission “of backing unstoppable founders.” The company said it would not comment further “out of respect for the Baer family and the active investigation being conducted by federal authorities,” and asked that the family and loved ones be given privacy. Senator Ted Cruz provided an Instagram post dedicated to Baer. For more headlines, click here. Copyright 2026 KGNS. All rights reserved.