• Home
  • For Entrepreneurs…
  • For Startups…
  • For Corporations…
  • Accelerator
  • Podcast
  • Search Startups
  • Search Mentors
  • Browse Events
  • Read Blog

THE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN TEXAS

Stephen Straus

Partner

  • Reset
Follow on Twitter
Connect on LinkedIn

Stephen Straus is a serial entrepreneur and former venture capitalist with a current focus on AI related opportunities.  In his career, Stephen has started, ran and successfully sold two companies and was also a General Partner at one of the largest venture capital firms in the country.

Stephen most recently was VP Marketing and Business Development as well as a member of the Board of Directors at Correlated Magnetics Research, where he helped lead the commercialization effort of the company’s groundbreaking invention, raised funds and recruited the senior team.

Prior, Stephen was Founder and Chairman of Barfly Interactive Networks, an Austin-based media company, which was acquired in 2008 while raising its series B financing.  At Barfly, Stephen defined the product offering set strategy, acquired the initial customers, developed partnerships, led the effort to recruit the senior team and raised funds.

Prior to launching Barfly, Stephen spent almost nine years at Austin Ventures, which was at the time the largest and most active venture capital firm between the East and West coasts.   During his tenure at Austin Ventures, Stephen was promoted from Associate to General Partner, while the firm grew dramatically, from $278 million to over $2.4 billion under management.  Responsibilities included finding new companies to invest in and then working with the senior leadership of those companies as a member of the Board of Directors on team building, strategy, fundraising, acquisitions, and exits.

After graduating from college, Stephen was Founder of The Solutions Group in Washington, D.C., a software and service company, serving as its Chief Executive officer for five years, until its acquisition by a venture-backed company.

Stephen is a graduate of Colgate University and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.  Upon graduation with his MBA, Stephen was a Kauffman Fellow, a national Fellowship awarded to a select group of venture capitalists each year.  He serves on the Engineering Advisory Board of the Cockrell College of Engineering at the University of Texas and is a former member of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Food Center and Austin Film Society.  Stephen lives in Austin with his terrific wife and four great kids.

  • Mission
  • Our Team
  • Private Tours
  • Parking
  • Ask Us Anything
  • Code of Conduct
  • For Entrepreneurs…
  • For Startups…
  • For Corporations…
  • Accelerator
  • We Are Hiring!
  • Media and Press

Newsletter Signup

Be in the know in Texas' tech scene. Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates on our community, events and announcements.

701 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) LIV-WORK
Crafted by HMG Creative

By Appointment Only

Our doors are open! Reach out to Members@CapitalFactory.com to book your private, in-person membership tour.

Want To Take Private Tour?

  Take a 360° Video Tour →