Steve Adler is the immediate past mayor of Austin, Texas. During his eight years in office, Adler helped establish Austin as a startup capital. Currently an Operating Partner for the NYC based VC firm, Commonweal Ventures; a Special Advisor to the US Round Table and to various early stage startups; a pre-IPO investor in Reddit and an LP with Factorial Capital, a VC fund focused on early stage, engineering-led teams building AI-native companies; Special Distinguished Faculty Appointment at Huston Tillotson University, Professor of Practice at the LBJ School, University of Texas, and Adjunct Prof. at St. Edwards University; and partner at Fritz, Byrne Law, PLLC.  Adler is seeing, advising and investing in new technologies, applications and platforms and working with cities and mayors around the world to help build better futures. He was instrumental in bringing Austin FC, Austin’s first major professional sports team to the capital city in 2019.