With Baer's urging, dozens of successful Austin CEOs now take it upon themselves to help the next generation. They do this through Baer's start-up accelerator, as well as at his Start-Up 101 class at the University of Texas.

"There were entrepreneurship classes and business classes, but our class is more of a practicum for student entrepreneurs. They're already working on start-ups, now they get credit for doing that," he said.

Baer even holds weekly office hours at an Austin coffee shop, offering start-up advice to anyone who asks.

That level of commitment has made Baer the young generation's face of Austin entrepreneurship. It's hard to find a start-up in Austin where the players don't know him, and maybe even harder to find a CEO who doesn't like him.

Scott Robinson of Austin-based Insperity made a point to attend the launch of Capital Factory, and he didn't mince words.

"I might go so far as to suggest he's been as influential on this generation of entrepreneurs in Austin as Michael Dell was in his era," he said.