STATION TEXAS Welcomes Riffat Manasia as Founding Executive Director

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--STATION TEXAS, a newly launched nonprofit dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship and innovation across the state, announces Riffat Manasia as its founding Executive Director. Powered by Capital Factory, STATION TEXAS aims to strengthen Texas’s innovation landscape by fostering collaboration among startups, researchers, investors, universities, and public institutions. The organization will focus on advancing high-impact sectors, including defense, biotech, space, energy, artificial intelligence, robotics, and beyond.

Ms Manasia brings over 20 years of experience at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and global impact. She founded a consulting organization and led high-level research across post-9/11 Afghanistan, advised four-star generals and global diplomats, and helped launch accelerators and innovation hubs across Africa. Riffat directed an accelerator for energy innovation, headed an international medical nonprofit in Switzerland, and led a national Chamber of Commerce in Houston. Most recently, she advanced regional economic development across Texas and drove research coordination, partnerships, and tech commercialization at The University of Texas at Austin. A native Texan from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Riffat holds a Bachelor of Science from MIT and a multidisciplinary Master’s degree from Harvard University, encompassing Urban Planning, the Kennedy School of Government, and Harvard Business School.

“Riffat is exactly the kind of leader we were hoping to attract when we launched Station Texas,” said Joshua Baer, Founder and CEO of Capital Factory. “She’s done the hard things — in war zones, boardrooms, and startup labs. She knows how to connect the dots between ideas, institutions, and innovators, and turn that into action. Riffat doesn’t just talk about impact — she builds it. Now she’s bringing that energy to Station Texas, and that’s a big win for the entire Texas innovation ecosystem.”

“What began as a seed with the Texas Manifesto in 2017 and 2.0 in 2020 has evolved into a nonprofit that works to make Texas the most competitive destination for innovation,” says Bryan Chambers, Co-Founder and President of Capital Factory. “Riffat brings a powerful mix of strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to building inclusive innovation. Her leadership will be essential as we work to make Texas the most founder-friendly place on Earth.”

STATION TEXAS builds on years of statewide momentum, including Capital Factory’s Texas Manifesto and Texas Rising Tide report, which highlight the convergence of public investment, private capital, and entrepreneurial talent across Texas.

“A rising tide lifts all boats—and that’s exactly what STATION TEXAS is here to do,” says Manasia. “I am honored to join STATION TEXAS at such a pivotal moment. Texas has the talent, vision, and momentum to lead the future of innovation—not just in the U.S., but globally. This is our moment to build a more connected and powerful innovation ecosystem for Texas.”

STATION TEXAS will launch initial programming this spring and summer, focused on attracting federal innovation investment, expanding access and training for founders, and activating cross-sector partnerships with universities, government agencies, nonprofits, and private industry.

About STATION TEXAS

STATION TEXAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accelerating statewide entrepreneurship and innovation across Texas. Powered by Capital Factory, STATION TEXAS is designed to unify and scale the state’s innovation infrastructure by connecting founders, funders, universities, and government by providing education, training, and support. Its mission is to make Texas the premier destination for innovation and serve as a launchpad for the future.

About Capital Factory

Capital Factory is the center of gravity for entrepreneurs outside of Silicon Valley. Thousands of entrepreneurs, programmers and designers gather day and night, in-person and online, for meetups, classes and coworking. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Washington, DC, Capital Factory connects the best entrepreneurs in the country to investors, employees, mentors, and customers. According to Pitchbook, Capital Factory has been the most active, early-stage investor in Texas since 2010.

For more information, visit STATION TEXAS's website or contact director@stationtexas.org