Tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano announces San Antonio mayoral run

SAN ANTONIO – Irys co-founder and CEO Beto Altamirano announced his campaign for San Antonio mayor in 2025, becoming the first City Hall outsider to enter the race.

“I know San Antonio is hungry for a new vision forward,” Altamirano told KSAT in his first on-camera interview as a candidate.

Originally from Mission, Texas, Altamirano said San Antonio has given him lots of opportunity and he wants to give back.

“I want people to aspire to dream big, but in the process, we gotta take care of the basics: infrastructure, public safety, economic development. But it’s about taking care of the basics with an eye towards the future. And that’s the vision for the campaign.”

Altamirano also released a short video announcement Friday and is planning a campaign kickoff event Saturday morning at the Friendly Spot Ice House.

Altamirano co-founded Irys, formerly known as Cityflag, which developed the 311SA app for the City of San Antonio. It also recently acquired cybersecurity company Diversified Technical Services, Inc. (DTSI).

One of its biggest clients is the 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) out of Joint Base San Antonio.

Altamirano said his company “no longer does city contracts,” and he plans to step down as CEO if elected. However, he’d still retain an ownership stake and a spot on the board.

He also co-founded the nonprofit Better Futures Institute and has experience as a staffer in the Texas House of Representatives and US Senate.

In a 26-minute interview with KSAT, Altamirano discussed his thoughts on issues including poverty, the future of the Ready To Work program, and the possibility of a downtown arena for the Spurs. You can see the whole interview below:

With Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s fourth, two-year term ending in 2025, the mayor’s seat will be wide open for the first time since Phil Hardberger left in 2009, when there was a two-term limit.

Altamirano is the third candidate to throw his hat in the ring. Councilman Manny Pelaez (D8) and Councilman John Courage (D9) are the only other candidates to have publicly announced they are running.

Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda (D6) has also told KSAT she plans to run, and Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia (D4) is considering a bid. However, neither has officially launched a campaign.

On Thursday, former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos appeared to soft-launch a campaign with the creation of a new “nonpartisan public policy research collective” focused on the 2025 mayor’s race.

Though the election is still 11 months and a presidential race away, political consultant Christian Archer said it makes sense for Altamirano to wade in now, as media coverage will prompt voters to want to learn more.

“They know Jon Courage. They know Manny Pelaez and Havrda, and, you know, all of the people that are thinking of running,” Archer said. “And people are still shopping, saying, ‘Well, who is this guy?’ And there’s a buzz being created about him now. I think it’s going to benefit him.”