Martin Martinez

Founder Institute Texas Founding Executive Director

Martín Martinez is the Managing Director of the Founder Institute Texas, where he oversees accelerator programs across Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. Since 2017, he has guided over 65 early-stage companies through the program, helping them secure more than $1 million in pre-seed funding. Under his leadership, several graduates have progressed to prominent accelerators like Techstars and MassChallenge. Martinez also played a pivotal role in bringing FounderX to Texas, a global summit recognized by the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott for its contribution to the state's innovation ecosystem.

Beyond his work with the Founder Institute, Martinez is the Founder & President of A-Player Media, a creative events company based in Austin. His career began at Facebook and later at Google, where he launched marketing products for small-to-medium-sized businesses. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Martinez is known for his dynamic presence as a host, speaker, and ecosystem builder, contributing significantly to Texas's entrepreneurial landscape.