Community Highlights: Meet Roberto Martinez of Braven Agency, inc & Smrts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberto Martinez.

Hi Roberto, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I come from a first-generation, working-class family where entrepreneurship wasn’t a buzzword—it was survival. Watching my parents navigate economic uncertainty taught me that business, when done right, is a tool for economic freedom. That mindset shaped how I viewed my role in my community.

I started in public service, working for the U.S. Department of State and later the Government of Canada. I was focused on economics—connecting industries across borders—but I kept seeing the same thing: small businesses, especially in underserved communities, weren’t at the table. So I made a pivot.

In 2016, I launched Braven Agency, a multicultural-focused marketing firm, to help those same businesses compete in the digital economy. Then the game with Covid and the need for business to digitize. Now our economic system has changed again—as AI entered the picture. I saw early that traditional businesses and marketing services would be commoditized, and if businesses don’t evolve, we’d be left behind.

That realization led to SMRTS, my second company. It’s an AI-powered business consultant platform with human-in-the-loop capabilities. It’s built to help small business programs track impact and scale smarter. In the last two years, we’ve driven over $700K in revenue, supported programs with the County of LA’s Delete the Divide, Wells Fargo,’s Digital Communities Program, and ICIC Alumni program, and helped small businesses increase revenue by 15–20%.

But I’m not just building tools—i’m building small business capacity. Whether it’s through the Digital Communities Program, thought leadership, or speaking engagements, my mission is to make sure the next generation of entrepreneurs has the strategy, mindset, and infrastructure to thrive—especially as AI reshapes everything.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. But I don’t think it’s supposed to be an easy road.

I didn’t come from venture-backed circles or a legacy network. Everything built has come from the lense of working with my community, and the ability to adapt fast. Early on, one of the biggest challenges was securing funding to assist business owners. People would say things like, “That’s a niche market but they don’t have the capital,” without realizing that those “niches” represent trillions in spending power.

Then there was the shift from service-based work to software. Launching SMRTS wasn’t just about building tech—it was about changing mindsets moving from directing to being the architect. That meant unlearning habits, finding new mentors, and betting on a vision before it was fully proven. And all of that while bootstrapping the company and staying present for the Braven Agency team.

Personally, I’ve also faced what a lot of business owners deal with but don’t talk about—burnout, imposter syndrome, financial risk, and the pressure of being a community leader while still figuring things out myself.

But I believe the hard road gives you more empathy, more pattern recognition, and a deeper why.

As you know, we’re big fans of Braven Agency, inc & Smrts. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I run two companies: Braven Agency, a digital marketing and media firm, and SMRTS, an AI-powered business consultant platform.

Braven helps small businesses and institutions show up online with clarity and confidence. We specialize in driving revenue using digital strategy, storytelling, and content—especially for underserved communities.

SMRTS is where we’re going next. It’s a platform that helps small business programs track real outcomes—like revenue, hiring, and online growth—using AI plus human guidance. We’ve worked with partners like Wells Fargo, Google, and the City of LA.

What sets us apart is that we speak both languages: the grassroots realities of entrepreneurs and the systems-level strategy that programs need to scale.

Most of all, we’re building tools that actually meet people where they are—and help them grow.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a few ways.

If you’re a small business owner or run a support program, join our Digital Communities Program (DCP)—we offer free trainings and 1:1 consultations to help entrepreneurs increase their credit scores and secure capital.

If you’re a bank, city/county agency, or foundation, we’re always looking to partner on programs that combine AI, entrepreneurship, and community-driven impact. We’ve successfully collaborated with organizations like Wells Fargo, the County of LA, and ICIC.

We’re also growing—so if you’re a mission-driven creative, strategist, or technologist, we’d love to connect. We’re always looking for people who believe in using tech and storytelling to close equity gaps.

Looking to invest, we are always looking for VCs and PE to help us scale faster when it comes to Smrts.co

To collaborate or get involved, reach out at robert@bravenagency.com or visit robertomartinez.co. Let’s build something meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bravenagency.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertombraven/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BravenAgency/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robthemarketer
• Youtube: @bravenagency6033
• Other: https://www.smrts.co