Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Martinez.
Max, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Max Martínez and I was born and raised in Coral Gables, FL on the same street as the University of Miami. The son of immigrant parents who met in Madrid, my sister Jenna Martínez is my best friend. She has always inspired me to be the best I can be. Sports and competition have always been a major part of my life and helped me develop the work ethic to become who I am today.
After transferring from Ransom freshman year, I went to Belen Jesuit for my last 3 years of high school. The reason I transferred was to play football for Coach Richard Stuart and it paid off. I beat Michael Vick’s all-time record and won the Nike Sparq Combine (Link), which got me recruited by dozens of schools and allowed me to graduate from Cornell University (“ever heard of it?”) (Office reference).
At Cornell, I was a running back on the football team for four years, special teams captain, and recognized with awards for work in the weight room and community service off-the-field. However, when I noticed my body was breaking down, I had to find a new thrill and competition in life. In my junior year, I started my first company, MaxyClean, a pickup and delivery laundry service that I was able to sell after only one month in business. My first business success, I had found my new thrill.
Immediately, after graduating from Cornell with a B.A. in Government, I moved to San Francisco, where I founded Phroogal, a financial literacy startup. With a set target of crowdfunding $75,000 in a month, Phroogal raised $78,000, and I became the first ever founder to successfully crowdfund a FinLit Startup. A few months later, investors voted Phroogal as the winner of 2014’s Most Promising FinTech startup at Bank Innovation’s DEMOvation Challenge in Seattle.
Unfortunately, like most startups, things went down-hill from there and I ended up leaving to go work at Instagram, where I was an integrity specialist on a team that was assembled to build the algorithm of the verified check for celebrities and eliminate impostors (little blue check).
In 2015, I left Instagram to work in New York City for my mentor, Joseph DaGrosa, of Miami-based General American Capital Partners as the Managing Director of Venture Capital and Business Development. From turning around their portfolio companies to creating investment strategies, I learned so much but realized my idea of fun had to involve a lot more than investments. My passions needed to be involved.
In 2016, I launched the Miami Legacy concept for David Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise and was recognized by AS.com as a finalist. From designing the jerseys to creating my ads, I had to pick up new skills along the way. I had to think of things differently by taking what I’ve learned about consumer demographics everywhere else I had been. Things like, “why the name Legacy?” No matter where Beckham steps foot, he leaves a legacy and is loved, this is his team and legacy. Legacy is a synonym for heritage. Miami is a city full of people proud of their heritage and they come from all different places and speak many different languages. Most of these people come from soccer countries that speak different languages (not just Spanish) and legacy translated in Spanish and Portuguese is ‘legado’ and legacy in both English and Creole.
Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet with Becks, but I made a name for myself in the sports design world, got a meeting with Marc Dolce, the Creative Director of Adidas, who told me to keep on pursuing my dreams. I was named an Adidas world finalist for Real Madrid’s 2016/17 3rd jersey and that’s when I had the idea to launch my agency, Maxfuture Strategies LLC (@maxmart1nez).
My biggest passions in life are sports, business, and sports apparel and all of those things led me to where I am today. From being a division 1 college football player to founding startups and designing, I wanted to be able to combine all of those things to work with different clients and companies regularly, using my unique skillsets and ability to pick things up quickly to help them achieve their goals. Over the past 3 years, I have successfully built a pretty unique agency.
Has it been a smooth road?
When I was 14, I decided to transfer schools for my future, and although it worked out, it was a painful process. As mentioned before, I set records and got recruited by many schools, but I forgot to mention that I lost many of those offers after breaking my back during the summer and missing my entire senior season. My hard work ultimately paid off, but how many people do you know that have broken their backs to achieve their dreams?
As for startups, it was very hard to get over the failure of Phroogal. Lonely in San Francisco, the crowdfunding milestone, Most Promising FinTech startup award, and all of the hard work I put into it felt like it meant nothing because the company failed. Looking back on it, I am still learning from the mistakes I made so that I never make them again.
In terms of starting Maxfuture, the hardest part at first was getting clients. I launched the agency in Madrid and my first three clients were an adult film actress, a UK soccer kit distributor, a charity app, and a health company. I then came back to Miami for 6 months where I built a larger client base and then moved to New York to expand off of that. With more success in NYC, I came back to Miami for good in March of 2019 because I realized that this was the city where people knew me, loved me and recognized my talent and drive.
Please tell us about your business.
I am the founder and creative director of Maxfuture Strategies (@maxmart1nez). I am a problem solver that specializes in creating and executing strategies in the digital, business, and creative industries. My biggest strength is my ability to adapt to any situation. I thrive off of competition and I do what it takes to help my team win.
Honestly, it’s very hard for me to tell you exactly what exactly I do because it always changes. I specialize in the most unique circumstances and finding a way to get the job done well. The things that set me apart from others and that I am most proud of are my versatility and work ethic. Both attributes allow me to pick up new skills quickly and, with my drive, I can execute the client’s visions.
One of the questions I get the most is what exactly do you do? Well, it depends on the months and the client. Over the past four months, I published the paperback edition of 22: The War of the Gods for author Manuel Martínez, prepared the production of former NFL cornerback Darius Butler’s podcast, pitched my concept for Zion Williamson’s brand and signature shoe to Nike/Jordan, helped develop Miami-based Yodha Matcha’s business plan, shot videos with Miami artist DYFL, assisted with the cover design and launch of Seventh Flag, a historical fiction novel by Sid Balman Jr., and I am currently working with 21-0, Latino Welterweight Champion and hometown hero, Harold Calderon, on a project that we believe we can change the boxing promotion industry forever.
So yeah, there’s never a dull day and I always have to learn something new. My versatility sets me apart and the work ethic from being an athlete makes me special.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Best: The subcultures. From the art community to sports to restaurants, there is always something going on. I love that people are experimenting with new mediums of creativity and I feel like that is one of the defining characteristics of Miami.
Least: The thing I like the least about Miami is the use of material wealth as a criterion to judge others. A city with one of the worst wealth disparities in America, residents of Miami can respect each other more. Respect reflects on all aspects of any society and reputation.
Rant: ‘Miami time’ shouldn’t be a thing because time is money and you ruin other people’s plans when you are late. Your Uber driver is sharing their car with you, so show them the same respect you would if it were your car. You’re only paying $6 and they aren’t your chauffeur. Jobs and money don’t define who you are, it’s the way you treat people.
For the culture to keep diversifying and growing, the respect needs to develop as well or we won’t progress.
Contact Info:
- Address: Max Martínez
808 Brickell Key Drive
Unit 1206
Miami, FL 33131 - Website: maxmart1nez.com
- Phone: 3059725300
- Email: max@maxmart1nez.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/maxmart1nez
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