Today we’d like to introduce you to Gustavo Martinez.
Hi Gustavo, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2016, I arrived in the United States with my family, fleeing the Castro-Chavista dictatorship in Venezuela. Our political stance had put us in the regime’s crosshairs, and we had no choice but to start over. Austin became our new home. Like any immigrant, we faced incredibly difficult challenges — from working briefly in construction, to becoming a lineman at a telecommunications company, and eventually a crew leader. Every step was an act of resistance and faith.
But from day one, we knew we hadn’t come just to survive — we came to serve. We immediately got involved with the community, especially with the Venezuelan diaspora in Texas. That commitment led me to join the Asociación de Venezolanos en Austin (AVA), where I’m honored to still serve as director.
In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, I realized I could do even more. I saw firsthand how our people were suffering due to a lack of clear, updated, and Spanish-language information. That’s when the idea for HispanosATX was born — a platform created to inform and connect Hispanics in Central Texas with the resources they needed.
We started with the basics: how to get a COVID test, where to find free food, how to access English classes or emergency assistance. Through hard work, consistency, and my lifelong passion for communication, the community began to grow.
During that first year, content was produced between long work shifts, sleepless nights, and with a whole lot of heart. By 2021, the idea had solidified, and in 2023 we officially established Mast Media Productions, LLC, the production company behind the platform. Since then, HispanosATX has evolved into a more robust, close-to-the-community and representative media outlet.
Today, we don’t just share information — we cover some of the most relevant events in culture, sports, and technology across the country:
Music festivals like Austin City Limits, Bésame Mucho Fest, and SXSW.
Technology and communications events like the CES and NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Sports coverage including Austin FC, Round Rock Express, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavs, San Antonio Spurs, Texas Stars, CONMEBOL’s Copa América 2024, and most recently the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
And we’ve formed key partnerships with entities like the City of Austin, Austin Opera, Moody Center, Live Nation, Rodeo Austin, the Texas State Fair, and nonprofit organizations such as Latinitas, Amiga Hispana, and Austin Community College (ACC) — all of whom share our mission to empower through culture and information.
Our impact has also been recognized within the community. In 2024, we were honored to be named one of the four finalists in the 10th anniversary of the nonprofit organization Habla Con Orgullo, in the “Best Latino Media” category — a recognition that reflects the work we’ve done with responsibility and heart.
Today, HispanosATX is a digital community of over 100,000 people, and it keeps growing. Not just in Austin, but across Central Texas. Because the need to stay informed, connected, and represented has no borders. Our mission remains the same since that day in 2020: to give voice to the unheard, bring resources closer to the people, tell our stories, and show that Hispanics in Texas are not just here — we are essential to the present and future of this region.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path to creating HispanosATX was marked by both personal and professional challenges. When I arrived in the United States in 2016 with my family, we were fleeing a dictatorship that persecuted us for our political beliefs. We faced the weight of displacement, the fear of the unknown, and the daily sacrifices of an immigrant striving for stability—working in physically demanding and temporary jobs. Adapting to a new system without support networks or accessible information wasn’t easy. Like many others, we often felt alone. That very need for guidance is what later inspired me to build a platform that could support others through their own immigrant journey.
Once HispanosATX was up and running, the challenges didn’t go away. In the early years, producing content meant staying up late after long work shifts. There were moments when I questioned whether it was worth continuing—when resources were limited, exhaustion set in, and growth was slow. Still, in 2023 we took the step of formally establishing Mast Media Productions, fully aware of the challenges that come with entrepreneurship in a country where everything requires structure, consistency, and legal responsibility. One of the hardest parts has been maintaining our independence, authenticity, and community-driven focus in a media landscape that is increasingly commercialized. Yet every obstacle has reaffirmed our mission: to serve, inform, and empower Hispanics across Central Texas.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a communicator, content creator, and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. I specialize in connecting the Hispanic community with useful, culturally relevant information in their own language through HispanosATX, the digital platform I founded that today reaches over 100,000 people across Central Texas. From local news, community events, sports, and culture to social resources, our mission is clear: to inform, represent, and empower Hispanics in an environment where they often feel unseen.
I am especially proud to have built an independent media outlet, starting with limited resources but with a clear vision and the genuine support of the community. We have established partnerships with key institutions such as the City of Austin, Austin Opera, and organizations like Latinitas, in addition to covering high-profile events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits, CES in Las Vegas, and tournaments like Copa América and the Gold Cup. What sets us apart is our authenticity, closeness, and community commitment. We don’t just tell stories; we live them with our people. HispanosATX is not just an information channel; it is a bridge of trust and belonging for thousands of Hispanics in Texas.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
In my home country of Venezuela, I developed a long career of over 15 years in sales, advertising, and marketing at one of the country’s largest companies, creating strategies for several brands such as Robin Hood, Juana, La Comadre, and others, as well as building sales teams. I’m also a musician.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hispanosatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hispanosatx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HispanosAtx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavoconm/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Hispanosatx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HispanosATXtv
