Meet the Founder
About Brett Martin
Brett Martin is the founder of CastleBranch, a pioneering American corporation that revolutionized the management of identity for a majority of U.S. college students as they navigated their academic journeys into their professional careers. Under his leadership, CastleBranch revolutionized the identity and public data industry, providing the first public access to criminal and civil records online—a breakthrough that transformed the legal and compliance sectors.
Mr. Martin was also instrumental in building the company’s corporate headquarters in North Carolina, which has served both the company and the community for many years. His commitment to the development of both space and place is a testament to his long-standing values.
Recently, Mr. Martin transitioned ownership of CastleBranch while retaining its groundbreaking technology and patents related to self-sovereign digital identity and clinical healthcare experiences. Today, he and his team continue to innovate in these crucial areas, shaping the future of identity management and healthcare.
As the creator and founder of tekMountain, a specialized accelerator and funding mechanism for tech businesses, Mr. Martin has supported over 155 companies. His leadership was recognized by the North Carolina Technology Association, naming him "Tech Executive of the Year." Additionally, he served as Entrepreneur in Residence for the University of North Carolina, where his guidance has helped countless aspiring entrepreneurs.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Mr. Martin earned a Master of Fine Arts and served as a Visiting Entrepreneur at the UNC Cameron School of Business for over a decade. His philanthropic efforts are also noteworthy—he founded HeartsApart, a charity supporting U.S. veterans, which earned him an invitation to the White House, where he was honored by both the President and the First Lady.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Martin and his team developed the first COVID passport, which was distributed free of charge to healthcare workers and educational institutions, allowing essential systems to continue operating during this unprecedented time.
In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Martin has built strong connections with the Inuit communities of Canada, collaborating on educational programs to support Inuit youth. He is a devoted father of two sons and is passionate about advancing self-sovereign digital identity, which he believes to be a cornerstone of human freedom and progress.