In this deeply inspiring episode of Así Las Cosas, Ferraiuoli’s podcast series hosted by Maristella Collazo-Soto, Capital Member and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group, we witness a story that transforms adversity into artistry. Beatriz “Betty” Martínez, founder and CEO of luxury handbag brand Beamina, shares how losing her job became the catalyst for building a globally recognized Puerto Rican fashion house—and how strategic intellectual property protection became the shield that safeguarded her innovation.
From standing in the rain questioning “what now?” to receiving recognition from Spain’s Queen Leticia and supermodel Karolina Kurkova, Betty’s journey embodies three powerful principles: resilience forged through hardship, authenticity as a competitive advantage, and the foresight to protect what makes you unique before success demands it.
The Rain That Brought Stars: A Moment That Changed Everything
Twenty years of stability. A career she loved. Financial security for her family. Then, without warning, the company sold and Betty Martínez found herself unemployed.
“I thought I would grow old working at that company,” Betty reflects. “I never imagined something like this could happen—especially at such a critical moment, when I was stable with my children, their schooling, a house, so many responsibilities. Suddenly you ask yourself, ‘What now?’”
The turning point came during a rainstorm. Standing in her backyard, Betty wrestled with fear and uncertainty. Through the glass terrace door, her eight-year-old daughter Paulina watched her mother’s vulnerability.
When Betty came inside, Paulina handed her a book she’d just drawn. “Mamá,” she said, pointing to the illustration. “Those rays you see are stars falling. Don’t you want to see them?”
Betty describes this as a revelation: “My eight-year-old daughter was telling her mother: ‘Mamá, even in storms, stars exist.’ And then she said, ‘Let’s make the purses.’”
The purses Paulina referenced were handbags the young girl had been creating since age four—first from paper, then graduating to a sewing machine at age six. What began as a child’s hobby would become the foundation of a luxury brand.
“When things happen in life, you focus on the problem,” Betty explains. “You focus on the problem, and you focus on the problem. But if you don’t change that mindset and try to see what opportunity exists within that problem… Paulina made me see that. I apply it to everything in my life now: within any situation, what can I do to improve? What opportunity can I find?”
The Foundation of Beamina: Fashion with Purpose
Betty’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t conventional. Raised in a household where her grandmother was the seamstress, surrounded by lace and ribbons, Betty grew up valuing femininity and craftsmanship. She studied marketing with a food specialization in Italy, where Florence’s fashion culture seeped into her consciousness, though her career trajectory pointed elsewhere.
After the job loss, reality hit hard. “I worked five—I can even say almost six jobs at once to sustain myself and to build Beamina,” Betty recalls. “Don’t think this fell from the sky or that everything has been beautiful. We’ve had so many stones in the road. Exhaustion. Frustrations.”
Her accountant asked repeatedly when she would close the business. Her daughter’s father questioned when she’d give up. Betty’s response never wavered: “I’m not going to close. I see this as too big. I know we’re going to achieve it at some point.”
That conviction came from more than optimism—it came from purpose. From the beginning, Beamina partnered with the Ricky Martin Foundation, making social responsibility central to the brand’s identity.
“It had to have purpose. It wasn’t just about selling a product,” Betty emphasizes.
Even before “fashion with purpose” became industry terminology, Beamina embodied it. The brand’s first product for the Ricky Martin Foundation gala—a mini bombón handbag—became a cherished collectible that supporters still carry proudly today.
The Name That Tells a Story: What “Beamina” Really Means
Many assume “Beamina” derives from Beatriz. The truth is more profound.
Betty’s son Pablo, who was two when Paulina was born, couldn’t pronounce “Paulina” properly. He called his sister “Mina.” The nickname became sacred within the family, untouchable in its significance.
When researching the name’s meaning, Betty discovered: “‘Mina’ means ‘a person protected from everything that causes fear.’ It’s a warrior. And ‘be’ comes from the verb ‘to be.’ You want to be a mina in your life, whether you’re a man or a woman. You want to be a warrior for your dreams. You want to fight for what you feel passionate about.”
The Strategic Investment: Protecting Innovation Through Intellectual Property
As Beamina gained traction, Betty faced a crucial decision. She was still working multiple jobs. Every dollar counted. Yet her intuition—and strategic thinking—pointed toward intellectual property protection.
“When I started feeling where we could go with the brand, I had to be realistic,” Betty explains. “I’m small. I’m an ant compared to all these competitive monsters, these global brands. How can I protect myself? Because today, anyone copies anything.”
Rather than view originality as inevitable, Betty saw it as something requiring active defense: “One of the things I most admire is authenticity. We’re not looking sideways at what others are doing. We’ve stayed focused: this is our path, this is where we’re going. No matter what you do, I’m focused.”
With limited resources but unlimited conviction, Betty made her choice: “I said, ‘I’m going to call the best. I’m going to call Ferraiuoli.’ And here we are. With great pride, we can say we’ve put the patent into effect to protect the brand, to protect the design.”
Beamina now holds two design patents—one for the signature bombón handbag, another for the winged cartera. The investment has already proven its worth: “We’ve already enforced it in two cases, and more will come.”
Betty’s message to entrepreneurs is unequivocal: “Entrepreneurship is very difficult. I can understand that at a given moment, an entrepreneur might say, ‘Oh no, I’m not going to pursue the patent. It’s too much money.’ But you know what? I’m telling you: it’s worth it. That instinct doesn’t fail. I said someone is going to want to copy, and you know what? I’m going to win this fight. And I’m going to win it with respect and admiration. Nobody will be able to say anything to me. I’m protected.”
The emotional support matters as much as the legal protection. “This is a moment of great solitude, even though everything may look beautiful,” Betty reflects. “Having your attorneys’ support—’Betty, you’re fine, you’re protected’—gives you such tremendous relief. It’s wonderful. If you have a product, if you have a great idea, the best thing is to protect it.”
Beyond Beamina: Bound Magazine and Community Impact
Betty’s entrepreneurial vision extends beyond fashion. As co-founder of Bound Magazine—a bilingual lifestyle publication originally conceived for the Dorado region—she’s created another platform for community impact.
“One of the most beautiful things is that we thought it would be a small magazine for the Dorado region,” Betty shares. “It’s already growing. We’re now in Guaynabo. We made it bilingual for the inclusion of all the people coming to Puerto Rico to invest.”
The magazine serves a dual purpose: showcasing what makes Puerto Rico special while providing practical resources: “In an indirect and gentle way, we can share and convey a message about who we are as Puerto Ricans. It’s a magazine where we talk a lot about topics for the community—things the community truly seeks and needs for development, for a better future.”
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Resilience, Purpose, and Protection
Betty Martínez’s journey offers profound lessons for entrepreneurs at any stage:
- Crisis Creates Opportunity
- Resilience Is Inherited and Cultivated
- Purpose Drives Persistence
- Protect Your Innovation Before You “Need” To
- Authenticity Trumps Perfection
- Listen to Your Intuition, Then Have the Courage to Follow It
- Redefine Success on Your Own Terms
Ferraiuoli’s Commitment to Protecting Puerto Rican Innovation
Betty Martínez’s partnership with Ferraiuoli exemplifies the firm’s commitment to protecting Puerto Rican entrepreneurs and innovators. As one of the island’s premier full-service law firms, Ferraiuoli’s Intellectual Property Practice Group provides strategic counsel across patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and IP litigation.
The firm’s “silent partner” approach—supporting clients’ business goals without seeking the spotlight—aligns with entrepreneurs who need trusted advisors as they build their visions. Whether protecting design innovations for fashion brands, securing patents for manufacturing processes, or defending trademarks against infringement, Ferraiuoli’s IP team brings technical expertise, strategic thinking, and genuine care for Puerto Rico’s economic future.
“The support from you as attorneys—’Betty, you’re fine, you’re protected’—gives such tremendous relief,” Betty reflects. “I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s wonderful.”
Watch and Learn More
Experience Betty’s complete story—including the emotional moment with Paulina, the meaning behind “Together We Shine,” and her candid reflections on balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship—by watching the full episode in Spanish on ((Ferraiuoli’s Así Las Cosas podcast series.))
Her journey offers invaluable insights for entrepreneurs, fashion industry professionals, intellectual property strategists, business students, working mothers, and anyone who’s ever stood in the rain wondering “what now?”
