Miguel Guerrero isn’t just another founder building with AI buzzwords. He’s been scaling software products since his teens, and with Otis AI, he’s turning decades of startup lessons into a platform built for one thing: helping small businesses grow.
Otis AI is an automated digital advertiser that helps SMBs run performance-optimized campaigns across Facebook, Google, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn without needing an agency or a full-time marketer.
In just a few years, Miguel and his team have raised several million in venture capital, onboarded hundreds of paying businesses, and earned the backing of early believers like Gaingels, Studio VC, Vibranium Venture Capital, and even the co-creator of Facebook Ads.
So, how did they go from MVP to 1,000+ users and partners? And what makes Otis different from every other ad-tech platform out there?
From Minecraft Mods to Marketing AI
Before Otis, Miguel had already launched three companies, including one that became the largest Minecraft server in the world, with over 5 million users.
“That first business taught me how to scale systems, lead a dev team, and build something people actually want.”
Later, he co-founded a mobile payments startup (TABu) while studying engineering at NYU, then launched a digital agency serving e-commerce brands and SaaS startups.
That agency work revealed a recurring pattern: businesses struggling to grow because performance marketing was expensive, confusing, or both.
“Whether it was a local retail shop or a fast-growing app, the problem was always the same. Growth depended on ads, but the tools were built for experts.”
And that’s where the idea for Otis started to take shape.
The MVP That Started with a Hair Salon
Miguel didn’t start Otis with a deck and a demo; he started by solving a real problem for someone he knew.
“Our very first customer was my hair salon. They’re still a customer today.”
By leveraging relationships from his agency days and NYU network, Miguel quickly onboarded a handful of SMBs who were eager to test the idea. That early access allowed the team to iterate on targeting, automation, and ad placement, without overbuilding.
“We didn’t go out and spend on ads. We focused on solving one core problem for a few users, really well.”
That customer-first approach helped Otis find product-market fit before dialing up growth.
The AI Layer That Makes Otis Work
Otis isn’t just an ad dashboard, it’s an intelligent system that manages the entire ad process. It connects to a business’s customer and payment data, then uses that to automatically target the ideal audience across platforms.
“We help businesses run full-funnel campaigns without needing a performance marketer.”
It’s not just about saving time or money. It’s about giving SMBs access to the kind of data-driven performance marketing typically reserved for large enterprise teams.
“You shouldn’t need an agency to see results. Otis levels the playing field.”
The Network That Fueled Early Growth
A lot of early traction came from Miguel’s personal network, built over the years through startups, school, and hands-on work with founders and small business owners.
“NYU helped me meet advisors and investors, but a lot of it was just being in the community, having real conversations.”
Those early believers didn’t just become customers, they became advocates, connectors, and in some cases, investors.
Otis’s cap table now includes names like Gaingels, Studio VC, Future Labs, Citta Capital, and the co-creator of Facebook Ads. Even Alex and Leila Hormozi saw the potential early on.
Building a Product That Actually Delivers
One of the most important things Miguel emphasizes is focusing relentlessly on the product.
“The product has to work. That’s it. No marketing hack replaces that.”
As Otis scaled past its first few hundred users, the team doubled down on AI optimization, UX improvements, and deeper integrations with ad platforms.
Now with hundreds of paying customers, the system keeps getting smarter and more accessible to the average SMB owner who just wants growth without the guesswork.
What’s Next for Otis?
With a stable product, real traction, and a growing team, Otis is now expanding its reach and capabilities.
- More automation and deeper AI optimizations
- New integrations with e-commerce and point-of-sale platforms
- Educational content to help SMBs understand their ad performance
But the mission stays the same: help small businesses grow by making digital advertising radically simpler and more effective.
Final Thoughts
Otis AI isn’t about replacing marketers, it’s about unlocking growth for businesses that can’t afford to wait or waste budget.
Miguel Guerrero isn’t chasing trends. He’s building a smarter way for small businesses to win, and he’s doing it with the same energy and clarity that helped him scale to millions of users before most founders land on their first idea.
“There are always going to be challenges. But if you stay focused and don’t get distracted, you give yourself the best shot at success. Just don’t give up.”