The Nearshore Cafe

What happens when a Series B startup in San Francisco realizes they’re paying over $200K per year for a remote engineer—and getting no extra value from being in the Bay Area?

They go nearshore.
 And they win. Big.

In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson (Founder of Plugg Technologies) shares the true story of how one founder turned to LATAM developers to scale faster, cut costs, and build better—without sacrificing time zone alignment, communication, or talent quality.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why hiring remotely in the U.S. no longer makes financial sense
• How this CTO hired top-tier engineers in Argentina and Mexico—in just 48 hours
• The real benefits of nearshoring over offshoring
• How cost savings + faster delivery = competitive advantage in product development
• What makes Plugg’s talent pipeline so effective for high-growth startups

If you're a founder, CTO, tech recruiter, or startup operator, this episode will reshape how you think about hiring, scaling, and building elite engineering teams.

• 🎥 Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mpMt4kEX2gk
• 🌐 Visit: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com/
• 💼 Learn more about Plugg Technologies: https://www.plugg.tech
• 🔗 Connect with Brian Samson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

#Nearshoring #LATAMDevelopers #RemoteHiring #StartupEngineeringTeams #OffshoreAlternatives #ArgentinaSoftwareDevelopers #MexicoEngineeringTalent #CostEfficientHiring #PluggTechnologies #NearshoreSoftwareEngineers #ScalingStartups #RemoteTeamManagement #ProductVelocity

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, chats with Amir Reiter, CEO of CloudTask, about how Medellín, Colombia has become a hidden gem for building high-performing global sales teams.

From building his first team in an Airbnb to scaling a $6M+ revenue operation with over 265 contractors, Amir shares how CloudTask evolved from a service agency into a full-blown B2B marketplace for GTM (go-to-market) talent and software.

They dive deep into:

• Why Medellín is ideal for remote-first teams
• How to scale with Latin American tech talent
• Contractor loyalty vs. W2 mindsets
• Navigating culture, compliance, and team-building in Colombia
• How AI is reshaping hiring and tech operations
• Lifestyle perks of living and working from Medellín

Whether you’re a startup founder, tech exec, or just exploring nearshore team strategies, this episode delivers real insights from someone who’s built it—on the ground.

🔗 Connect with Us

• Amir Reiter: linkedin.com/in/amirreiter
• CloudTask: cloudtask.com
• Brian Samson: linkedin.com/in/briansamson
• Plugg Technologies: plugg.tech
• The Nearshore Cafe Podcast: nearshorecafepodcast.com

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, sits down with Jared Andreassen, executive at Blue Coding, to break down the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model—an emerging strategy reshaping how mid-market and enterprise tech companies scale teams across Latin America.

From setting up entire operations in Mexico City and Bogotá to navigating employee severance laws in LATAM, Jared shares tactical insights, real-world stories (including a wild rafting trip in the Dominican Republic), and a sharp perspective on the evolving nature of global tech hiring. If you're exploring Staff Aug vs BOT, managing burn, or planning a global footprint—this conversation is your blueprint.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:
⏱️ 01:00 – What is BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) and why it matters
⏱️ 03:00 – Staff Augmentation vs BOT: key differences
⏱️ 06:30 – Top LATAM cities for talent and operations
⏱️ 09:00 – HR, hardware, and infrastructure for BOT setups
⏱️ 15:50 – Risk, currency, and cost control in LATAM expansion
⏱️ 18:00 – Economic volatility and nearshoring in uncertain times
⏱️ 21:00 – AI’s impact on hiring models and tech ops
⏱️ 26:00 – How founders and CFOs should think about nearshoring now

💡 Key Takeaways:
BOT is ideal for companies needing in-office or hybrid teams at scale
Time zone alignment and cultural compatibility are undervalued advantages
Countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia offer diverse team-building opportunities
Local employment laws and severance rules can drastically shape your LATAM strategy
AI is a tool—not a replacement—for smart global hiring
Conservative planning + flexibility = winning in uncertain economic conditions

🔗 Resources & Connections:
🌐 Learn more about Plugg Technologies: plugg.tech
🌐 Connect with Jared at: bluecoding.com | highersouth.com

👉 Like, Subscribe & Hit the Bell 🔔 for more episodes on global hiring, nearshoring strategies, remote operations, and scaling tech teams across borders!

🎙️ Subscribe to The Nearshore Cafe Podcast on:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
Website: nearshorecafepodcast.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe

#BuildOperateTransfer #BOTModel #StaffAugmentation #Nearshoring #LatinAmericaTalent #RemoteTeams #GlobalHiring #BlueCoding #PluggTechnologies #JaredAndreassen #TechExpansion #SaaSScaling #StartupOps #NearshoreCafe #HiringStrategy #RemoteWork #GlobalStaffing #TechLeadership

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, sits down with Ron Noden, SVP of Tech M&A at Quorum Group, to unpack the real value of nearshoring, how international staffing impacts valuations, and why 60% of tech M&A deals involve two or more countries.

From building massive teams in Costa Rica to closing high-growth tech deals across Latin America, Ron shares his journey from retail to running multimillion-dollar software exits. If you're a tech founder, operator, or investor considering growth, funding, or exit strategies—this is a must-watch conversation.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

⏱️ 01:15 – Ron’s early entrepreneurial start & journey to tech M&A
 ⏱️ 06:25 – Scaling revenue and selling a tech company
 ⏱️ 09:00 – Bootstrapped vs VC-backed exits: pros and cons
 ⏱️ 14:40 – How nearshoring and global teams affect M&A valuations
 ⏱️ 21:00 – Stories from staffing operations in Costa Rica
 ⏱️ 27:30 – How to prepare your company for a sale

💡 Key Takeaways:

• 60% of tech M&A deals are cross-border—global teams are the norm, not the exception
• Nearshoring isn't a risk—it’s a competitive edge when structured strategically
• Costa Rica & Latin America offer exceptional talent, time zone alignment, and cultural fit
• M&A success = blending strategic fit with financial clarity
• The right buyer defines your company’s worth—not a generic valuation report

🔗 Resources & Connections:

🌐 Learn more about Plugg Technologies: plugg.tech
 🧠 Explore M&A opportunities with Ron Noden: quorumgroup.com
 📩 Contact Ron: [email protected]
 🎟️ Find a free Quorum live M&A event: quorumgroup.com/events

👉 Like, Subscribe & Hit the Bell 🔔 for more episodes on global hiring, software exits, nearshoring, and operational scale!

🎙️ Subscribe to The Nearshore Cafe Podcast on:

• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
• Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
• Website: nearshorecafepodcast.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe

#TechM&A #Nearshoring #LatinAmericaTalent #CostaRica #RemoteTeams #GlobalStaffing #SoftwareExits #RonNoden #NearshoreCafe #PluggTechnologies #StartupExit #BootstrappedVsVC #MergersAndAcquisitions #RemoteWork #StaffAugmentation

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

Not all regions are created equal when it comes to building high-performing remote teams.

In this new Nearshore Cafe Podcast short, I spoke with global BPO executive Stewart Wolfenson, who broke down how cultural and operational strengths vary across:

✅ Philippines – Service-first mindset. Perfect for support and customer care.

✅ Dominican Republic – Fast-paced, energetic, and ideal for outbound sales roles.

✅ Eastern Europe – Highly technical, adaptive, and excellent for problem-solving and dev-heavy work.

🔍 The takeaway?

Outsourcing isn’t just about cost—it’s about alignment. Cultural fit + task-specific strengths = higher ROI.

🎧 Watch the full short here → https://youtu.be/ooiXOH1XD-A

💡 From time zones to team traits, this clip is a must-watch for any founder, COO, or HR leader building globally in 2025.

#Nearshoring #GlobalTalent #RemoteTeams #OutsourcingStrategy #BPO #StaffAugmentation #PhilippinesBPO #EasternEuropeTech #DominicanRepublic #Leadership #PluggTechnologies #NearshoreCafe

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this solo episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, tackles the 7 most frequently asked questions about Nearshoring. With over a decade of hands-on experience connecting U.S. companies with top-tier talent in Latin America, Brian offers a direct, insightful breakdown of what businesses need to know in 2025.

From understanding the real difference between Nearshoring and Outsourcing, to quantifying cost savings and uncovering overlooked cultural advantages, this episode is packed with valuable guidance for scaling remote teams the right way.

Ideal for founders, CTOs, hiring managers, and operations leaders looking to grow smarter, not just cheaper.

🧠 Topics Covered:

• What is Nearshoring (vs Offshoring, Onshoring, and Outsourcing)?
• How much can companies save? (Spoiler: 40–70%)
• Benefits of time zone alignment & same-day collaboration
• Why Latin America’s resilience and creativity give your team an edge
• How Plugg Technologies differs from dev shops and typical staffing firms
• Are 2025 tariffs affecting Nearshoring?
• What roles are ideal (and not ideal) to Nearshore?

🔗 Learn More:

🌐 Visit: https://plugg.tech
📧 Contact Brian directly: [email protected]

🔊 Follow & Subscribe:

Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast for real-world insights on global hiring, remote team building, and Latin America's rising talent economy.

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Seb Wichmann talks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about scaling remote tech teams by hiring elite Latin American software engineers.

Brian shares authentic hiring strategies, from using video job descriptions to running pop-up coding challenges, helping U.S. companies attract and retain top-tier nearshore talent.

If you’re a founder, HR leader, or tech recruiter looking to build or grow your nearshore development team, this episode offers practical tips and fresh insights on strategic hiring and culture alignment.

🎧 Listen now:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
• Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

🎙️ Featuring Pedro Góes, CEO of PayTrack | The Nearshore Cafe Podcast

In this episode, host Brian Samson speaks with Pedro Góes, CEO of PayTrack, a Brazil-based fintech that evolved from startup hustle to enterprise-level execution—growing from 20 to nearly 400 employees, largely without outside investment.

Pedro reveals how PayTrack built an all-in-one travel and expense management platform for medium and enterprise companies, combining travel booking, expense tracking, and corporate cards into a single integrated SaaS solution. The company didn’t just survive the COVID-19 crisis—while competitors saw a 90% drop in revenue, PayTrack’s diversified model allowed them to pivot and support clients through shifting demands, including managing home-office expenses.

We dive into Pedro’s unique founder story, his insights on scaling under pressure, and his sharp advice for startup founders across Latin America.

🧠 Key Themes You’ll Hear:

• How PayTrack helps companies modernize expense workflows with an end-to-end solution

• Managing multi-currency challenges across Latin America

• Pivoting during COVID: from business travel to remote expense tracking

• Pedro’s rise from law school dropout to CEO after running seven departments

• Growing a nearly bootstrapped startup before securing a strategic investment from Riverwood Capital

• Navigating Brazilian business culture, taxes (~33%), and conservative venture capital

• Why Blumenau’s industrial roots helped create a thriving local tech ecosystem

• Pedro’s advice: Sales come first. Intelligence and infrastructure come second.

🔥 Subscribe for Weekly Episodes

New episodes feature Latin America’s top founders, fintech leaders, VCs, and nearshore innovation experts. Available on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

#PayTrack #LATAMFintech #TravelTech #ExpenseManagement #BrazilStartups #SaaS #NearshoreCafe #StartupLeadership #BootstrappingSuccess

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

🌍 With global talent more accessible than ever, many companies are asking:
 Is nearshoring the key to building scalable, high-performing remote teams in 2025?

In this episode of The Nearshore Café Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Josh Allan Dykstra, CEO of Work Revolution, to explore the pros and pitfalls of nearshoring—based on real-life experience hiring across Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela, Israel, Brazil, and the U.S.

Josh shares what worked, what didn’t, and what every founder, startup leader, and hiring manager should know before investing in nearshore talent.

🔍 In This Episode:
• Why nearshoring may (or may not) be right for your company
• Josh’s first-hand experience hiring in Latin America
• How to maintain culture across borders and time zones
• The role of agencies like Virtual Latinos in sourcing great talent
• How AI is reshaping the way leaders manage global teams
• What to avoid when scaling remote operations

💡 This episode is perfect for founders, HR leaders, COOs, and anyone navigating the future of work, distributed teams, or international hiring strategies.

🔗 Connect With Us:
• 🎙️ Guest: Josh Allan Dykstra – https://joshallan.com/
• 💼 Host: Brian Samson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson
• 🧩 Sponsor: Plugg Technologies – https://www.plugg.tech
• 🌐 Podcast Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com

🗓️ New episodes weekly – insights on nearshore hiring, remote team building, and tech culture.

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of The Nearshore Café Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Evan Greenberg, Director of Client Solutions at Plug Technologies (PLUGG.tech), to explore what traveling to 47 countries taught him about global culture—and how that experience shapes his approach to building remote tech teams in Latin America.

🚀 Whether you're passionate about world travel, hiring international talent, or scaling your engineering team with cost-effective solutions, this episode is packed with value.

🎙️ What you’ll hear:

• Unfiltered travel stories from Venezuela, Peru, Italy, Cook Islands, and Bolivia
• How to hire high-level developers in LATAM for up to 60% less than U.S. rates
• Tech hiring trends: ServiceNow, Salesforce, MuleSoft, AI, and more
• Why companies are shifting toward nearshore solutions in Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil, and beyond
• What makes Latin America a powerhouse for remote work: time zone alignment, strong English, and world-class universities

🎧 Tune in for insights on both culture and code — and walk away with practical knowledge on building diverse, global tech teams that work.

📢 Like what you hear? Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share The Nearshore Café Podcast!

🔗 Guest: Evan Greenberg
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-greenberg

🎙️ Host: Brian Samson
🌐 Podcast Website: www.nearshorecafepodcast.com

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast