Latin America has quickly emerged as a top destination for building software teams due to its skilled tech talent, cultural alignment with North American companies, and favorable time zones.
Countries like Colombia, Panama, and Mexico offer access to highly educated developers with solid English skills, at a more cost effective rate than US-based talent. Add to that a fast-growing startup ecosystem and an abundance of professionals familiar with Agile and DevOps environments, and you have a perfect formula to scale fast and effectively.
Step One: Define Your Hiring Strategy Based on Business Goals
Before you start hiring, it’s important to define what success looks like. Ask yourself:
- Do you need a full cross-functional team or just a few specialists?
- Are you looking to augment your in-house team or build a new one from scratch?
- Do you need long-term support or a quick delivery squad for a specific project?
Once you have a clear picture, you can work with a nearshore partner like AgilityFeat to help source the right roles quickly.
Step Two: Choose the Right Engagement Model
The fastest way to build a high-performing team in LATAM is to choose the model that best fits your growth stage. Common models include:
- Staff Augmentation: Add engineers to your existing team with minimal friction.
- Dedicated Teams: Build a nearshore team that works independently but in full alignment with your goals.
- Build Operate Transfer (BOT): Start with a LatAM team built in the country of your choice, managed by a partner such as AgilityFeat, and take over when you’re ready. Ideal for compliance-heavy industries like fintech or healthcare.
Each model has its pros and can be tailored based on your roadmap.
Step Three: Focus on Senior Talent with Proven Experience
In LATAM, senior developers with experience working for US companies bring strong technical and soft skills. They are used to collaborating across time zones, integrating quickly, and delivering high quality work.
At AgilityFeat, for example, we pre-vet engineers not only on technical skills but also communication, cultural fit, and team dynamics. That allows our clients to start fast without compromising quality.
Step Four: Prioritize Onboarding and Collaboration Tools
Even with the best talent, onboarding and communication can make or break your success. Set your new team up for impact by:
- Using tools like Slack, Jira, and GitHub for transparency
- Defining clear sprint goals and expectations
- Pairing new engineers with internal team leads for mentorship
Remote doesn’t have to mean distant. When managed well, your LATAM team will feel like an extension of your own.
Final Thoughts: Scaling in LATAM Doesn’t Mean Slowing Down
Speed and quality don’t have to be opposites. With the right partner and approach, you can build a high-performing software team in Latin America in a matter of weeks.
If you’re looking to scale fast without losing control, nearshoring in LATAM is the most strategic path forward.
Ready to build your dream team in LATAM?
AgilityFeat helps startups and growing companies in the US build custom software teams in Latin America. From fullstack engineers to QA testers and project managers, we provide vetted talent that integrates fast and delivers results.
Let’s chat. We’d love to show you how we can help.
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