I was honored to recently be featured on the LATAM FDI podcast in a conversation with host Steven Colantuoni. The episode focused on strategies for accessing nearshore technical talent in Latin America and the evolving landscape for U.S. companies seeking to scale development teams in the region.
The LATAM FDI podcast highlights topics related to foreign direct investment across Latin America. Steven’s interviews frequently feature leaders in government, trade promotion, and private sector investment, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the region. Notable past guests include executives from ProColombia, Invest Pacific, Colliers Mexico, Invest Cartagena, and Invest Guatemala.
In the episode, I described AgilityFeat’s origins and our evolution over the past 15 years. Originally launched as a nearshore software development firm, AgilityFeat now provides both staff augmentation services and a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model designed to help clients establish their own tech teams and subsidiaries in Latin America. The company operates U.S.-based legal and financial structures while maintaining operational teams in Colombia and Panama.
One of the key themes we discussed was why Latin America continues to be an attractive region for building software development teams. I emphasized the strategic value of geographic proximity, overlapping time zones, and strong cultural alignment with U.S. business practices. Countries like Colombia and Panama, he noted, offer business-friendly environments, growing tech ecosystems, and a wide pool of experienced developers. He also highlighted other emerging markets such as Costa Rica and Chile as part of the broader regional opportunity.
I also addressed the common pitfalls associated with traditional outsourcing and nearshoring models. We know that many companies, particularly those in regulated industries such as finance or healthcare, require higher levels of security and compliance than can be offered by contractor-based teams. Issues around data protection, intellectual property, and long-term team integration often go unresolved when relying solely on third-party outsourcing firms.
That’s why AgilityFeat offers a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model in addition to traditional staff augmentation models. BOT models allow companies to establish their own nearshore operations with the support of an experienced partner. Through this approach, we build and manage dedicated teams for our clients while they gradually take full ownership of a subsidiary that we set up for them. AgilityFeat absorbs the initial risk and complexity of establishing operations, which is feasible for us to do based on our years of experience working in LatAm. This model provides greater transparency, operational control, and long-term flexibility—benefits that resonate strongly with tech leaders seeking to scale in a more sustainable and strategic way.
My full conversation with Steven is available on the LATAM FDI podcast website, as well as on Spotify. Steven also published the full transcript of the episode here:
https://latamfdi.com/accessing-nearshore-tech-talent
You can also learn more about the topics I discussed in the podcast by downloading our free Ultimate Guide to Nearshoring Software Development in Latin America, which is based on our 15 years of expertise doing this work for our clients.
For mid-sized tech firms considering expansion into Latin America, contact our team at AgilityFeat to get more practical insights into how to structure your growth effectively through a nearshore delivery center. By utilizing our services, you’ll balance speed, control, and compliance while tapping into world-class technical talent!
