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

📢 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS for more insights on Latin America’s growing tech scene! 🎧🔥
_________________________
🔗 Connect With Us

🔗 Stay Connected:
✅ Host: Brian Samson | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/
✅ Sponsor: Plugg Technologies | PLUGG.tech
✅ Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast for More Insightful Episodes!
_________________________
Our social pages:
🎵 Spotify podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🌎 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com/
🔥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954

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

📢 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS for more insights on Latin America’s growing tech scene! 🎧🔥
_________________________
🔗 Connect With Us

🔗 Stay Connected:
✅ Host: Brian Samson | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/
✅ Sponsor: Plugg Technologies | PLUGG.tech
✅ Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast for More Insightful Episodes!
_________________________
Our social pages:
🎵 Spotify podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🌎 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com/
🔥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954

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: ronn@quorumgroup.com
🎟️ 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

📢 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS for more insights on Latin America’s growing tech scene! 🎧🔥
_________________________
🔗 Connect With Us

🔗 Stay Connected:
✅ Host: Brian Samson | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/
✅ Sponsor: Plugg Technologies | PLUGG.tech
✅ Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast for More Insightful Episodes!
_________________________
Our social pages:
🎵 Spotify podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🌎 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com/
🔥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954