Shows
The Nearshore CafeVictor Fernandes Spent 7 Years Automating Power Plants. Now He Builds Data Platforms.Victor Fernandes is a data platform engineer from Fortaleza, Brazil — and his path to get there is unlike anything I've heard before. Seven and a half years automating power plants and steel factories, then a single phone call in 2021 that pulled him into the data world. We talk about what it's like building for U.S. teams from Northeast Brazil, the cultural shock of his first American standup, and how he thinks about AI on production systems. You'll come away with a very different picture of what Brazilian engineering talent actually looks like up close.🎧 Host | Brian...
2026-06-1522 minThe Nearshore CafeH1B Hiring Reality CheckThe H1B conversation is loud, political, and often full of half-truths, so we wanted a clean, practical breakdown from someone who has lived it from the staffing side. We sit down with Robert Richard, Chief Digital Officer at Tier 4 Group and the creator behind the H1B Guy, to talk about what is actually happening inside high-skilled immigration and the labor market right now.We unpack how H1B hiring works in the real world, including the staffing agency supply chain, why sponsorship became a strategy for filling niche technical roles, and how the USCIS lottery...
2026-06-1532 min
Building the Biz#61: Founder Passion, Nearshoring, & Building “Boring Businesses” w/ Brian SamsonEpisode OverviewWhat if the future of entrepreneurship isn’t flashy startups…but “boring businesses,” operational excellence, and building companies that actually create freedom? In this episode of Building the Biz, Shane sits down with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, to unpack scaling businesses across borders, leveraging nearshore talent in Latin America, and why founder passion still matters in an AI-driven world. Brian shares his journey from Silicon Valley tech recruiting to building and scaling multiple businesses, living as an expat in Argentina, and eventually pivoting into acquiring “boring businesses” like cleaning, locksmithing, an...
2026-05-2648 min
Julio Verissimo Live Show🎙️ Julio Veríssimo & Brian Samson : Building the Future of Nearshore Talent🎙️ Julio Veríssimo Live Show & JV Vibes RadioConversation with Julio Veríssimo & Brian Samson – Building the Future of Nearshore TalentIn today’s global economy, talent is no longer constrained by geography — it is defined by access, systems, and connection.In this episode of the Julio Veríssimo Live Show, Julio Veríssimo sits down with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, to explore how nearshoring is reshaping the relationship between Latin American talent and high-growth U.S. companies.Brian’s journey spans over a decade of building across borders — from living in Argentina and scaling companies serving the U.S. market, to raisi...
2026-05-1252 min
Julio Verissimo Live Show🎙️ Julio Veríssimo & Brian Samson : Building the Future of Nearshore Talent🎙️ Julio Veríssimo Live Show & JV Vibes RadioConversation with Julio Veríssimo & Brian Samson – Building the Future of Nearshore TalentIn today’s global economy, talent is no longer constrained by geography — it is defined by access, systems, and connection.In this episode of the Julio Veríssimo Live Show, Julio Veríssimo sits down with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, to explore how nearshoring is reshaping the relationship between Latin American talent and high-growth U.S. companies.Brian’s journey spans over a decade of building across borders — from living in Argentina and scaling companies serving the U.S. market, to raising...
2026-05-1252 min
Sharpen The SpearNavigating Global Talent and Entrepreneurship in Latin America with Brian SamsonRichard Walsh and Brian Samson delve into the intricacies of entrepreneurship within Argentina's unique business landscape. Brian shares his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting initial funding challenges and opportunities in the region. The discussion focuses on Plugg Technologies and the advantages of nearshore talent in Latin America, addressing key issues like compliance and cultural nuances. They explore outsourcing strategies, the impact of global labor costs, and building a diverse, global team. The conversation emphasizes the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset, character in hiring, and cultural exposure. They also touch on global business trends, Brian's growth prospects, and China's influence in South America.
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2026-05-081h 00The Nearshore CafeNearshoring Yourself; step by step to building an expat life in MexicoIn this episode of the Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson sits down with Jen from Expatsi to explore what it really looks like to leave the U.S. and build a life abroad. From growing up in Alabama to relocating to Mérida, Mexico, Jen shares how she and her husband “nearshored themselves” by leveraging remote work, lowering their cost of living, and building a business that now helps others move overseas.They discuss expat life in Mexico, Ecuador, and Belize, compare residency and visa options, break down the realities of healthcare and infrastructure abroad, and explain why m...
2026-05-0731 minThe Nearshore CafeScaling high-performing teams in Costa Rica staffing legend Doug Firestone on growing to 225 LATAMWhat does it take to grow an IT staffing firm to $28M in revenue while competing against giants like Tech Systems? For Doug Firestone, the answer was found in the jungles of Costa Rica. In this episode, Doug shares his transition from a Pennsylvania-based founder to a nearshoring pioneer. We explore the logistical and cultural "must-haves" for setting up shop in Latin America, from choosing the right free trade zones to hiring talent directly from tech hubs like IBM and Amazon. Doug also provides a candid look at his "failures," explaining why a great solution needs an e...
2026-04-2727 minThe Nearshore CafeWhy Chile Wins & Brazil is Complex: A Founder's Guide to LATAMHow do you handle a land deal with a duffel bag of cash? Brendan Quirk, Founder of LACPA, joins Brian Samson to share the wild, "boots-on-the-ground" reality of doing business in Latin America for over two decades.What started as a backpacking trip to Patagonia turned into a 20-year career as a financial leader and international consultant. From his early days as a CPA in Mendoza during the 2004 financial crisis to managing multi-country expansions for global firms, Brendan breaks down the logistical hurdles of nearshoring, capital controls, and scaling operations in...
2026-04-0327 minThe Nearshore CafeAI agents aren’t plug-and-play and that’s where most companies get it wrong.In this episode of the Nearshore Cafe Podcast, hosted by Brian Samson, we sit down with Oleg Baranov, Founder & CEO of FlameTree AI, to break down how AI agents actually work in real-world business environments.Oleg shares why AI should be treated like a junior team member—not a finished product—and how continuous training, iteration, and feedback are essential to unlocking real value.They also explore how companies can combine AI with nearshore talent to build scalable, high-performing teams across Latin America.In this episode, we cove...
2026-03-2123 minThe Nearshore CafeVenezuela: The Most Exciting High-Risk Talent Market?In this short clip from The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson discusses why Venezuela may become one of the most exciting high-risk, high-reward talent markets in Latin America.He explains what the country looked like before the recent political shift, what Venezuelans are experiencing today, and why companies looking to hire globally should keep an eye on the country’s evolving talent landscape.Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/TRlSVqnrzEs🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/🎙️ Spon...
2026-03-1611 min
School for Startups RadioMarch 9, 2026 - Near Shoring Brian Samson and Lumafield Eduardo TorrealbaBrian Samson – Founder & Chairman of Plugg Technologies
If you pass the baton and your message isn’t crystal clear, you might
waste a day or a couple days of having that work output meet the
deliverables that you were initially hoping for.
Brian Samson is the Founder and Chairman of Plugg Technologies, a technology staffing and nearshoring firm that connects U.S. companies with highly skilled professionals across Latin America. With more than a decade of experience building global teams, Samson has become a recognized voice in the nearshore talent movement and the future...
2026-03-0953 minThe Nearshore CafeHow A Founder Built A 24/7 Call Center In Latin AmericaIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson speaks with Joe Helleny, Founder & CEO of CourtMoney, about building a 24-hour nearshore call center in Central America.Joe shares how his background in ATMs, online payments, and government software led him to outsource customer support — first in the U.S., then nearshore in Nicaragua. He discusses the challenges of English proficiency, professionalism, background checks, handling financial transactions, and knowing when founders need to step out of day-to-day support.Topics include:• When to outsource customer support • U.S. vs. int...
2026-02-2823 minThe Nearshore CafeDoing Business in Medellín, Colombia (Expat Founder Story)In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with entrepreneur and expat founder Chad Smalley to explore what it really takes to build and scale businesses in Panama and Colombia.Chad shares how his journey began in Panama in 2007, where he built and scaled a Spanish-language CRM serving nearly the entire real estate market. From there, the conversation moves into Colombia — comparing Bogotá vs Medellín, discussing hiring, cultural loyalty, startup opportunities, and why Latin America can offer a strategic advantage for foun...
2026-02-2327 minThe Nearshore CafeLatin America M&A Outlook 2026: Deal Trends, Risk Architecture, and Nearshoring OpportunitiesIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson is joined by JP Trouillot, Deal Advisory Partner and Regional Advisory Leader for the Americas at KPMG, and Alan Riddell, Head of Deal Advisory for Brazil and South America at KPMG Brazil.Together, they explore the evolving M&A landscape in Latin America and why investor confidence is rising heading into 2026. Drawing from KPMG’s global executive research and real-world deal experience, this conversation unpacks how sophisticated investors are approaching ri...
2026-02-0530 minThe Nearshore CafeAI Automation Without the Hype. Real Nearshore Workflows That ScaleWelcome to The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, hosted by Brian Samson and sponsored by 💻 Plugg Technologies (plugg.tech), a nearshore talent partner connecting U.S. companies with English-speaking software engineers and digital talent across Latin America.In this episode, Brian sits down with Marvin Martinez, CEO and Founder of Bandsaw AI, to break down how businesses are practically implementing AI today. They explore the difference between automation, AI tools, and AI agents, why most workflows don’t need complex agents, and how founders can scale operations without adding headcount.Marvin shares real-world use cases from social media...
2026-02-0227 minThe Nearshore CafeDiscover how nearshore hiring is evolving in 2026In this final episode of 2025, Brian Samson sits down with Ruben Santana, President of Plugg Technologies, to break down how nearshore hiring evolved this year—and what U.S. companies should expect in 2026.They discuss why companies are moving away from traditional offshoring toward nearshore teams in Latin America, focusing on time zone alignment, project delivery speed, English fluency, and long-term retention. Ruben shares real examples of teams built in Mexico, Brazil, and across South America, plus which roles are seeing the strongest demand, including data engineers, data analysts, and Salesforce pr...
2026-01-1026 minThe Nearshore CafeNearshoring in 2025: Top 7 FAQs About Hiring LATAM Talent Answered by Brian Samson Thinking about nearshoring? Wondering how it compares to outsourcing, offshoring, or onshoring? In this value-packed episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson — CEO of Plugg Technologies — answers the 7 most frequently asked questions about nearshoring in 2025.From cost savings of 40–70%, to real-time collaboration with Latin American developers, Brian explains how nearshoring can help U.S. companies scale tech teams quickly and affordably without sacrificing quality or culture fit.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The difference between nearshoring, offshoring, outsourcing, and onsho...
2026-01-0214 minThe Nearshore CafeFrom Zero To Onboarded In 14 DaysHow fast can companies build high-performing nearshore teams?In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, explains how U.S. companies can go from zero to fully onboarded nearshore talent in as little as 14 days.Brian breaks down why nearshoring in Latin America outperforms traditional offshoring, focusing on time zone alignment, communication, cultural fit, and long-term performance. He shares real-world hiring insights from countries like Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia, plus the operational details most teams underestimate—fr...
2026-01-0226 minThe Nearshore CafeBuilding a Fintech Startup in the Dominican Republic | 🎙 The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ricky Michel, founder of Ualett, to talk about building a fintech company from the Dominican Republic—and why the gig worker and rideshare driver economy is still underserved by traditional banks.Ricky shares how Ualettwas founded in 2018, how the team designed a mobile-first, low-friction liquidity experience by spending time directly with drivers, and why trust and empathy are essential when building financial products for independent wo...
2025-12-1826 minThe Nearshore CafePlaid for LATAM, Prometeo, Uruguay fintech, real-time payments, open banking, scaling fintech in Latin America.In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ximena “Xime” Aleman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Prometeo, one of Latin America’s leading fintech infrastructure companies. Xime shares her unlikely journey from journalism to fintech entrepreneurship, and how her storytelling background became a strategic advantage in building a company that now connects 1,000+ financial institutions across 11 countries.Xime breaks down how Latin America’s financial ecosystem really works—from real-time payment systems like PIX and SPEI, to open banking regulations in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. She explains why financial...
2025-12-1131 minThe Nearshore CafeInside LATAM’s Fintech Boom: Investing, Wealthtech, and Nearshoring with Agustín GuerraIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Agustín Guerra, CEO & Co-Founder of Vangwe, to explore one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region: Latin America’s fintech and wealthtech ecosystem.Agustín shares his global journey from Montevideo to China, Germany, Poland, London, and the Netherlands, and how living across continents shaped his perspective as a fintech founder. He discusses the early days of LATAM fintech, the rise of digital payments, and how countries like Urug...
2025-11-1427 minThe Nearshore CafeThe Nearshore Shift: How LATAM Became the Future of Global Staffing | The Nearshore Cafe PodcastGlobal hiring is shifting — fast. In 2025, U.S. companies are moving away from India and Asia, turning instead to Latin America for tech talent, loyalty, and time-zone alignment.In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, talks with Evan Greenberg, Director of Client Solutions at Plugg, about what’s really driving this transformation.They discuss the massive rise in nearshoring, how AI and data roles are reshaping recruiting, and why Mexico, Brazil, and Arge...
2025-10-3123 minThe Nearshore CafeThe Trump Administration’s H1B Hike Is Pushing Mid-Level Roles Nearshore And Changing Global OutsourcingHost Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, breaks down the Trump administration’s proposed $100K H-1B visa fee and how it’s reshaping the global tech talent market. He explains why this massive policy shift could reduce opportunities for engineers in India and China—and accelerate the nearshoring movement across Latin America.Brian dives into the geopolitical motivations, trade tensions, and economic ripple effects driving this change, from BRICS alliances to U.S. labor shortages. He also highlights how Latin America’s talent pool, time zon...
2025-10-2711 minThe Nearshore CafeHow Leadership, Culture, and Nearshoring Fuel Business Growth in Latin AmericaHost Brian Samson talks with Denis Champagne, a Fractional CRO and Strength Coach, about how leadership, culture, and adaptability drive nearshore success across Latin America. Denis shares his journey from growing up bilingual in Canada to discovering the depth and resilience of Latin American culture through language, travel, and business.Together, they explore how empathy, communication, and cultural intelligence shape stronger remote teams and meaningful professional relationships. Denis also breaks down the “conquered vs. colonized” mindset, revealing how history influences today’s approach to collaboration, sales, and leadership across borders.🎧 Tu...
2025-10-1624 min
Coffee The Ultimate TreatBrian Samson on Coffee Culture, Entrepreneurship & Global Business CTUT - 41⏰ Episode Timestamps - Coffee & Business Insights
00:00 - Welcome to Coffee The Ultimate Treat: Introducing Brian Samson
00:53 - Brian's Entrepreneurial Journey: From Corporate Coffee Breaks to Business Builder
03:16 - Silicon Valley Coffee Culture: Tech Companies & Venture-Funded Startups
04:31 - Nearshore Business Model: Global Coffee Supply Chains & International Business
05:56 - Coffee Shop Epiphanies: How Remote Work Changed Business Forever
08:54 - Coffee Culture Evolution: From Starbucks to Specialty Coffee Experiences
14:08 - Entrepreneurial Wisdom for Coffee Business Owners: Starting & Scaling
33:20 - Podcasting for Coffee Businesses: Content Marketing & Brand Building
☕ Coffee Culture Highlights - Essential for Coffee Entrepreneurs
Coffee Experiences That Shap...
2025-10-0646 min
Coffee The Ultimate TreatBrian Samson on Coffee Culture, Entrepreneurship & Global Business CTUT - 41🎙️ Guest: Brian Samson
Founder of Plugg Technologies | Nearshore Café Podcast Host | Coffee Culture Advocate | Serial Entrepreneur
Join host Brian (Coffee The Ultimate Treat Podcast) as he sits down with fellow entrepreneur Brian Samson for an inspiring conversation that blends coffee culture with business mastery. This episode is essential listening for coffee shop owners, café entrepreneurs, coffee business startups, and anyone building a business around their passion for coffee.
Discover how coffee culture transformed Brian Samson's approach to networking and entrepreneurship—from Fortune 500 boardrooms in Chicago to Silicon Valley's innovative coffee shops, from Argentina's leisurely...
2025-10-0646 minThe Nearshore Cafe🚀 $50M Series A Tech Startup Scales Fast with Nearshore Talent | Brian Samson | Plugg.tech🎙️ The Nearshore Cafe Podcast | Hosted by Brian SamsonIn this episode, Brian Samson — founder of Plugg Technologies and host of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast — shares a powerful success story from a booming Series A tech startup based in Atlanta. With over $50 million raised, this company had the resources to hire from anywhere in the world. But instead of battling the fierce 2022 Silicon Valley talent wars, they chose a smarter path: senior full-stack developers from Latin America.💡 Hear how Plugg.tech connected their VP of Engineering with top-tier developers from Brazil and A...
2025-07-0202 minThe Nearshore CafeCan a Business Analyst in Mexico really support a U.S. tech team just as well—or better—than someone in Silicon Valley? 🌎In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson (founder of Plugg Technologies) dives deep with Fernando Soto, a senior Business Analyst working remotely from Guadalajara, Mexico. From humble roots in Tijuana to leading global tech projects, Fernando reveals the real story of life as a nearshore tech professional.📉 Laid off after 16 years at HP.🚀 Reinvented his career through remote work.🌐 Now shaping product success for U.S. companies from Mexico.🎯 What You’ll Learn:• The...
2025-06-1825 min