Shows
Living the Dream with CurveballNearshoring Unlocked: Brian Samson's Guide to Global Talent and Business GrowthSend us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this insightful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Brian Samson, a seasoned expert in nearshoring and connecting U.S. companies with top talent in Latin America. With over a decade of experience, Brian shares his journey of transforming the way businesses approach global hiring, emphasizing the benefits of nearshoring over traditional outsourcing. He explains how Latin America offers a wealth of skilled professionals who not only share similar time zones but also possess a strong work ethic and problem-solving skills, making collaboration...
2026-04-2918 min
The 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 min
Hines On Air PodcastNearshore Talent in Latin America: How to Hire Top Remote Teams Faster & Cheaper | Brian SamsonMatt Hines opens season three of Hines On Air from Atlanta and interviews entrepreneur Brian Samson, now based in Hawaii, about nearshoring and hiring Latin American talent through his company Plugg Technologies. Samson contrasts offshoring (often Asia, time-zone gaps) with nearshoring (Latin America, aligned workdays) and explains how COVID accelerated remote, cross-border teams. He discusses Latin America’s depth of talent—from engineers to managers and leaders—highlighting scrappiness and adaptability, including among Venezuelan professionals. Sampson shares his 11 years in nearshoring, founding Plugg four years ago after running an Argentina-based fintech software development firm, and explains venture fundraising basics (seed t...
2026-04-1339 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 min
Digital Recruiter Podcast#114- Brian Samson on Scaling Recruiting Firms Through Nearshore Talent
SUMMARY
Brian Samson didn’t plan on building nearshore tech teams across Latin America, he just followed curiosity and opportunity. Starting in a high-pressure staffing bullpen in Chicago, Brian quickly made a name for himself through hustle, whiteboard metrics, and old-school recruiting grit. But what came next set him apart. After stints in internal talent leadership and multiple founder roles, Brian raised $2M, moved to Argentina, and launched a company to help fintech startups build faster through offshore development.
In this episode, Brian shares the entire arc, from being a top-performing account manager with a $90K weekly spread, to be...
2026-01-1652 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 min
Software Development, Finance and AIEntrepreneurship: Lower Barriers in the AI Era (feat. Brian Samson)In this episode of the Snowpal podcast, Krish Palaniappan speaks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about the evolving landscape of remote work, particularly in the context of nearshoring and offshoring. Brian shares insights on the benefits of hiring talent from Latin America, the cultural nuances that affect remote collaboration, and the importance of a rigorous hiring process to mitigate risks associated with international hiring. The conversation delves into the value of talent beyond cost savings and the challenges faced when hiring from different countries. In this conversation, Brian Samson discusses the evolving landscape of hiring processes, the impact of AI...
2025-11-061h 04The 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
Revenue Remix - Inspiring Visionary LeadersYour First 10 Hires Make or Break You featuring Brian Samson of Plugg TechnologiesStruggling to build your team fast enough to meet revenue goals? You’re not alone — and you might be hiring wrong.This week on Revenue Remix, Summer sits down with Brian Samson — serial founder and nearshoring expert — to unpack how growth-stage companies sabotage their own hiring, why your first 10 employees shape more than culture, and what founders get completely wrong about offshore vs nearshore teams.You’ll learn:* Why waiting to hire a recruiter shrinks your talent pool* How nearshoring can unlock faster go-to-market* What really causes remote hiring failures...
2025-10-1431 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 minThe Nearshore CafeHow a San Francisco Startup Cut Dev Costs 60% with LATAM Engineers | Nearshoring SuccessWhat 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 yo...
2025-06-1202 minThe Nearshore CafeBuilding a $6M Remote Sales Operation in Colombia 🎙 The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn 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...
2025-05-2825 minThe Nearshore CafeBuild-Operate-Transfer Explained: The Secret Strategy for Scaling Tech Teams in LATAMIn 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 hir...
2025-05-2123 minThe Nearshore CafeHow Nearshoring Boosts Tech M&A Valuations | The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn 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...
2025-05-1428 min