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With the costs and popularity of new development solutions steadily on the rise, companies of all niches are looking beyond their borders for talented developers. Latin America, with its burgeoning tech industry and skilled developers, presents a promising pool of talent. A LATAM tech hub - a region in Latin America that has a high concentration of tech professionals, startups, and innovation - can be the perfect place to start looking if you want to hire LATAM developers this year. Because of this, today’s article is all about the biggest tech hubs in Latin America to help you hire nearshore developers through an interconnected local network. Keep reading to learn more!
Why Are LATAM Tech Hubs Important?
Many Latin America's tech hubs have emerged as pivotal players in the global technology landscape, marked by a remarkable conjunction of innovation, investment, and talent. This surge is anchored by the unprecedented investment trends witnessed in recent years. In 2021, the region saw an astonishing inflow of $39.46 billion into its tech ecosystem, a figure that remained impressively high, marking it as a standout period in the past decade for tech investment. This influx of capital underscores the growing confidence in Latin America's potential to deliver innovative solutions and disruptive technologies.
At the heart of this transformation are the growing startup ecosystems in cities such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogota, and Mexico City, increasingly known as the Silicon Valleys of South America. These cities are drawing the attention of global investors and tech giants, driven by a vibrant startup culture that is rapidly expanding. This growth is not just quantitative but qualitative, with a strong focus on emerging technologies like AI, ML, cloud computing, and IoT. These technologies are being rapidly adopted across various industries in the region, from finance to healthcare, driving innovation and optimizing operations.
This digital transformation in Latin America, particularly accelerated post-COVID-19, has created a surge in demand for digital services and solutions, propelling the software development industry forward. In response to this demand, there's a growing emphasis on tech education in LATAM. Universities and private institutions are offering advanced courses in software development and IT, while online platforms and coding boot camps make tech education more accessible, thereby expanding the talent pool.
Thanks to the creation of different tech hubs, Latin America is not just participating in the global software market but is also carving out niches in specific sectors like fintech, agtech, and healthtech. This specialization ensures that the region is recognized not just as a general player but as a leader in specific, high-growth areas. Governments across LATAM are also recognizing the importance of the tech sector and are implementing support programs for developers, including grants, tax incentives, and training programs, aimed at fostering a conducive environment for tech innovation at every local tech hub that will help international companies hire LATAM developers.
The 10 Latin America's Biggest Tech Hubs To Hire LATAM Developers
1. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo boasts of a growing tech scene with many skilled developers. The city has an impressive number of developers, and, according to the EF EPI Index, their English Level ranks 55 out of 113 countries, with a moderate proficiency and an overall score of 512. The popular tech stacks in Santo Domingo include JavaScript, Python, and Ruby on Rails.
2. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City is home to a thriving tech community with countless opportunities for hiring skilled developers. The city has a high number of developers, but Mexico as a whole has around 130,000 software developers ready to get to work. Now, while the country doesn’t have the best EF EPI Index score - with a low proficiency, a total score of 493, and a ranking of 89 out of 113 countries - Mexico City is one of the main Mexican business and technology centers. Most developers exporting their services from this city will have a good command of the English language. The popular tech stacks in this hub include JavaScript, PHP, and Node.js.
3. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Brazil has the largest number of developers in Latin America, with over 290,000, making Sao Paulo a major tech hub in a country with a vibrant community of developers. The city houses numerous developers, and their English proficiency level is considerably good for the region. Brazil ranks 70 out of 113 countries on the EF EPI Index, with an overall score of 487, which grants it a low to moderate English proficiency level. The popular tech stacks in Sao Paulo include Java, Python, and JavaScript.
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is another key tech hub in Latin America, located in Argentina, one of the main players in the LATAM software development industry featuring more than 50,000 software developers. The city has an abundance of talented developers, and the English proficiency level is the best across of all Latin America. According to the EF EPI Index, Argentina has a very high English proficiency level, ranking 28 out of 113 countries with a score of 569. The popular tech stacks in Buenos Aires include Ruby on Rails, Python, and Java.
5. Santiago, Chile
Chile also has a significant population of developers, estimated at about 50,000. Now, Santiago’s tech industry is flourishing with countless opportunities for hiring talented developers in the capital city. The city has a higher concentration of developers compared to the rest of the country and their English proficiency level is satisfactory. Chile has a high English proficiency level and ranks 52 out of 113 countries, with an overall score of 518 according to the EF EPI Index. Popular tech stacks in this hub include JavaScript, Python, and Ruby on Rails.
6. Bogota, Colombia
Bogota's tech scene is growing rapidly, with a high concentration of skilled developers from Colombia, which currently has about 45,000 of these IT professionals. Now, the English proficiency level of local developers is not as high as some of the other LATAM countries to hire nearshore developers, but it’s also not an extremely low ranking. According to the EF EPI Index, Colombia has an overall score of 480 and is 75th on the list. Popular tech stacks in Bogota include Java, Python, and JavaScript.
7. Lima, Peru
Peru boasts a solid talent pool of over 38,000 software developers. This number reflects the country's growing prominence in the tech scene, particularly in the software development hub and capital city of Lima. Its tech community is vibrant with numerous opportunities for hiring talented LATAM developers. The city has an impressive concentration of Peru’s developers, and their English proficiency level is high, ranking 51 out of 113 countries on the EF EPI Index with an overall score of 521 points. Popular tech stacks in Lima include JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, and Python.
8. Montevideo, Uruguay
In Uruguay, particularly in its capital Montevideo, the software development scene is thriving, especially for such a small LATAM country. As of the latest data, Uruguay boasts over 15,100 software developers and Montevideo's tech hub is thriving with plenty of skilled developers available for hiring. The English proficiency level of local developers is very high, with a global ranking of 39 out of 113 countries according to the EF EPI Index and a score of 533. The popular tech stacks in Montevideo include JavaScript, PHP, and Node.js.
9. San Jose, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a significant number of software developers, with over 22,701+ professionals in the field. With a well-established tech infrastructure and a focus on software development, Costa Rica, including its capital San Jose, is increasingly recognized as a key player in the tech outsourcing market. San Jose’s tech industry is booming with a high concentration of talented developers. The city boasts a high number of developers and their English proficiency level is moderately high with an overall score of 534 and a global ranking of 38 out of 113 countries according to the EF EPI Index. Popular tech stacks in San Jose include Java, Python, and JavaScript.
10. Panama City, Panama
Panama's software development industry is characterized by a diverse and growing number of professionals and companies. Now, Panama City's tech scene provides many opportunities for hiring skilled developers. The city has an impressive number of developers, and their English proficiency level ranks as moderate according to the EF EPI Index, with a global ranking of 71 out of 113 countries and a score of 486. Popular tech stacks in Panama City include JavaScript, PHP, and Node.js.
Hire LATAM Developers with Blue Coding’s Nearshore Software Development Services
Hiring LATAM developers presents numerous advantages, such as access to a large pool of skilled talent, cost-effectiveness, and time zone compatibility. With the growth of tech hubs across Latin America, it is an ideal time to expand your tech team with Latin American talent. To streamline the hiring process, consider Blue Coding's nearshore outsourcing services. As a nearshore development agency, we handle all aspects of the vetting and interviewing procedures and ensure the swift onboarding of your elected candidate into your team. Ready to simplify how you hire LATAM developers? Contact us today to schedule a free strategy call!
