In this episode of The Nearshore Café Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Steve Edwards, a former army paratrooper turned tech entrepreneur, to explore his remarkable journey from military service to revolutionizing the virtual job fair industry. Steve’s path is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and the ability to leverage nearshore talent to bring a tech-driven vision to life.
The conversation unpacks how Steve built a thriving technology business without a technical background, the challenges of scaling a startup, and the nearshoring strategies that helped him develop a successful software platform.
Steve’s journey took a pivotal turn in 2017 when he discovered the potential of virtual reality to reshape traditional job fairs. Recognizing the inefficiencies in in-person recruiting events, he saw an opportunity to build a virtual job fair platform that could transform the way companies connect with talent.
But his path wasn’t without obstacles. A business partnership split early in his venture tested his resolve, reinforcing the importance of strategic adaptability in the fast-changing tech industry.
Steve shares how overcoming these early setbacks taught him valuable lessons in leadership, innovation, and the resilience required to launch a tech company without a coding background.
One of the episode’s key takeaways is how Steve successfully built a tech company without being a developer himself. Instead of trying to learn coding from scratch, he focused on hiring the right technical talent and leveraging diverse skill sets within his team.
Key insights from the discussion:
✅ Visionary leadership is crucial – Entrepreneurs don’t need to be technical experts, but they do need to align their vision with business strategy.
✅ Hiring the right team matters – Surrounding yourself with skilled IT professionals can bridge the technical knowledge gap.
✅ Client needs over personal preference – Prioritizing what the market demands over personal product ideas is essential for long-term success.
✅ Budgeting for tech development – Smart financial planning and strategic hiring help build a sustainable tech-driven business.
A major challenge for Steve was finding the right software development partners. He shares candid experiences with outsourcing development, from disappointing local hires to struggles with offshore teams in different time zones.
Ultimately, nearshoring to Latin America proved to be a game-changer for his company.
Why nearshoring worked for Steve:
🔹 Real-time collaboration – Working with nearshore teams in similar time zones improved project efficiency.
🔹 Cultural and language alignment – Latin American developers provided better communication and constructive feedback.
🔹 High-quality talent at a competitive cost – Nearshoring provided the right balance between affordability and expertise.
His story reinforces how entrepreneurs can benefit from nearshoring to Latin America for tech development, gaining access to top-tier engineers without the challenges of offshore outsourcing.
Steve’s journey is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and customer-focused innovation. His ability to navigate the complexities of the tech industry, build a strong team, and leverage nearshore partnerships provides a valuable roadmap for entrepreneurs.
Key takeaways for tech founders:
✔️ Embrace change – The tech industry moves fast, and adaptability is critical.
✔️ Build a great team – Whether hiring locally or nearshoring, a company’s success depends on its people.
✔️ Look beyond borders – Nearshore development is an effective strategy for startups looking to scale without breaking the budget.
✔️ Stay resilient – Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but the ability to push through obstacles is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to scale your tech team with top nearshore talent, Plugg Technologies specializes in connecting companies with high-performing software developers in Latin America.
📩 Contact us today to explore nearshoring solutions for your business!
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