Latin American Developers: Emerging Talent in the AI Revolution
The tech industry is undergoing significant changes as companies prioritize in-person collaboration while increasingly turning to Latin America for specialized developer expertise. Particularly relevant to this shift is the need for talent skilled in post-training AI models, particularly large language models (LLMs).
Revelo’s Surge in Demand
Revelo, a platform connecting vetted Latin American developers to U.S. companies, has experienced a notable increase in demand for engineers capable of supporting the next phase of AI development. Co-founder and CEO Lucas Mendes shared insights with TechCrunch regarding this trend: “There’s a race for data, and especially expert human data, that can actually help LLMs be better at very specific high-value tasks,” Mendes remarked. Coding is highlighted as one of these crucial tasks.
Significant Market Contributions
Mendes noted that LLM-related hires represented 22% of Revelo’s revenue in 2024, driven by companies seeking expertise in specific programming languages to enhance their AI training processes. Notable U.S. enterprises like Intuit, Oracle, and Dell are among the organizations benefiting from Revelo’s talent pool, which exceeds 400,000 developers.
The Evolution of Talent Acquisition
Founded in late 2014, Revelo was established in response to a competitive talent landscape, aiming to create a network of qualified developers. The pandemic further amplified Revelo’s reach, as U.S. companies recognized the potential for high-quality remote teams situated in Latin America. Mendes reflected on this transition, stating, “All of a sudden we started getting inbound from U.S. companies who suddenly realized that you can actually have really high-quality distributed teams.”
Continuous Growth Amid Changing Work Environments
Although many tech firms are pushing for a return to office environments, Revelo continues to thrive, partly due to the appeal of their Latin American developers, categorized as “nearshoring” rather than traditional offshoring. Mendes explained, “The fact that Revelo’s talent is located in the same time zones as their client companies makes these hires a lot more attractive.”
Strategic Acquisitions and Future Plans
To bolster its market position, Revelo has strategically acquired five competitors focused on Latin American talent in the last two and a half years, including companies such as Alto and Paretisa. Mendes expressed optimism about future acquisitions, stating, “We’re building that global talent backbone for the age of AI.”
Conclusion
The increasing demand for skilled developers in Latin America underscores a significant trend in the tech industry, particularly in the context of AI’s evolving landscape. As companies seek effective ways to develop and enhance LLMs, platforms like Revelo are well-positioned to bridge the talent gap.
