Finding experienced AI engineers is one of the hardest hiring challenges for North American startups right now. Demand is outpacing supply and most founders don’t know where to look outside the US.
In this conversation, Darius Gant breaks down how to evaluate hiring regions for AI talent, and why Latin America keeps coming out ahead for companies building in North America.
YOU’LL LEARN:
- The 5 factors that determine whether a region is worth hiring in
- Why time zone alignment is a productivity lever, not just a convenience
- A country-by-country breakdown: Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile
- How Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia compare, and when they make sense
- The biggest mistake founders make when selecting a hiring region
- What Darius would do if he were building his first AI pod today
This isn’t theory. Tesoro AI places top 5% LATAM AI engineers with growth-stage companies. First shortlist in 7 days.
Want to talk about your hiring strategy? Send us a message.
CHAPTERS:
00:23 — Why founders struggle to hire AI engineers
01:21 — The 5 factors for evaluating any hiring region
02:38 — What makes LatAm strong for AI hiring
04:18 — Eastern Europe: great talent, time zone problem
05:23 — Southeast Asia and the global talent reality
06:43 — Country-by-country scorecard: Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile
08:38 — When Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia is the right call
10:08 — What Darius would do hiring an AI pod today
12:23 — The biggest mistake founders make on region selection
13:23 — Remote work, management skills, and the in-office myth