There is a rising tide in the city of Mérida. As that biggest city and capital of the Yucatán, it is emerging as a regional IT powerhouse and starting to attract attention from all across the nation — and beyond. Many companies now deliver software development and other tech services from Mérida to firms in the United States, and its reputation is only growing.

One well-established company headquartered there is Kwan Tecnologia. Mexico IT recently good the privilege to chat with Daniel Castañeda Castro, founder & CEO Kwan Tecnologia, about his company and what Mérida can offer.

What is Kwan Technologia’s history?

Daniel Castañeda Castro: I founded Kwan Tecnologia when I returned home to Mérida, Mexico, after 10 years of experience as a software developer, then architect, at companies such as IBM, Siemens, Progress Software, and TIBCO Software. Most of the time I spent working for these companies was in the United State, with a good number of those years in the Silicon Valley area.

What type of work does the company specialize in?

Daniel Castañeda Castro: We specialize in helping software and technology companies meet their software goals. Through our nearshore software teams solution, we expand their software development capabilities with high-quality, affordable software developers and without the hassles of hiring across the globe.

You choose to found your company in Mérida. What types of advantages does the city offer?

Daniel Castañeda Castro: Our headquarters and main branches are in the city of Mérida, Mexico. In addition to it being my hometown, it is a city with a number of advantages.

Mérida is the safest urban city in Mexico for one. It also has good infrastructure and services with an international airport that has direct flights to U.S. cities. The good number of universities and large talent pool also help greatly, while lower costs mean lower rates than Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.

Given the accelerated rate at which we are growing, we are planning to open an office in Guadalajara to further expand our operations as well. And in terms of services expansion, we also plan to get into the staffing business, both in Mexico and the United States.

What makes software development in Mexico different from the United States?

Daniel Castañeda Castro: Other than lower costs, it is not much different — and that’s a good thing. The infrastructure is good in urban cities in Mexico and since we are neighbors with the United States, our cultures are similar. Many people in Mexico speak English, and traveling to a city in Mexico is not much different in time than traveling within the United States.

Other than the typical nearshore advantages — proximity, time zones, cost — what really sets Kwan Technologia apart?

Daniel Castañeda Castro: The quality of the software developers we hire. We do full-time recruiting and strong technical filtering. We only hire the best we can find. All of the software developers at Kwan Tecnologia were N.1 or N.2 at their previous jobs compared to their colleagues.

The other aspect that sets Kwan Tecnología apart is the way the company is managed. Kwan is managed like an American technology company. Every developer is responsible for his work and performs to the top of his capabilities, without much need of supervision. Each person understands that they are an extension of our customer and they embrace that. They know that their work is critical to our customer’s success.