Episode Details

In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ricky Michel, founder of Ualett, to talk about building a fintech company from the Dominican Republic—and why the gig worker and rideshare driver economy is still underserved by traditional banks.

Ricky shares how Ualettwas founded in 2018, how the team designed a mobile-first, low-friction liquidity experience by spending time directly with drivers, and why trust and empathy are essential when building financial products for independent workers. They also break down Ualett’s hybrid company structure—a U.S.-based operation serving the U.S. market with engineering and support talent in the DR—and what this model reveals about the growth of nearshoring and LATAM tech talent after 2020.

This episode is sponsored by Plugg Technologies (plugg.tech), connecting U.S. companies with top software engineers and digital talent across Latin America.

Topics Covered

• Building fintech products for gig workers and freelancers
• Why traditional banking struggles with variable income and cash flow
• Mobile-first product design for rideshare drivers
• Ualett’s U.S. + Dominican Republic hybrid operating model
• Skills-based hiring and building engineering teams in the DR
• A founder lesson on preparation, timing, and early-stage fundraising
• Why Latin America has become a major nearshore talent hub

Host: Brian Samson
Sponsor: Plugg Technologies (plugg.tech)
Guest: Ricky Michel, Founder of Ualett

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast