Jalasoft is a company that provides outsourced software development, quality assurance, and IT engineering services for companies that need scalable, high-quality technical talent. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Jalasoft CEO Jorge Lopez to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Jorge Lopez’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Lopez said:
“I come from a truly global background—half American, half Bolivian. I was raised in Bolivia, where opportunities in technology were practically nonexistent at the time. Later, I moved to the U.S. to finish my education, which opened the door to the tech industry.”
“I started my career at Adobe when it was still a small company with about 100 employees. It was there that I first saw how software could change entire industries, and I learned the value of building teams grounded in strong engineering practices.”
“After Adobe, I joined NetIQ as one of the first 15 employees and spent nearly 13 years there developing data center management platforms and scaling teams through fast growth.”
“Eventually, I reached a point where I felt there had to be a bigger purpose than simply creating more software. That belief—and my conviction that talent could come from anywhere—led me back to Bolivia, where I founded Jalasoft to prove that world-class engineering could thrive even in unexpected places.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Lopez shared:
“During the late ’90s, when Silicon Valley was booming, everyone was chasing the next big product. But I started noticing what most people ignored: there was a real crisis happening underneath all the success—a shortage of talent. Companies were spending ridiculous amounts just on referrals because they couldn’t find enough skilled engineers to keep up with demand.”
“At 33, I made a decision that most people thought was crazy. I sold everything, left Silicon Valley, and moved to Bolivia—a country without a tech scene or even reliable internet at the time. But to me, that was exactly the opportunity.”
“I believed that the real advantage wasn’t in competing for the same talent pool as everyone else but in building it from scratch. That idea—to invest in people first, and then in software—became the foundation for Jalasoft.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Lopez reflected:
“There have been many moments I’m proud of, but the one that stands out is how we created Jala University.”
“Since 2007, I had been working on bridging the gap between education and the software industry in Latin America. In 2014, we finally secured a university license in Bolivia. We started designing a physical campus to train engineers at scale. But in 2020, COVID-19 turned everything upside down.”
“It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made: I decided to cancel the campus project entirely. Instead, we took all the resources we had and pivoted to build a fully digital, accredited university that could serve students across Latin America.”
“What began as a local idea suddenly became something with global reach. Today, Jala University is a 100% online institution based in the U.S., dedicated to giving aspiring engineers rigorous education combined with real-world experience.”
“For me, that moment captures what Jalasoft has always been about—turning challenges into opportunities and never losing sight of the mission to build talent where others see limitations.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Lopez explained:
“Our core service is providing highly skilled software developers who integrate seamlessly with your teams. We cover the full spectrum of development, including backend platforms, cloud systems, mobile applications, and web development.”
“In addition to engineering talent, we offer comprehensive Quality Assurance and Testing services. Our QA professionals have experience in manual testing, automation frameworks, API testing, performance testing, and security testing, ensuring that products meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.”
“We also provide DevOps engineering expertise to help clients manage cloud infrastructure, automate deployments, and enforce security protocols effectively. Clients can scale their development capacity with us in a flexible way—either through nearshore staff augmentation or fully dedicated teams focused exclusively on their projects.”
“Beyond our services, we have also developed proprietary technology components that help clients accelerate their digital transformation. Some of our main products and platforms include:
- An advanced authentication solution that simplifies secure user access management for enterprise applications, similar in concept to widely used identity platforms.
- A next-generation remote learning platform designed to overcome the main challenges of virtual education, including engagement, collaboration, and content delivery.
- An assessment and survey platform built to deliver large-scale exams and feedback tools with a modern, user-friendly experience.
By combining high-quality engineering services with our own intellectual property, we enable clients to innovate faster, reduce complexity, and bring new digital solutions to market with greater confidence.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Lopez acknowledged:
“Yes, like many companies in our sector, we have faced several challenges in recent years. One of the most significant has been the rapid acceleration of technology cycles and the growing demand for specialized skills in areas like cloud platforms, blockchain, cybersecurity and AI. At the same time, competition for top engineering talent has intensified—not just regionally, but globally—as remote work has made the market more dynamic than ever.”
“Instead of seeing these challenges as threats, we have always viewed them as opportunities to reinforce our core strengths. We doubled down on our long-term strategy of developing our own talent pipeline rather than relying exclusively on external hiring. Through Jala University and our internal training programs, we’ve built a sustainable source of highly qualified engineers who are prepared to master the latest technologies.”
“Another major challenge has been supporting clients through their digital transformations under tight timelines and unpredictable economic conditions. To help them, we invested in building reusable technology components—for example, an advanced authentication platform that streamlines user access and security, a remote learning solution that solves the core challenges of virtual education, and a next-generation assessment platform for surveys and exams. These tools have allowed us to accelerate delivery, reduce costs, and help clients adapt faster to changing demands.”
“Ultimately, our approach has been to stay ahead of market shifts by combining continuous learning, a culture of innovation, and a mindset of resilience. That’s what has allowed us not only to adapt, but to grow—even when the industry has been under pressure. For us, every period of uncertainty is also a chance to build solutions that create lasting impact.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? Lopez noted:
“Since Jalasoft was founded, our technology and approach have evolved significantly. In the early days, we focused primarily on providing high-quality software engineering services for clients in Silicon Valley, helping them build and maintain enterprise applications. Over time, as our teams grew in experience and maturity, we expanded our capabilities beyond development to include architecture, quality assurance, DevOps, and project management.”
“We also invested heavily in creating internal frameworks and best practices that allow us to deliver consistently excellent solutions across industries. As cloud computing gained traction, we embraced cloud-native architectures and modern development stacks to help clients scale globally and modernize their platforms.”
“Just last year, we launched Jala Ignite, a blockchain-powered HR platform that is transforming how companies manage their people and processes. And that’s just the start. Our R&D team is actively exploring new applications for blockchain, Generative AI, and the Metaverse.”
“This mindset—building our own products as ‘building blocks’ to stay ahead of our clients’ needs—is a big part of what defines Jalasoft. We’ve always believed that being among the first to invest significant, dedicated resources into emerging technologies puts us in the best position to help our clients innovate and penetrate new markets when the time is right.”
“Today, our teams don’t just deliver complex software solutions; they work as trusted innovation partners, co-creating intellectual property and driving strategic growth. This evolution—from a service provider to an ecosystem builder—reflects our commitment to staying ahead of technology trends and continuously investing in the future.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Lopez cited:
“One of the milestones I’m most proud of is the creation of Jala University, because it represents the culmination of a vision I refused to give up on for 20 years.”
“When we started Jalasoft, back in Silicon Valley, many people who knew about the project told me it wasn’t realistic to try to build world-class engineering talent in a small country in Latin America. They said it would be easier—and faster—to simply hire people from abroad or bring in contractors. But I always believed that if we wanted to build something that would last, something that could truly transform our region, we had to invest in education ourselves.”
“For over two decades, we reinvested in training programs, mentoring, and the idea that talent could be developed here from the ground up. Eventually, we reached a point where our internal programs had become so robust that it was clear the next step was to formalize them into an institution—Jala University.”
“So when people ask me about milestones, I don’t only think about revenue or client growth—although we’ve had plenty of that. I think about this moment: proving that with commitment and long-term thinking, it’s possible to build an ecosystem that develops professionals, creates intellectual property, and gives back to the community.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Lopez highlighted:
“One success story that really reflects who we are as a company involves a long-term client whose core intellectual property was almost entirely developed and maintained by our team. After many years of collaboration, this client was acquired by a new owner who had made significant investments in India and decided to transition the entire project there.”
“Even though this meant we were going to lose the engagement, our values came first. We fully supported their decision and worked side by side with them to train their new team and document everything to ensure a smooth transition. Our engineers and managers treated this handover with the same dedication and focus as if it were the most critical release in the project’s history.”
“The client’s managers were genuinely impressed by the professionalism and commitment we showed, despite knowing we were effectively working ourselves out of the project. Over time, that trust paid off in ways we didn’t expect. When those same managers moved on to leadership roles at other companies, the first thing many of them did was call us back to request engineering teams for their new organizations.”
“This story captures what makes Jalasoft different: we always put our values and long-term relationships ahead of short-term gain, and we stand by our clients through every stage—whether we’re growing together or helping them move on.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Lopez affirmed:
“We don’t just hire engineers—we build them. For over two decades, we’ve invested in creating a unique ecosystem that combines talent development, delivery excellence, and innovation under one roof.”
“What sets us apart is that we don’t see ourselves as just a provider of engineering services. We are the engine behind a broader vision to transform the region through education, innovation, and sustainable growth—and that makes a real difference for our clients and our people.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Lopez concluded:
“Keep developing world-class engineering talent, which is why we created Jala University. But the purpose of Jala University is not just to produce engineers for our teams.”
“The deeper goal is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem of talent and technological innovation that transforms the region. We want to ensure a continuous pipeline of highly qualified professionals—not only for Jalasoft but for Latin America’s entire tech sector. We also aim to develop capabilities that go beyond basic engineering, such as applied research, proprietary product development, and leadership in emerging technologies like AI.”
“By democratizing access to high-quality education in software engineering, we can create long-term social and economic impact while reinforcing Jalasoft’s position as the main catalyst of this transformation.”
