How Mamba AiC Helped Build a Nearshore Tech Hub for a Leading European FinTech
In 2020, Affinity began collaborating with a leading European financial software provider looking to expand its technology capabilities. What started as a single consultant placement soon grew into a long-term partnership — one built on trust, transparency, and shared goals.
Today, with the support of Mamba AiC, an Affinity internal company, this collaboration has evolved into something much bigger: a dedicated nearshore tech hub in Portugal that drives delivery, strengthens operations, and enables global growth.
From One Consultant to a Strategic Partnership
The client, a major player in the FinTech industry, specializes in automating and optimizing invoicing and accounting processes for businesses across Europe. As demand for their platform grew, so did the need for specialized tech talent — from DevOps and Cloud engineers to Infrastructure and Support professionals.
Affinity’s role was to help scale these teams quickly and effectively, ensuring that every consultant could integrate smoothly into the client’s culture and delivery framework.
Why Portugal Became the Perfect Fit
When the client decided to establish a pilot technology hub in Portugal, Mamba AfC took the lead in building its foundation. Portugal offered the ideal conditions:
- a strong pool of professionals skilled in modern stacks like Java, .NET, AWS, and React;
- close cultural and geographical proximity to the client’s European operations;
- and a high level of English proficiency that made cross-border collaboration effortless.
This combination turned Portugal into a strategic nearshore destination — not just for cost efficiency, but for innovation and long-term scalability.
The Affinity Approach
At the core of this project was Affinity’s Team-as-a-Service mindset.
Mamba AiC delivered specialized professionals through a Nearshore, Time & Materials model, ensuring flexibility and transparency at every step. Each consultant received a personalized onboarding plan lasting one to two weeks, supported by Affinity managers who were present from day one.
Regular alignment sessions with the client’s recruitment and delivery teams kept everything running smoothly — from project governance to future scaling plans.
Measurable Impact and Lasting Value
What began as a pilot soon proved its strategic importance.
The new tech hub in Portugal now supports several mission-critical projects, with multiple consultants fully embedded in the client’s teams. Many have since transitioned into permanent positions, a true sign of cultural alignment and mutual trust.
The partnership has also expanded into new European geographies, reinforcing Affinity’s position as a trusted nearshore partner in the FinTech sector.
Looking Ahead
The success of this collaboration demonstrates more than just effective delivery — it highlights how partnership, culture, and people can shape sustainable growth.
With a proven model in place, both Affinity and the client are now exploring new areas of collaboration, scaling teams, and unlocking even more opportunities through the power of nearshore.