1. The Problem Every CTO Knows Too Well
- “Our India team delivers, but we lose 3 hours a day just aligning.”
- Post-Brexit UK salaries have exploded.
- Switzerland has great talent—but €120k+ for senior engineers isn’t sustainable.
Fact check: According to Gartner (2025), 68% of European companies plan to adopt nearshoring by 2027.
2. Why Portugal Isn’t Just “Cheap” — It’s Strategic
| Factor | Portugal | Eastern Europe | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT+0 | GMT+2/+3 | GMT+5:30 |
| Fluent English | 95% (young professionals) | 70–80% | 60% |
| Senior dev cost | €40k/year | €35k/year | €20k/year |
| Cultural proximity (UK/CH) | High | Medium | Low |
Real example: A Swiss fintech client cut operating costs by 40% by shifting from Zurich to Lisbon—while keeping daily syncs at 10:00 Swiss time.
3. How Damascode Makes It Happen
We’re not a “Developer shop.” We craft bespoke teams through a combination of talent scouting, skills development, and agile delivery, ensuring long-term, self-sufficient success for your projects.
a) Our Nearshoring Process
Week 1 – Project Discovery
Detailed workshop to understand client goals, audit existing systems, and define project priorities.
This is where the preliminary scope and ideal candidate profile are established.
Week 2 – Talent Sourcing & Pre-selection
We select and evaluate candidates aligned with the project requirements.
Technical assessments, case study reviews, and soft skills evaluation are conducted.
Talent protection: Candidates are presented only after the client signs a Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation Agreement, ensuring the talent cannot be hired directly outside of Damascode.
Week 3 – Candidate Presentation & Validation
The candidate is introduced to the client.
Client conducts interviews or tests to validate alignment.
Once approved, the service agreement is signed, covering exclusivity, confidentiality, and anti-poaching clauses.
Week 4 – Onboarding & Agile Kickoff
Kickoff with clear OKRs, access to project tools (Jira, Notion), and agile workflow setup.
Team integration begins, and work delivery starts under close Damascode guidance.
Ongoing Collaboration
Continuous feedback loops for fast adjustments and productivity improvement.
b) In-House Training: The Consistency Secret
- Every developer completes a 200-hour internal bootcamp (TDD, CI/CD, English for Tech).
- Retention: 92% over 2 years.
4. Checklist: Are You Ready for Nearshoring in Portugal?
- A prioritized backlog (or at least 3 clear epics)
- Collaborative tools (Jira, Slack, Figma)
- Budget of ~€3.5k/month per senior dev (includes management)
- Someone available for a 1-hour daily sync
5. The Challenges (and How We Solve Them)
| Challenge | Damascode Solution |
|---|---|
| Visa / bureaucracy | Local legal partner – D2 visa in 60 days |
| Different holidays | Shared calendar + compensatory days off |
| Async communication | Loom + Notion → 80% of decisions made without meetings |
6. Next Steps (No Spam)
- Comment with your biggest scaling challenge.
- Book a 15-minute call
- Receive a free mini-audit of your delivery process.
