In this global edition of Exit-Ed, host Gabriela Smith sits down with Iago Rodríguez, a technical founder whose quiet persistence helped grow a boutique software development company into a 300-person multinational operation—and ultimately led to a strategic exit. Originally from Spain and based in Argentina, Iago shares the winding, 15-year journey that began with four freelancers and culminated in the sale of their company to a U.S.-based firm.

Iago opens up about everything from near-burnout years to their unconventional merger with another small team, which doubled their capabilities—and their risks. Together, they built a thriving cross-border outsourcing firm, driven not by flashy sales tactics but by one core value: trust. This episode is packed with real talk on client service, international growth, and the role of humility in leadership. Iago explains how trust—not just tech—is the true business model, and why founders must be willing to serve both clients and team with relentless consistency.

We explore the emotional layers of selling a business you didn’t even set out to build, the mental shift required to think in terms of “EBITDA” after years of bootstrapping, and the cultural empathy needed to win U.S. clients from halfway around the world. Iago also shares powerful insights on remote leadership, including his metaphor of founders as the “sweepers” clearing the path for their team to shine.

If you're a service-based founder, international operator, or just someone wondering how small teams make big exits, this episode is a case study in quiet excellence, operational resilience, and leading with heart.

For more about Iago: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iagorodriguez/

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