Both well-established technology companies and startups are increasingly calling Uruguay home. An international hub for mobile app development and software development methodologies, Uruguay is an emerging IT and software design center, being dubbed as the Silicon Valley of South America.

Perpetuating solid democratic traditions and an advanced education system rivaling that of even the United States (all public school students are given a free laptop), the educated population allows the country to remain more affluent than most of its neighbors. It also helps the growing economy is overseen with a stable government and subsequent political environment.

The competitive workforce contributes to a software industry generating over $600 million annually, a majority of which are to American software and IT companies. This is for a number of reasons. First off, Uruguay is located in a very U.S.-friendly time zone, great for holding meetings and conferences. Moreover, much of the population is proficient in English, further contributing to the country as a growing reliable software hub. One software area in particular Uruguay is excelling on the national stage is in videogame development. The government values education and software development to such a degree, it even funds development for educational video games. Its educated population also enjoys a college system well-respected for computer science programs.