The Medellín–Spain Bridge: How to Scale a Startup Across Two Continents

In 2023, when I incorporated Sleem in Medellín, I knew the problem I wanted to solve—lack of profitability and transparency for artists—had no borders. But for a music-tech company to truly impact the world, a strong tech core is not enough; you need to be where the key pieces on the board actually move.

That is why I made the strategic decision to move to Spain. It was not an escape—it was building a bridge. Today, operating across two continents, I have learned that scaling a startup internationally takes far more than plane tickets: it takes an obsession with systems and a culture of asynchronous work.

Why Spain? A two-way entry point

People often ask why I did not choose the United States. The answer is simple: Spain is the natural connector. For a Latin American founder, Spain offers clear advantages.

Access to the European market: a solid regulatory framework and a strong currency.

Cultural proximity to Latin America: we still speak the same language, which makes negotiating with labels and artists on both sides far easier.

Technical and creative talent: a growing ecosystem that pairs well with the grit and resourcefulness of talent in Medellín.

Two time zones: chaos or advantage?

Working with teams and clients across time zones can crush productivity if you lack systems. At first I tried to join every call—but I soon remembered a lesson from my Qué Código days: "Systems over hacks."

So Sleem would not stall while I slept—or vice versa—we built a culture of asynchronous communication. Instead of endless meetings, we prioritized the following.

Radical documentation: if it is not written down, it does not exist.

Trust based on outcomes: what matters is not when people work, but whether milestones ship.

Premium-grade tools: investing in management software is not an expense—it is the glue that holds a transatlantic company together.

Technology has no nationality

One truth I keep validating is that great technology is a universal language. Whether we are talking to an investor in Madrid or an artist in Medellín, Sleem's value lives in its architecture and its transparency.

Moving abroad forced me to delegate more and trust the robustness of the code we built. It reminded me that as founders, our job is not to "do everything"—it is to design the environment where the team can shine, no matter where they connect from.

Conclusion: the future is hybrid and global

Reaching May 2026 with Sleem's official launch is a milestone that would not feel the same without this shift in perspective. Being physically in Europe while keeping my roots and operations in Latin America has given me a 360-degree view of what independent music really needs.

Scaling a startup is not about where you stand—it is about how far your vision can travel thanks to the systems you build.

Are you thinking about taking your project international? What do you think is the hardest part of managing a remote team? See you on social.