BairesDev acquires AI upskiller Modal, names North America chief
NEW YORK and CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — In a strategic move to cement its capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI), software development solutions provider BairesDev has acquired Modal Learning, an AI upskilling platform.
The acquisition also brings Modal Founder Darren Shimkus into the company as President of North America, bolstering its executive team during a period of sustained growth.
BairesDev scales nearshore AI engineering and services
BairesDev has introduced itself as a reliable software solutions company, serving as a vetted marketplace for senior, top engineers in Latin America to global companies, small and large, such as Google and Johnson & Johnson.
The company was established in 2009; it leverages time-zone partnerships and a broad network of more than 4,000 professionals to deliver high-quality, scalable projects across 130 industries.
Concurrently, in the learning and development market, Modal is addressing the crucial need for corporate upskilling on its platform, which personalizes skill paths to align with organizational and personal career objectives.
The mission-based company operates under a fundamental philosophy of high learner outcomes and fast-paced operations, focused on redefining the nature of accessing and delivering professional development to the contemporary jobless population.
Modal’s AI upskilling engine powers enterprise delivery
BairesDev reports that enterprise customers now account for more than 50% of its total revenue, and they are demanding AI-supported delivery and high-impact engineering projects for their mission-critical software programs.
With the incorporation of the Modal platform, BairesDev expects to improve its ability to deliver complex, advanced AI solutions and accelerate digital transformation for these clients.
Modal brings a proven, results-oriented upskilling engine to BairesDev’s service portfolio. The platform has achieved a 90% success rate in upskilling professionals across critical fields such as data science, machine learning, and data engineering through its live instruction, cohort-based learning, and one-on-one coaching.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-founder of BairesDev, Nacho De Marco, notes, “Together with Modal’s learning engine and our top 1% talent, we’re even better equipped to deliver complex, cutting-edge AI projects as the technology rapidly accelerates.”
This move underscores a deliberate strategy of investing in human capital and executive leadership to fuel ongoing expansion.
The move follows a year in which BairesDev reported an 18% increase in hires and supports its strong, double-digit compound annual growth rate, particularly in the North American market.
Shimkus appointment boosts North America growth strategy
Bringing in Shimkus, former President of Udemy for Business, deepens the company’s executive bench as it enters a new phase of market expansion and executive investment in the region.
Upskilling forms the cornerstone of this growth model, creating a continuous-learning ecosystem. BairesDev already employs proprietary programs, such as its peer-led “Circles” platform, for technical and leadership development.
The addition of Modal strengthens this commitment, creating a structured pipeline for AI expertise. As Shimkus notes, “Every client conversation now touches AI, both as a technology challenge and an organizational one.”
This integrated upskilling approach is positioned as how BairesDev will stay ahead of client needs and maintain what it defines as world-class delivery standards.
