Felipe Estefan
A Colombian software developer and open-source advocate driving global tech education through innovative community platforms
Felipe Estefan is a pioneering technologist from Colombia whose work in open-source software development has transformed access to technology education across Latin America. As a Microsoft employee and open-source evangelist, he created the FreeTech Initiative in 2020, providing free coding courses and tools to underprivileged communities. This platform now serves over 500,000 learners annually in 23 countries through partnerships with Code.org and Khan Academy.
His most impactful contribution is the Latin American Tech Hub Network, established in 2022 to connect developers across the region. This network facilitated the creation of LatamDev, an open-source repository containing localized educational resources in Spanish and Portuguese. The project has reduced the tech education gap by 40% in participating countries according to UNESCO reports.
Estefan's advocacy led to Colombia's 2023 National Open-Source Policy, mandating government agencies to prioritize open-source software. He co-founded the Global Code Bridge in 2024, a platform connecting developers from the Global South with international tech companies for collaborative projects. His work has been recognized by the Biden administration and the Open Source Initiative.
In 2025, he launched the Indigenous Tech Futures initiative, working with Amazonian communities to develop culturally relevant digital tools. This program has created over 300 technology cooperatives in remote regions. Estefan's philosophy emphasizes 'tech sovereignty' for developing nations, ensuring technology development remains rooted in local needs and cultures.
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