Founder Interviews: Michael Barinek
Get to know one of our co-founders
Continuing our series on the people behind Initial Capacity, we’re excited to highlight our other co-founder, Mike Barinek. Mike’s journey is one of constant curiosity and a passion for teaching, learning, and building software. From his early days in geology to leading innovative software projects, Mike’s story reflects the diverse expertise and forward-thinking mindset that drives Initial Capacity today. Here’s more on how his unique experiences have shaped both him and the company.
Sarah: What’s your background, Mike? How did you get here?
Mike: I started with a Bachelor’s in Geology from Iowa. After that, I worked for a year before going back for a Master’s in Metamorphic Petrology, which is all about big mountain-building events. After school, I found myself collecting groundwater samples in Chino prison in California — which was pretty wild. I thought I’d be spending more time outdoors, but I enjoyed the analysis side of things, sitting at a desk. I was working on everything from analyzing groundwater at Chino to testing water in Santa Monica for potential carcinogens.
Then, I worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, modeling contaminated areas for Superfund sites. At some point, I decided I needed more of a challenge, so I got a Master’s in Software Engineering from DePaul University in Chicago.
After working at the EPA, I realized it wasn’t scratching my software itch, so around 2000 I moved to Lucent, which later got bought by SCC Communications and combined with my group at Lucent became Intrado. That was where I started working on routing 911 calls and eventually moved to Colorado.
I bounced around a few startups - Envysion, Gnip in Boulder before starting the Pivotal Labs office in Boulder in 2010. After Pivotal went through multiple acquisitions — first EMC, then Dell, then we went public, then VMware — we eventually branched off and created Initial Capacity.
Sarah: That’s quite the journey! What do you do when you’re not working?
Mike: I’m really into board sports — snowboarding is big for me, though I make some poor attempts at surfing too! I also do a bit of mountain biking, climbing, and golf. Golf is like the ultimate exercise in refactoring. It’s just like software — you make the tiniest adjustment, like moving your thumb a half inch, and suddenly everything changes.
Sarah: When you take on a new project, how do you approach it with customers?
Mike: We usually start by asking two key questions: “Why us?” and “What does success look like for you?” We want to understand what a win would be for the client. After that, we take a little time to get a feel for things — sometimes engaging part-time at first, helping define the engagement. Then, we typically bring in two to four engineers to dive in deeper. Most of our team are senior engineers, so it’s about figuring out how we can really help. There’s no one-size-fits-all; we have a wealth of patterns and practices to pull from, but we’re also flexible with using the customer’s methodology if that’s what’s needed.
Sarah: How do you maintain strong relationships with your clients?
Mike: A lot of it comes down to our network, especially in Boulder. Many of us have worked in various offices and traveled, so those connections run deep. We also genuinely care about the companies we work with, just like the developers we collaborate with day-to-day. That’s the biggest thing — it’s not just a job for us; we’re invested in their success.
Sarah: What values drive Initial Capacity?
Mike: For us, it’s all about improving how software is made and enhancing the lives of the people who create it. We’re not just focused on delivering better software for our clients but also making sure the developers are enjoying their day-to-day work. It’s about making things better for both sides — the companies and the people building the software.
Sarah: Are there any personal experiences that shaped how you lead or run the business?
Mike: Yeah, I worked for a couple of different consultancies early in my career. One of them, a geotechnical company, had this leadership team that would show up with their pickups and surfboards after hitting the waves at Huntington Beach in the morning. It was such a cool, vibe, and I really enjoyed working there.
On the flip side, I also worked for a company that didn’t do right by its customers, and that was a hard lesson. Fast forward twenty years, and I can definitely feel the difference in leadership styles between those two experiences. It’s something I try to carry with me now.
Sarah: Let’s switch things up a bit — rapid-fire round! Favorite sports team?
Mike: I watch golf mostly, so no specific team. But Xander Schauffele is top of mind right now. Though, as a Chicago native, it’s hard not to mention the Cubs.
Sarah: Window seat or aisle?
Mike: I used to be all about the window seat, but recently I’ve switched to aisle.
Sarah: First concert you attended?
Mike: Seven Seconds at a place called Medusa’s… or maybe it was at the Metro. It’s been a minute!
Sarah: Coffee drink of choice?
Mike: It’s the Mary-cano at our local coffee shop, Verb. It’s a 4 oz Americano with 2 shots.
Sarah: And finally, curly fries, sweet potato fries, or regular?
Mike: Regular fries!