Grow...
From seed to sprout.
We’re an incubator for your idea. An idea is like a seed that needs to be nurtured out of the ground. To germinate. To become a sprout, ready to change the world.
Germination /
We've been building software since 2008.
Germinate has had the honor of helping organizations big and small create applications that help their customers, boost their business and make their mark.
Our roots /
We believe:
1.
Technology in Service. People first. Never over engineer. Technology is best when it is automating and augmenting- keep the user, the customer, the PERSON as the priority.
2.
As simple as possible, but no simpler. It’s hard to argue with Einstein.
3.
Design matters. If you respect #s 1 and 2, your app will already be functional. Do the work to make it beautiful as well. Fit and finish matters.
After the sprout /
Our goal is to be your partner for the long haul.
We’re with you all the way. We love building relationships as much as we love building apps. We enjoy the process of building a company, and live to see your seed become sprout become a force for your business.
Leadership /
Who are we?
Michael Krol
Founder & CTO
Michael founded Germinate in 2008 based on a simple idea: ‘There’s an app for that… except when there’s not’. As the app revolution took hold, Germinate found its place as a proven builder of web and mobile apps for enterprises and entrepreneurs alike.
Michael got his start “way back when” in Silicon Valley, and pretty quickly got the startup bug himself. Prior to Germinate he started and sold multiple businesses in the Web development and hosting world.
Michael enjoys guitar, woodworking, and traveling with his family- in particular to the Oregon coast.
Douglas Gastich
CEO
Doug joined Germinate in 2020 to help grow the organization. Under his leadership Germinate has expanded into new markets and evolved into a product-as-a-service organization, helping clients not just build, but also strategize, plan, and support a new technology initiative.
Doug has previously led teams and companies in the SaaS space, and believes in the power of story, the importance of customer service, and the joy of building a great team. He is honored to have worked with and learned from leaders in education, industry, media, and technology.
Doug loves to explore the Pacific Northwest with his family - by bike, snowboard, paddleboard, and shoe.
Mariah Howard
VP of Product
Mariah established Germinate's product practice, pioneering Germinate’s ‘brushtrokes’ approach to rapidly developing customer value in any technology initiative. Her certifications in Agile SCRUM, Pragmatic Marketing, and Design Sprints help her guide teams and clients alike to the user and business outcomes we target together.
Mariah’s past work in the education technology and e-commerce space prepared her well. She has built marketplaces, platforms, apps, and tools that have powered businesses of all sizes. She understands process as an adaptable tool (rather than a one-size-fits-all dogma) to get to the heart of the ‘job to be done’.
Mariah and her family enjoy traveling the world and snowboarding the mountains of the West Coast.
