Meet Peter Baumgartner | Founder at Lincoln Loop

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peter Baumgartner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peter, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Commitment to sustainability is one of our core values. We think about sustainability broadly: how we run the business, how we support our team, and how we contribute to the communities around us.

That includes maintaining a remote-first workplace that gives people more flexibility and autonomy, building long-term relationships with clients and employees, and supporting causes we care about through our quarterly giving program. Over the years, we’ve donated more than $250,000 to charitable organizations locally and globally.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Lincoln Loop has been fully remote since we started in 2007, long before remote work became mainstream. Today our team spans 7 countries and includes people who have been with us for more than a decade. In an industry where average tenure is often just a couple of years, that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

From the beginning, we wanted to build a company differently. We focused on trust, autonomy, transparency, and creating an environment where talented people could do their best work without unnecessary bureaucracy. Over time, that approach became one of the things that sets us apart, both for our team and for our clients.

Building a business definitely wasn’t easy. I think most founders start with a certain level of optimism and naivety, because if you fully understood every challenge ahead of time, it might feel impossible to begin. Along the way, I had to get comfortable with uncertainty, making mistakes publicly, and learning when to trust my own instincts versus outside advice.

The early years were especially stressful for me personally. Developing a meditation practice helped me build resilience and perspective, and it continues to play an important role in my life today.

Despite the challenges, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that stability is never guaranteed, whether you work for yourself or someone else. What entrepreneurship gave me was the ability to shape my own path, work with people I admire, and build a business aligned with my values. That freedom and sense of ownership has made all the hard parts worth it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
What you do in Steamboat really depends on the season, but since winter is what we’re known for, let’s assume that. We’re definitely skiing.

Conditions are usually best first thing in the morning, so we’d be “pressing glass” waiting for one of the first gondola cars up the mountain. After a morning of skiing, we’d grab coffee and brunch at one of the local spots downtown, then head to Old Town Hot Springs to relax before the afternoon crowds roll in.

I prefer the vibe downtown. It’s more mountain town than resort tourism. We’d walk over to grab burgers at Backdoor Grill and maybe catch live music at The Press or Old Town Pub. Unless there’s snow in the forecast, then we’re turning in early so we can do it all again the next morning!

Beyond skiing, I think what makes Steamboat special is that it still feels like a real mountain town. It’s not just a tourist attraction. I still bump into people that I met when I moved here 25 years ago.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve always been inspired by businesses that are willing to challenge conventional wisdom. Ricardo Semler’s book Maverick had a huge influence on how I think about leadership, trust, and autonomy in the workplace. Companies like Patagonia and 37signals also showed me that you can build a successful business without following the traditional playbook.

More than anything, though, Lincoln Loop’s success belongs to the team. We’ve been fortunate to work with incredible people who have stayed with the company for 15+ years. They not only helped shape the culture, but are stewards of it every day.

Website: https://lincolnloop.com/about/peter-baumgartner/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbaumgartner/

Twitter: https://x.com/ipmb