The concept for CounSil was not by happenstance. By saying “yes” to new challenges and looking at a problem with innovative sights – a solution gained traction over a single summer. Now, the software startup from the Black Hills has developed disruptive technology in tracking financial allocations for the Air Force.
There is a domino effect when you put together a curious mind, research, and a passion for problem-solving. One idea may spark another which then ignites a trailblazing path to something new, something innovative. This is what John Barbour discovered as a student at South Dakota Mines.
A Spark of Innovation
Barbour came to South Dakota from the foothills of Colorado with a goal of working in material science and synthesizing crystals at scale. Selecting a discipline in chemical engineering, his peer group had also encouraged him to explore extracurricular networks in addition to his course studies.
“A friend, William “Bill” Trevillyan, introduced me to the Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs (ICE) when I was a freshman,” said Barbour. “This really set my path on the innovation cycle at Mines.”
Introduced to mentors like Joseph Wright, past faculty and advisor at Mines and Jason Combs, regional director for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), Barbour has taken the opportunity to lean into real-world experience through competitions, courses, and more. One of these opportunities being the X-Force Fellowship through NSIN.
The X-Force Fellowship
This summer-long internship directs student work to address current military obstacles – allowing participants hands-on entrepreneurial method implementation with scalable solutions.
“The X-Force Fellowship gave us the opportunity to live in the space a bit more with dedicated focus [compared to semester-by-semester coursework]. It teaches you not only to validate the product (Is it going to solve a problem?), but also think beyond its possibilities into planning for commercialization through prototypes,” explained Barbour.
Tackling the Challenge of Project Funding Processes
In 2021, Barbour and his fellowship team was tasked with the challenge of creating a solution for project funding processes. Currently, administrative teams collect data, research needs, and re-prioritize hundreds of items that are coded for mission essential, enhancement or critical, as well as squadron readiness and innovation within static Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. While some people on the team are focusing on the finances and allocation, other people on the team look at feasibility, timing, etc. – each modifying the spreadsheet simultaneously, sending them onto the next “step” in the process when completed. If timing isn’t orchestrated between departments of the team perfectly, sheets that are being updated and re-assessed are out of date causing delay in key decisions to be made.
The Birth of CounSil
By August, CounSil LLC was created to provide a solution to improve the efficiency of Ellsworth Air Force Base’s acquisition of items needed for base operations. Not only does this provide quantifiable data to decision makers, it also allows for real-time edits across the platform for each user – ensuring the information they are working with is current at any given time. Barbour joined the David Lust Accelerator Building a few months later to keep the momentum from the X-Force Fellowship going.
“Being a startup is difficult,” confessed Barbour. “There are a lot of hours needed to keep the work going, and you have to have a lot of self-discipline. However, a dedicated team makes it incredible, and the work we are doing is worth it.”
The Future of CounSil
Today, Barbour and his team are taking the next steps in growing development and applying for federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract program. This includes perfecting their product and all of its functionality.
“[SBIR] is a very competitive process,” said Barbour. “But I’m confident we will show the product’s validated need and that we are a viable solution for the U.S. Department of Defense.”
This story was originally published in the October 2024 issue of Elevate Magazine.
