A Six-Pillar Veteran Support Platform
Eliminating veteran homelessness and suicide through operational technology
17 veterans die by suicide every day.
When a veteran is in crisis, they text their battle buddy. That buddy has no tools and no backup. We're changing that.
"OWN THE OUTCOME"
True North Data Strategies LLC | SDVOSB | January 2026
Existing programs are fragmented, episodic, and system-focused. Veterans fall through the cracks between services. The people closest to veterans in crisis have no tools to help.
An operational system that gives veterans purpose, keeps them connected, and stabilizes their economic footing - fast enough to matter.
Work is identity. Business is mission. We restore "Here's where you matter now."
Peer-to-peer trust, not institutional trust. Meet veterans where they are.
Economic stability is the foundation. Without it, everything else collapses.
FOB is not an app. It's an operational system built by a veteran, for veterans.
AI job matching, skills translation, VR&E copilot, credential pathways
GovCon navigator, proposal automation, procurement readiness
Housing navigation, outreach dashboards, legal aid, HMIS analytics
Benefits optimization, budget coaching, debt management, micro-grants
Buddy Backup Button, crisis triage, telehealth, peer support training
Grant management, compliance automation, volunteer scheduling
Real Code, Real Progress - Updated January 2026
12/12 tasks complete. 2,500+ lines production code. Federal compliance tools, proposal automation deployed.
Buddy Backup MVP ready. Discord bot tested. Consent flows working (625ms revocation). Deployment pending.
Grant management, volunteer scheduling, compliance automation adapted from production codebase.
Architecture complete. Benefits optimizer, fraud detection, debt management, micro-grant marketplace designed.
Total Code Written: 25,000+ lines across 6 pillars | APIs Integrated: SAM.gov, USAspending, Grants.gov, SBIR.gov, Google Workspace | Tests: 94 automated tests | Docs: 22 comprehensive guides
GitHub: github.com/True-North-Data-Strategies/FOB-Build
Stability + Identity Rebuild
AI-powered MOS to civilian skills translation with real job matching
Case management assistant for Vocational Rehabilitation counselors
DoD internship and DOL apprenticeship matching with recommendations
Adaptive learning for certifications with personalized study plans
Tools: job-match-ops | vre-ops | skillbridge-ops | credential-ops
"Employment is a monitored operation, not a completed task."
Why Existing Employment Programs Fall Short
Our Difference: A continuous employment support loop - live MOS→skills→roles mapping, narrative builder that adapts per employer, retention risk signals + interventions, employer quality scoring based on outcomes.
Employment Tools → Funding Sources
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program - competitive grants for job matching and case management tools
Jobs for Veterans State Grants - partner with state/local workforce organizations
Applied R&D funding when modules involve novel matching technology
Subcontract opportunities for credential and training recommender tools
Tool Mapping:
Advanced Purpose Track
SAM.gov opportunity parsing with eligibility matching and bid guidance
AI-powered federal proposal drafting with Section 508 compliance
Assessment tool for federal contracting with corrective actions
SDVOSB tax credits, state incentives, transaction categorization
Tools: govcon-command | proposal-command | procurement-ops | compliance-ops
"Move from education and mentorship to repeatable revenue execution."
Why Veteran Businesses Struggle to Scale
Our Difference: "Contracting as a productized operating system" - opportunity scanner + fit scoring, capability statement generator, compliance tracker + renewal alerts, delivery playbooks for reliable fulfillment.
Business Tools → Funding Sources
Entrepreneurship tools tied to suicide prevention / protective factors like economic stability
Novel automation or AI copilots that can scale in federal workflows
Pursue with SDVOSB status when deliverable is SaaS + support
Technology partnerships with procurement technical assistance centers
Tool Mapping:
The Acceleration Layer
Connect veterans to units with voucher integration and landlord incentives
By-name list management with predictive analytics for at-risk veterans
Eviction defense, benefits appeals, secure document vault
Job matching + financial coaching + credit repair in one toolkit
Performance dashboards and Section 309 compliance reporting
Tools: housing-nav-ops | outreach-ops | legal-ops | income-ops | hmis-ops
"We're not a new housing program. We're the glue that makes existing programs work faster."
Why Housing Programs Are Slow and Fragmented
Our Difference: A "housing operations layer" - risk signals + early intervention, document readiness automation, landlord/voucher matching + incentive tracking, continuity dashboard across agencies without reinventing HMIS.
Housing Tools → Funding Sources
Grants/cooperative agreements to nonprofits - intake automation, prevention focus
PHAs + VA medical centers - tech funded via PHA ops + partnered procurements
Housing programs need better data systems - dashboards and data transfer tooling
Outcomes and compliance dashboard partnerships with local providers
Tool Mapping:
Economic Shock Absorption
Aggregate VA benefits, pensions, state programs with budget simulation
Bank integration with auto-categorization and fraud detection
Personalized repayment plans with credit monitoring and education
AI-powered matching to philanthropic grants and subsidies
Tools: benefits-ops | expense-ops | debt-ops | microgrant-ops
"Not another budgeting tool - a benefits-to-stability workflow engine."
Why Financial Instability Triggers Crisis
Our Difference: A "financial stability cockpit" - benefits optimization assistant, budgeting/cashflow + assistance coordination, debt/credit recovery automation, "risk-of-financial-crisis" signals that trigger support before collapse.
Financial Tools → Funding Sources
Financial stabilization + "shallow subsidy" supports intersect with coaching workflows
Benefits navigation tools contracted as digital services
Novel "clinical/claims co-pilot" style models (true R&D)
County veteran offices and nonprofit partner pilots
Tool Mapping:
PRIMARY MISSION ANCHOR
When a veteran is in crisis, they don't call a hotline - they text their battle buddy. That buddy needs tools.
Tools: buddy-backup-command | triage-ops | telehealth-ops | peer-support-ops | care-ops
"We're not building tools for veterans in crisis. We're building tools for veterans who help veterans."
MVP 98% complete | Consent revocation in 625ms | No message content stored
Consent required for all responder access. No forced escalation. Ever.
No message transcripts stored. No sentiment analysis. No passive monitoring.
No ML risk scoring. Direct routing to available responders.
No diagnosis. No clinical assessments. 988/VCL fallback always available.
Helper initiates. System supports but never replaces peer connection.
Every data flow gated by explicit, instantly revocable consent.
Why Crisis Support Fails Veterans Where They Are
Our Difference: "Peer-to-clinical escalation infrastructure" where vets actually are - Buddy Backup Button, consent-based warm handoff, script + decision support for the helper vet, follow-up automation after crisis moment.
Crisis Response Tools → Funding Sources
Contract vehicle for innovative suicide prevention solutions - concept paper → proposal → pilot
Grants to community orgs for non-clinical suicide prevention services
Suicide prevention AI research (e.g., DARPA SBIR LM4VSP)
Complement 988/VCL with peer-level force multiplication
Tool Mapping:
Safety Note: This tech SUPPORTS existing crisis infrastructure; it does not replace 988/clinical care.
Force Multiplier
Centralize requirements, automate reports, track outcomes across programs
Anonymization, secure logging, audit trails aligned with HIPAA/GDPR/VA
Staffing management, demand forecasting, shift swaps for peer mentors
Track donations, grant spending, budgets with funding gap forecasting
Tools: grant-ops | governance-ops | volunteer-ops | dashboard-ops
"An administrative exoskeleton that makes small orgs operate like big orgs."
Why Nonprofits Can't Scale Impact
Our Difference: "Nonprofit ops as a productized backend" - contract/grant tracker + deadline engine, outcome dashboards tied to funder requirements, templated reporting + audit readiness, program provisioning + onboarding automation.
Operations Tools → Funding Sources
Ops + reporting tooling as strong subcontract play to grantees
CBOs need compliant reporting + coordination tools
Ops tooling that directly enables scalable suicide-prevention delivery
Client provisioning and onboarding automation for CBO networks
Tool Mapping:
26 tools across 6 pillars—each tool requires its own funding pathway
Suicide prevention innovation contract for Buddy Backup Button deployment
Community-based suicide prevention services for peer support operations
Housing stability tools as subcontractor to existing grantees
Employment tools for homeless veteran reintegration programs
Important: Each FOB tool has different funding requirements. Some tools cost less (enhancing existing systems), some cost more (building new infrastructure). Many tools leverage AI to amplify impact—from job matching to crisis routing to proposal automation. Tools fill gaps in existing programs or enhance what's already working.
Strategy: Start as subcontractor with outcomes data, then move to prime
Private Funding Goal - 24-Month Full Implementation
This budget is specifically for the Buddy Backup Button (Pillar 5 flagship tool). Other FOB tools require separate funding.
Development completion, security audits, infrastructure, 508 compliance, AI-powered routing
Recruitment, stipends, scheduling, clinical supervision, wellness
QPR gatekeeper training, platform training, secondary trauma prevention
Community deployment, outcome measurement, sustainability planning
Total: $625,000 | 24 months | 2-3 veteran communities | 50 trained responders
Note: Other FOB tools have varying costs—some smaller (AI enhancements to existing tools), some larger (new infrastructure builds).
This timeline is for Buddy Backup Button deployment. Other FOB tools follow their own development and funding cycles.
Complete remaining phases (helper scripts, follow-up, admin dashboard, AI routing optimization)
Recruit responders, QPR training, community partnerships
Measured deployment in 2-3 veteran communities
Outcome analysis, VA deliverables, publication-quality documentation
Sustainability planning, VA integration pathway, expanded communities
FOB tools across all 6 pillars leverage AI where appropriate: job matching, proposal writing, crisis routing, benefits optimization, and more. Each tool enhances existing programs or fills critical gaps.
98% complete before funding. We're not asking you to fund an idea - we're asking you to fund a deployment.
20-year Army veteran, Bronze Star recipient, self-taught developer at 53. Lived the mission.
We support 988 and VA. We're force multiplication for peer-to-peer intervention.
Jacob Johnston is 100% dedicated to this mission. True North Data Strategies is the vehicle.
Privacy by design. No surveillance. Veterans control their data.
Time-to-qualified-human. Warm-handoff rate. Follow-up completion. Real KPIs.
UEI: WKJXXACV8U43 | CAGE: 16TC1 | SAM.gov: Active
We need partners, not passive donors
Grants, contracts, philanthropic funding to deploy tools and train responders across veteran communities
Fiscal sponsorship OR nonprofit partnership to unlock grant opportunities we can't access alone
Assistance applying for grants and government contracts - we have the tech, we need the application muscle
Technical, clinical, peer support, and operations volunteers who want to build something that matters
Organizations who want to integrate FOB tools into their existing veteran service programs
Introductions to funders, veteran organizations, and decision-makers who can accelerate this mission
26 tools across 6 pillars. Each tool is independently fundable, but stronger as a system. We're building an operational platform, not an app. Help us deploy it.
Empowering the veterans who help other veterans
Jacob Johnston
True North Data Strategies LLC
Email: jacob@truenorthfob.org
Alt Email: jacob@truenorthstrategyops.com
Website: www.truenorthfob.org
Alt Website: truenorthstrategyops.com
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
"Because battle buddies save lives."