CYstarters Spotlight: A 16-part series highlighting student entrepreneurs pursuing their business ventures as part of the CYstarters 2026 summer cohort. Through this program, students have the unique opportunity to prioritize the development of their own startup or business idea. Each individual receives $6,500 and access to resources such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and educational sessions on entrepreneurship and business startup. Learn more and meet our 17 entrepreneurs at Demo Day on Thursday, July 30. Register today!

‘I Would Not Want to Be Anywhere Else’: Jacob Barglof’s Startup Journey 

When you meet Jacob Barglof, it’s clear he’s the kind of person who leans all the way into whatever he’s passionate about. Jacob has always had a desire to do things his own way, and entrepreneurship has been a natural fit for that.  

Jacob is from Algona, Iowa, but has fond memories of summers in Ames watching his father, Mark Barglof, co-found Smart Ag alongside Colin Hurd in the Iowa State University Research Park.  

“Entrepreneurship for me started here in Ames,” Jacob said. “I spent a lot of summers as a kid coming down, and I just thought Ames was the coolest community ever.” 

When looking for his own business idea, Jacob, a computer engineering student in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University, first played with the idea of a gesture-controlled software that allowed for hands-free control of a computer. Through different hand gestures, users would be able to navigate a computer and control different actions.

He realized that these gestures would be difficult to implement fully and not very useful to the average consumer. That’s when his girlfriend and co-founder asked: “Why not have it where you can understand software, rather than operate?” 

“And so here we are now,” Jacob said. HELM Systems Inc. is an intelligent software companion that understands where users are within an application and provides instant, context-aware support. Users can ask questions (with no explanation necessary), and HELM delivers actionable, educational answers that help computer users solve problems quickly and avoid getting stuck in the same place again. 

Jacob values change-making and leaving an impact. When it comes to developing and growing HELM, innovation is exactly his goal. 

“I’d like to leave this world with something that is undisputedly mine,” Jacob said. 

HELM is making software more accessible, solving the problems caused by complicated programs that make tasks take longer and lead to getting stuck and feeling frustrated. This problem is personal to Jacob, as he spends lots of time working on computers and navigating software.  

“It matters to me because I have spent so much time intensely intimate with computers,” Jacob said. Through his experience, Jacob has learned shortcuts and benefited from understanding the nuances of computer software. “I want to make that extremely accessible to everyone, even your grandma, to where everyone can hold the same power within a computer.” 

Jacob hopes HELM users will feel reassured and confident that they have the resources to avoid getting stuck. His dream is that when someone says, “I think this will take me until 5 p.m. to complete,” it actually will. 

His girlfriend and co-founder has been the biggest influence on his entrepreneurial journey. 

“My biggest supporter is most definitely my girlfriend and co-founder, because of the amount of unbelievable work that she has done. Building something together and holding ourselves accountable has been unbelievable for the speed and development at which we’re able to make HELM,” he said. 

He also credits his mentor, Jen Barnes, for helping shape the business by guiding its market fit and accessibility, ensuring the product remains both unique and approachable. 

The first thing Jacob noticed when entering CYstarters was how brilliant his peers in the cohort were and how dedicated they were to using their businesses to create change. The collaborative nature of CYstarters enables students to work together on their businesses and make the world a better place. “It’s so inspiring and hopeful, and it makes me feel like we’re going to be okay,” Jacob said. 

Jacob is a busy and involved person. He values health, nutrition, and computer engineering, and creates his own balance between running a business and maintaining relationships. That balance might not always look traditional, but Jacob likes to find a way to make day-to-day tasks feel less like work. 

“There’s a lot of nuances and boredom with software that you have to develop, but finding a way to spin it to make it super engaging, to feel like I’m working on a hobby and developing a company, rather than work, work, and more work,” he said.

The long nights are worth it to Jacob, who sees the constant activity as an opportunity to build connections with the Ames community. 

“I would not want to be anywhere else– no other school. I don’t want to be in San Francisco or Silicon Valley; I want to be right here in Ames,” Jacob said. 

Over the summer, Jacob has worked diligently to set up billing and accounts, with the goal of getting HELM in the hands of consumers. The next big moment for HELM will be the system release, which Jacob says has already received support. 

“It is unbelievable to come and see all the support, not only for HELM, but for everything around me,” Jacob said.  

Jacob shared a few words of wisdom for other student entrepreneurs: “Especially with AI, what’s most important is authentic expression and creativity. Do something that fuels that and really makes you feel like yourself.” 

Check out our video interview with Jacob Barglof below!