Jeff Herschy

Jeffrey Donald Schwerdt (born November 28, 1977), professionally known as Jeff Herschy, is an American entrepreneur, former United States Air Force F-16 instructor pilot, and the founder and chief executive officer of Reviewly.ai. He is also the founder of Response Engine and an inventor associated with a patent-pending system in direct mail and digital marketing technology. Herschy is known for building and exiting multiple marketing and SaaS platforms and for advising marketing agencies and growth-stage companies.

Throughout his career, Herschy has launched and managed several software businesses, completed a private equity-backed acquisition, and developed scalable systems used by thousands of small businesses and marketing agencies.

Early life and education

Jeffrey Donald Schwerdt was born in Livingston, New Jersey, United States, and raised along the Jersey Shore. From an early age, he expressed a strong ambition to become a jet pilot and began formal flight training at the age of seventeen.

He attended Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey, graduating in 1996. During high school, he participated in cross country, track, and basketball while working and taking flying lessons. His commitment to aviation earned him a full Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship for college.

Herschy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University between 1996 and 2000. After graduation, he completed two years of United States Air Force pilot training and later graduated as a Distinguished Graduate from F-16 training.

Military career

Following flight training, Herschy became a mission-qualified F-16 fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He served in roles including wingman, flight lead, mission commander, and instructor pilot, accumulating nearly one thousand hours of flight time in the F-16 aircraft.

In 2007, his military career ended after he sustained a serious lower-back injury that required surgery and extended rehabilitation. Unable to return to flight status, he was medically retired from the Air Force. This transition marked the beginning of his move into entrepreneurship and technology.

Career

After leaving military service, Herschy began self-educating in online marketing, digital systems, and business operations. He initially worked with local businesses, focusing on internet marketing, funnel design, and customer acquisition. These early efforts evolved into software platforms, consulting engagements, and training programs.

Reputation Loop

In 2014, Herschy co-founded Reputation Loop, a reputation management and marketing software platform designed for local businesses and marketing agencies. The platform gained traction within the local marketing industry and was acquired in January 2019 by private equity firm Alpine SG.

Social Rotation

From 2020 to 2024, Herschy served as co-founder of Social Rotation, a software platform providing pre-built social media content and scheduling tools for agencies and businesses. The company was acquired by a private buyer in 2024.

Response Engine

Herschy later founded Response Engine, an automation platform that integrates direct mail campaigns with SMS marketing using personalized QR code technology. The system is built around a patent-pending process developed by Herschy to connect offline and digital marketing workflows in a compliant and automated manner.

Reviewly.ai

In 2022, Herschy founded Reviewly.ai, a software platform focused on helping small businesses and marketing agencies generate and manage Google reviews. The platform combines SMS-based review requests with physical tools such as NFC plates, QR cards, and smart stickers.

Reviewly.ai allows businesses to request reviews via text message, generate suggested review drafts, and receive real-time notifications when reviews are published. The platform also offers white-label solutions for agencies managing multiple client locations. As founder and CEO, Herschy oversees product development, systems architecture, and strategic partnerships.

Consulting and leadership

Beyond his software companies, Herschy has developed training programs and operational frameworks used within the marketing and SaaS industries. His work focuses on revenue operations, automation, and agency delivery systems, distributed through courses, workshops, and online learning platforms.

He also serves as an investor and advisor to SaaS founders and enterprise teams through Jeff Herschy LLC.

Personal life

Jeff Herschy resides in San Diego, California. He is married and has two children and two stepchildren. His interests include golf, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and video gaming with his family. He has also participated in charitable initiatives in the United States and previously in Cabo San Lucas.

Gallery

Jeff Herschy
Jeff Herschy
Jeff Herschy
Jeff Herschy