Jeff Herschy

Jeffrey Donald Schwerdt (born November 28, 1977), publicly 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, an inventor with a patent pending in direct mail and digital marketing technology, and a long-standing consultant to marketing agencies and growth-stage companies.

Across his professional career, Herschy has launched and operated multiple software platforms, completed a private equity exit, and developed business systems used by thousands of small businesses and agencies.

Early life and education

Jeffrey Donald Schwerdt was born in Livingston, New Jersey, United States, and grew up on the Jersey Shore. He developed early interests in aviation and competitive sports and expressed an ambition to become a jet pilot at a young age. He began structured flight training at 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 taking flying lessons and maintaining employment. His focus on aviation resulted in a full Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship.

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

Military career

After completing flight training, Herschy became a mission-qualified F-16 fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His roles included wingman, flight lead, mission commander, and instructor pilot. He logged nearly 1,000 flight hours in the F-16 aircraft.

His military service concluded in 2007 following a serious lower-back injury that required surgery and extended rehabilitation. He was medically retired from active flight duty, marking a transition from military service to entrepreneurship.

Career

Following his retirement, Herschy studied online marketing, digital infrastructure, and business operations. With no formal business background, he began working with local companies, focusing on internet marketing, funnel design, and customer acquisition. This work later expanded into software development and training platforms.

Reputation Loop

In 2014, Herschy co-founded Reputation Loop, a reputation management and marketing software platform serving local businesses and marketing agencies. The company grew within the local marketing sector and was acquired in January 2019 by private equity firm Alpine SG as part of a broader marketing technology consolidation.

Social Rotation

From 2020 to 2024, Herschy served as co-founder of Social Rotation, a software platform offering prebuilt 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 with SMS marketing using personalized QR code technology. The platform is built around a patent-pending process designed to connect offline and digital marketing in an automated and compliant workflow.

Reviewly.ai

In 2022, Herschy founded Reviewly.ai, a software platform designed to help small businesses and marketing agencies generate and respond to Google reviews more efficiently. The system combines SMS-based review workflows with physical review tools, including NFC plates, QR cards, and smart stickers.

Reviewly.ai enables businesses to invite customers to leave reviews via text message, generate suggested review drafts, and receive real-time alerts 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

In addition to his software ventures, Herschy has developed training programs and operational frameworks used across the SaaS and marketing industries. His work focuses on revenue operations, automation, and scalable delivery systems. He operates as an investor and advisor through Jeff Herschy LLC.

Personal life

Herschy lives 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 participated in charitable initiatives in the United States and previously in Cabo San Lucas.