Eversound co-founders Jake Reisch (left) and Matt Reiners (right) with L.J. Berube (center), customer excitement manager at Party Headphones. Photo: Christine Carignan
Jake Reisch and Matt Reiners, co-founders of Eversound in Manchester, received the 2016 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year award for New England from the US Small Business Administration (SBA). Their company helps older adults hear clearly during movies, presentations and meetings with a proprietary wireless listening system specifically tuned to the needs of seniors.
In 2013, Reisch and Reiners founded Party Headphones while Reisch was a student at Cornell University in New York. The company, which has since moved to Manchester, provides wireless headphone systems for “silent disco” parties, where music is played only to the headphones. Party Headphones now works with some of the world’s largest event production companies, serving tens of thousands of listeners in 45 states.
“It is impressive to see young entrepreneurs leap into businesses ownership with no fear and adapt technologies for previously undeveloped markets,” says Greta Johansson, district director of the Concord office of the SBA. “Serving both younger and older clientele, they are well positioned to build and expand upon their early success. The SBA is pleased to have been able to help them access capital in their early days of operation.”
Reisch and Reiners will receive the award at a ceremony on May 3 at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford. On the award, Reisch points to the evolving mission of the company as a driving force behind his efforts and those of his team.
“I’m thrilled to accept this award on behalf of the incredible teams at Eversound and Party Headphones,” says Reisch. “Our aim has always been to improve the way people experience sound together, so it is exciting to be expanding in a direction where we can help such a broad, growing demographic. We now serve tens of thousands of people who range from 16 to 96 years-old.”
Reiners adds, “I love getting to witness the enthusiastic reception to our product. Whether it’s a 1,000-person silent disco party at a large university or a 10-person audience at a senior living community, the excitement of our users always makes all the hard work seem worthwhile.”