Meet Jeremy Cope of Emma Technologies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Cope.

Jeremy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story begins as a graduate from Lehigh University with a degree in Computer Engineering. I secured my first job working with military communication equipment on the outskirts of D.C. As luck would have it, that same company would send me out to California for 9 months to work with its sister company on In-Flight Entertainment. After 4 years of ‘corporate life’, I quit my job, moved back home with Mom and Dad, and started my own company, Emma Technologies.

Emma Technologies began with the mission statement: Simple is Better. I believe to truly compete in the technology markets, you need to deliver both a hardware and software solution. Emma Technologies started with software by building iPhone apps, while overtime developing and prototyping innovative hardware products.

To date we have delivered over a dozen apps into the Apple App Store ranging from an arcade-style shooter with Facebook friends (FBall) to a location-based message board app (Bulleton). Our other popular apps include GoWatch, a stopwatch data logger used in classrooms, and Open Source, a launch pad for developers to display their work that is itself a completely open source app.

With a background in software and hardware, we were able to build a prototype smart caller-id that blocked robo-calls and delivered push notifications to your smart phone. After a failed attempt securing funding via Kickstarter, we were unable to reach production and sell into stores, thus halting development on the Heyo.

Emma Technologies has been part of some really exciting projects, and while we have not grown up to be the next Apple or Tesla, we are thrilled to be part of the Technological Revolution.

Last year were able to design and install a front facing monitor for a friend of ours that suffers through ALS. The effort required modifying open source text prediction software and mounting a display to his automated wheelchair. The result allowed everyone to communicate with Steve Saling while looking him straight on, rather than reading along his screen over his shoulder.

We also had the opportunity to design a custom flight computer that was launched into space via a high altitude weather balloon. After reaching over 100k ft., the balloon popped tumbling down to the earth, but with a parachute and a GPS beacon, we were able to recapture the payload retrieving data and video footage of the entire flight.

My company has also been involved with social marketing for a local barbershop. Through the partnership, we started a buzz off charity event that after two years has raised over $15k towards the Joe Andruzzi Foundation that helps families impacted by cancer.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout the 4 years I have gone through what I call the ups-and-downs of entrepreneurship. The volatility of highs and lows of which at one moment you can have a product launch with a world of opportunity in front of you, to the next when your computer crashes and you can’t remember the last time you backed-up.

There have been plenty of opportunities for career changes throughout this journey, of which none have come to fruition. In 2015, I interviewed at Google as well as other prestigious companies in the Cambridge area, all of which decided to pass on my employment. More recently, I applied to several graduate school programs across the country in an attempt to obtain a Ph.D. in Physics. Once again, all schools declined my acceptance.

It was around that time that through a reference, I was able to secure my biggest client to date, which has helped sustain and grow my business We are now focused on building a custom app solution for a major coffee distributor in the region, helping them track service orders and manage inventory.

Throughout this journey, perseverance has been key; I believe success requires 3 things: hard work, determination, and good luck. I have been hammering away at the first 2 for the better part of 4 years, and while I have been able to recapture my initial investment, as well as collect capital in equipment, I believe the best of luck is still to come.

Please tell us about Emma Technologies.
While the revenue from downloads and in-app purchases have not met expectations, this past spring we just cross over 21k downloads over all apps combined- a milestone worth celebrating as growth continues.

Much more than IT, we focus on delivering technical solutions to small businesses in the South Shore area. From custom electronic design, to mobile applications and website development, every business integrates with some sort of technology. My goal is to simplify that for small businesses and allow them to focus on their true business goals.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory takes place as a senior in High School after finding out I had been accepted into Lehigh University as early decision. It dawned on me I would have a lot of time on my hands and as part of a dare, decided to join my High School’s Diving Team.

With little experience in swimming, let alone diving off a 1 meter springboard, I approached the opportunity with optimism. Sure, there were plenty of belly flops and painful splashes, but that thrill of reaching towards the sky and then entering the water without a ripple, was a reward worth the practice and patience.

Truth be told, the experiences, friends, and memories of that winter shaped who I am today. To this day, if I see a diving board, I will do a backflip off of it. It was a powerful lesson to not be afraid to try something new.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emmtech.us
• Phone: 3393642072
• Email: contact@emmatech.us
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaTechnologies/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaTechLLC

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.