Started in PA - AcousticSheep
Started in PA - AcousticSheep
Every entrepreneur has a story to tell about their business startup journey. Started in PA features conversations with entrepreneurs who share stories on “why” and “how” they got started. You will hear how they are growing, in knowledge, talent and experience. What were their biggest challenges, biggest surprises, lessons learned and what is next?
In this session, we will be chatting with Dr. Wei-Shin Lai, CEO of AcousticSheep.
For more than ten years, AcousticSheep has been selling comfortable headphones designed to be worn while sleeping. The idea for SleepPhones®, like many solutions, started from Dr. Lai’s personal need as a physician to get a better night’s sleep.
In March 2020, in response to COVID-19 mask mandates, Wei-Shin and her team discovered that most masks were designed poorly and did not properly fit those, like she and her husband, who wear glasses or sport beards.
"They quickly realized if they were experiencing this problem, so were others."
They began researching mask designs along with technical safety facts and features. The result was a DIY mask solution that utilizes a downloadable templates. They also developed a coordinated content marketing campaign and distribution strategy to go with the product that turned out to be highly successful.
During Q & A we will unmask ;)
- How Wei-Shin and her team got started
- How they put their strategy in motion
- How the campaign outcomes exceeded their expectations - Hint: The DIY content quickly ranked #1 on Google and delivered!
Please Note: After you register, within a few days you will receive an email invite from Cathy via the Zoom platform with a unique link to participate in the webinar.
Meet the presenter
AcousticSheep LLC was founded in 2007 by Dr. Wei-Shin Lai, a family physician, and her husband Jason Wolfe, a video game developer. Dr. Lai struggled with getting back to sleep after taking patient phone calls in the middle of the night. She needed to listen to some meditative music to help her relax, but headphones were bulky, and ear buds were uncomfortable. Since there were no headphones specifically designed for sleeping on the market, she invented her own and called them SleepPhones. They worked so well for her that she decided she had to offer them to all of her patients taking sleeping pills. Her husband soldered and she sewed the first 500 pieces themselves on their kitchen table. Initial feedback was phenomenal. One woman was able to come off of sleeping pills after taking them for 10 years. Another saved her marriage because she could finally sleep in the same bed as her snoring husband. Dr. Lai and her husband decided to patent their invention and start a real business. They completely sold out in their first year. For the first six years, Jason and Wei-Shin ran their business out of their house. After selling 100,000 pieces they decided to take their business to the next level, hiring their first full-time
employee and setting up their warehouse in Erie, PA. Since leaving their day jobs in 2013, Jason and Wei-Shin have won numerous awards as Entrepreneur of the Year in PA (SBA), Entrepreneur of the Year in Western PA & WV (Ernst & Young), and Small Business of the Year with the Consumer Technology Association. They have won 8 Consumer Electronics Association Innovation Awards for their products, 2 Pennsylvania ImPAct Awards (Entrepreneur and Exports), and a Red Dot Design Award. Locally, they have won the Disrupt Erie Award, Ben Franklin Award, and the Commitment to Erie Award.
We encourage those with disabilities to participate in our programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please phone our Erie office at 814-898-6547 in advance of your participation or visit.
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