#26: Rick Elmore, Founder & CEO | Simply Noted

On this episode of In the Thick of It, Scott interviews Rick Elmore, Founder & CEO of Simply Noted, an automated handwritten notes company. Rick shares his unique journey that shaped his unrelenting drive and competitiveness, from losing his father at a young age to becoming a college football standout. Though he played in the NFL, Rick quickly realized it wasn’t his lifelong passion. He tapped into his curiosity about business and sales during corporate roles before taking the ultimate risk to start Simply Noted. Rick candidly details the realities of bootstrapping a tech company for over five years without investors while teaching himself software development, supply chain logistics and more.Tune in to hear Rick’s outlook on building company culture, avoiding growth traps, and focusing on relationships over quick wins. He leaves founders with advice on knowing priorities, smart risks, and bringing teams along. Rick proves with tenacity and a willingness to learn, unconventional entrepreneurial paths can thrive.About Rick:Rick Elmore is an entrepreneur, sales and marketing expert, and a former college and professional football athlete. As the founder of Simply Noted, Rick has developed the world's first AI writing robot technology with 6 patents pending. This technology uses real pen and ink to scale handwritten communication.About Simply Noted:Simply Noted stands as the premier global technology leader in the handwritten notes industry. Our API-first platform revolutionizes the way genuine handwritten notes are created and distributed, offering a seamless integration for businesses. Entirely customer-funded, we collaborate with hundreds of leading startups and Fortune 5000 companies, empowering them to automate and scale their handwritten outreach efforts effectively.To learn more, visit simplynoted.com.