Hey there, fabulous fashionistas! Let’s dive into a trend that’s turning heads and stealing hearts in the world of chic style. We’re talking about Handwrytten notes, darlings! In a digital age where everything is a click away, these little gems of personalization are making a super cool comeback.
Now, picture this: you’ve just snagged the most gorgeous lingerie set from your fave brand. But hold on, there’s a delightful twist! Along with your lacey treasures, you find a handwritten love letter. Yes, you heard that right! It’s like getting a secret admirer note inside your sultriest wardrobe piece.
Here’s the kicker: the note was written by a robot!
Everyone’s talking about the hot topic of AI robotics! So, join us, my fellow fashion aficionados, as we explore this captivating trend and chat with David Wachs, the genius behind Handwrytten, a cutting-edge robotic handwriting company that’s adding an extra sprinkle of glamour to the world of fashion and beauty. Get ready to unravel the magic of AI-powered handwritten notes, darlings! 💄💌✨
David Wachs, the visionary behind Handwrytten, regaled us with the fascinating journey from childhood dreams to robotic handwriting marvels.
“I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. At an early age, around 5, I would go door to door selling whatever my mom could get her hands on at Price Club (aka Costco). If I didn’t have anything to sell, I would put the first aid kit in my wagon and go door to door asking if there were any emergencies going on. When seeing a 5-year-old at the door, most would kindly say no, so I’d say, ‘OK, I’ll try back later.’ On top of that, I grew up to be a huge computer nerd. I would program and tinker. It was a natural fit to build robots,” David shared, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a childhood dream turned reality.
But where did the magic of Handwrytten truly begin?
“We started with off-the-shelf autopens,” he revealed. “We quickly outgrew these, and we hired an engineering firm to develop the first version of our robot, which is mostly from scratch. There is an off-the-shelf drawing arm, but the controls to operate it and the robust paper feed are the main engineering concerns. Additionally, the drawing arm can draw, but it can’t write. We program them to write, in addition to the paper handling. Now, we have shifted to QA as well. The robots use computer vision to ensure they’re writing on the right card and wrote the right thing. This is all custom software.”
The road from concept to creation wasn’t without its bumps, though.
“Well, when we decided to build our own robot, we hired an engineer that worked for Jet Propulsion Labs,” David chuckled. “I figured if he could land a rocket on a comet, drill into it, grab a core sample, and come back to earth, then he would be able to handle this. When he gave me the prototype back, it was a mess of an erector set that stunk of marijuana. I found another company to do the job.”
David’s early years hinted at his inventor’s spirit.
“Yes, when I was a kid, I used to play with nerdy electronics kits,” he reflected. “I had my older brother’s room bugged using an electronics kit I built. In high school, I started my first LLC, Macrologic Solutions. We built and sold computers before there was a Dell.”
When it comes to launching a successful business, David emphasized that it’s a blend of passion and necessity.
He asserted. “You must be passionate about what you do. It is a long, hard road to build a business, often taking many years to get to profitability. So, you must love it. But you also have to fill a need. So, it’s a balancing act.”
David Wachs sums up his life philosophy succinctly, “Always get in over your head.”
And how did David launch Handwrytten? “I sold my last company and used the funds to start this. I believe I have invested about $300k in addition to my free labor,” David revealed, underlining the dedication it takes to give life to an innovative business like Handwrytten.
Finally, when it comes to sending heartfelt notes, David’s invention has a solution for that as well.
“We now tie into ChatGPT/OpenAI to help people craft the notes. You can go to Handwrytten.com, use our AI assist feature and say, ‘write a nice thank you to Grandma for the lovely savings bond,’ and it will craft the note for you,” he explained. It’s a merger of traditional warmth and cutting-edge technology.
Robotics is amazing, isn’t it? However, don’t you still need real life employees to mail the cards – for now!
“Yes, we are proud to have nearly 50 well-paying jobs. These people wouldn’t have jobs at Handwrytten if it were not for the robots. We have real people print the cards, operate the robots, QA the cards, seal and stamp and bring the cards to the post office.”
And lastly, who has the job of making sure all the robot pens have ink?
David laughed. “We actually have the robots tell us. We track pen “mileage” and after the mileage hits a certain distance the robots stop and send Microsoft Teams (or Slack) messages to let us know.”
Well, you learn something every day!
Handwrytten is more than just a platform for crafting heartfelt thank you notes and birthday cards. It’s a versatile business tool with a broad spectrum of applications. Seamlessly integrating with leading e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, it offers convenience in every aspect of customer engagement. The magic doesn’t stop there! Handwrytten can extend its functionality by connecting to over 1,000 different applications through Zapier and Integromat, making it a hub for all your business needs. Moreover, Handwrytten can sweeten the deal by adding gift cards to your handwritten notes or cards, making each interaction a memorable and valuable experience. Whether it’s sending a Starbucks treat, a Home Depot voucher, an Amazon gift, or dining experiences at renowned restaurants like Chili’s, On the Border, and Maggiano’s, Handwrytten truly transforms ordinary gestures into extraordinary ones. And who doesn’t love a Target or Cheesecake Factory gift card? It’s a touch of personalization and business sophistication that sets you apart.
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