Curious Contraption Systems builds and maintains the operational stack behind small, real-world businesses. Websites, automations, hardware, and AI workflows—designed as one system, not a pile of tools.
You get one monthly plan, one invoice, and one person accountable for keeping it all running.
I’m Ricardo Alves, the sole operator. I handle discovery, design, development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance end-to-end. That means fewer handoffs, clearer decisions, and a system that stays coherent as your needs change.
What we do
Most teams don’t need “more software.” They need fewer moving parts and better connections between the tools they already rely on.
- Web + integrations: Custom sites, client portals, billing, and automations wired into your existing tools.
- Hardware + edge: ESP32 devices, Raspberry Pi deployments, and purpose-built enclosures that live on-site and stay supported.
- AI + ongoing ops: AI agents for scheduling, lead reply, triage, and alerts—plus a human owner who keeps the system safe and improving.
Who we build for
Curious Contraption is a good fit if you run a hands-on operation and you’re tired of duct-tape workflows.
- Local service businesses that need lead capture, scheduling, quoting, and follow-up to actually work.
- Short-term rental hosts who want reliable monitoring, messaging, and on-site automation.
- Homelab operators and makers who want a clean, maintainable bridge between software and hardware.
How we work
- Systems Audit: We map your current stack—site, phones, on-site tools—and find the highest-impact connections.
- Blueprint: We choose a plan that matches your budget and goals: Digital Core, Connected Operations, or AI Orchestrated.
- Deploy: I build and wire the system: website, automations, hardware, and AI workflows.
- Monitor & Evolve: The retainer keeps everything running, secure, and improving.
Why a retainer
Most systems fail after launch—not because they were built wrong, but because nobody owns them. A retainer keeps the work honest and operational.
- Monitoring, updates, and small changes don’t become “a new project”.
- Integrations don’t quietly break and stay broken.
- Your setup can evolve as your business changes.
Start a conversation
If you want a website that actually connects to how you operate—or you need hardware and automation to work together—book a Systems Audit.
Tell me what you’re running today and what keeps breaking. We’ll map the fastest path to a system you can trust.