ChatBotHouse
Custom AI chatbot and agent platforms for mid-to-large companies. LLM orchestration, RAG, Azure, multi-chain tool use, function calling and guardrails.
I build and scale software products and help companies make better product, tech and AI decisions.
I'm a serial entrepreneur on paper and a builder at heart. I create software products (currently ChatBotHouse and a portfolio of apps), and I help companies figure out their product, technology and AI decisions. All of it run by a small remote team, which is how I've worked for over a decade.
My main focus is ChatBotHouse: custom AI chatbot and agent platforms for companies that need more than off-the-shelf solutions (LLM orchestration, RAG, Azure, multi-chain tool use, function calling and guardrails). I also run Bits of Wow, a product studio with a portfolio of shipped SaaS and mobile products, several with thousands of active users. And I work with a small number of companies on product, technology and AI leadership, currently including BlueGlass (Team Farner), where I lead technology, AI integration and growth strategy on a part-time basis.
Before all of this, I spent a decade building ColorElephant, a fully remote software company I co-founded and grew from zero to 30+ people spread across the globe and millions in revenue. We delivered products across banking, healthcare and tech, including apps used by millions and mission-critical systems, many of which I architected. Sold in February 2023. Before that, at 18, I co-founded SWITCH Conference, which grew into one of Portugal's largest tech events (Wired: "Top 10 European Tech Conferences"). Spoke on stages across Europe and Asia to audiences of up to 8,000+. Didn't finish university. Built things instead.
Based in Porto, Portugal but frequently found travelling. I keep room for select advisory, consulting and speaking engagements, particularly around AI adoption, product leadership and remote operations.
Ricardo Sousa builds software products and helps companies with product, technology and AI decisions. He co-founded ChatBotHouse (AI chatbot and agent platforms) and Bits of Wow, a product studio with thousands of active users. Previously co-founded, scaled to 30+ people, and sold ColorElephant, a remote software company that delivered products across banking, healthcare and tech. Co-founded SWITCH Conference at 18 (Wired: Top 10 European tech conference).
Co-Founder of ChatBotHouse and Bits of Wow. Advises companies on product, tech and AI. Previously built, scaled, and sold ColorElephant (30+ person remote software company).
What I bring to the table
- Architected products used by millions, including mission-critical systems in banking and healthcare.
- Started, grew and operated companies in Portugal, the UK, Singapore and the US. All the hard lessons that come with it.
- Hired, managed and grew a remote team of 30+ engineers, designers and PMs across countries and time zones (which means I've hired and fired many more).
- Took multiple products from napkin sketch to shipped, used product, both for clients and my own.
- Worked in Berlin's startup scene (Wooga, 6Wunderkinder) and ran community programs for LeWeb. Played EOS Integrator for larger organizations.
- I speak tech and business fluently. That's the gap I tend to fill.
Ventures
Bits of Wow
Product studio. SaaS, mobile, and increasingly AI experiments. Several products with thousands of active users across productivity, learning and other categories.
What I'm Currently Doing
2025–now
Co-Founder & CEO — ChatBotHouse
Building and deploying custom AI chatbot and agentic platforms for mid-to-large companies with real data, clear use cases and/or compliance requirements. LLM orchestration, RAG, Azure, custom multi-chain tool use and guardrails. Running multiple support and internal agents in production for our clients.
2024–now
Co-Founder — Bits of Wow
A product studio where I build, test and ship software products. SaaS, mobile, and increasingly AI experiments. Several products in the portfolio have thousands of active users across productivity, learning and other categories. I use it as a testing ground for product ideas, new architectures and fast go-to-market experiments.
2024–now
Fractional Lead Technology & Growth — BlueGlass Interactive AG
Leading technology strategy and AI integration for BlueGlass (Team Farner), a Swiss digital agency. Responsible for technical architecture on large-scale web projects, internal AI adoption and productivity tooling, and growth experiments (GTM) across service lines. Figuring out what AI actually changes about how agencies work and deliver.
2024–now
Advisor — First Row Travel
Independent travel advisory helping clients book hotels, cruises and complex itineraries, mostly in the luxury segment. A side venture born from a passion for travelling, years of obsessive loyalty program optimization and too many hours on airline route maps.
Past Experience
2012–2023
Co-Founder & CEO — ColorElephant
The big one. Built this from zero with Joana. Started as a few consulting clients, grew into a fully remote software company with 30+ people across multiple countries. We delivered digital products for clients in banking, healthcare and tech. Some of our work was used by millions; some of it was the kind where if it went down, phones would ring. I did everything at various points: architecture, hiring, firing, sales, delivery, firefighting, and the occasional existential crisis about what we were doing. 10+ years, a lot of mistakes, a lot of learning. Sold in February 2023.
2009–2013
Co-Founder — SWITCH Conference
Co-founded this in high school. It grew into one of Portugal's main tech and entrepreneurship events (Wired: top 10 European tech conferences, 2012). Hundreds of attendees, international speakers, two-day format. I was 18 when we did the first edition and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Had an extraordinary team of volunteers who somehow made it all work.
2013–2014
Community & Bloggers Program Manager — LeWeb
Ran the community and bloggers program for one of Europe's largest tech conferences at the time.
2012, Berlin
Brand Evangelist — 6Wunderkinder
Community engagement and brand work for the team behind Wunderlist, back when it was one of the most popular productivity apps around.
2012, Berlin
Community — Wooga
Rethinking Facebook community engagement for one of Europe's bigger social games companies. My introduction to Berlin's startup scene.
2010–2019
Corporate Speaker and Consultant
Spoke at events and companies across Europe and Asia. Topics ranged from customer experience and education to entrepreneurship and personal branding. Audiences from 5 people in a boardroom to 8,000+ at international conferences. My SlideShare decks were seen by 500,000+ people and picked up a few awards. Worked with companies including Evernote, KPMG, Microsoft and BMW in various speaking and consulting capacities.
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