New technical projects
If you're building a product, platform, or internal system that goes beyond standard web development: AI, SaaS, IoT, infrastructure, provisioning, remote access, or production-grade software.
IT Entrepreneur · Founder of merkaio · Managing Director of WZ-IT
Complex infrastructure, cloud, or AI challenges? I get them running in production.
I am Timo Wevelsiep - IT entrepreneur, founder of merkaio, and Managing Director of WZ-IT. Across 100+ B2B projects for international clients, I have built software, cloud infrastructure, local AI and RAG systems, IoT platforms, and managed operations - systems that run in production, not just as demos.
Stuck in exactly this kind of challenge and need someone who gets it running? Then let's talk.
No obligation · Directly with me · German or English
100+
B2B projects
12+
Industries
AI, Software, Cloud, IoT & Ops
Focus
AI Software Oversight
Local AI & RAG
Cloud & Infrastructure
IoT & Edge
Managed Operations
Technology not as a demo. Technology as a production system.
I work at the intersection of software development, infrastructure, AI, and operations. I'm interested in systems that carry real processes: AI-built software, local AI infrastructure, RAG and knowledge systems, platforms, dashboards, remote-access solutions, IoT/edge infrastructure, cloud environments, and open-source stacks.
For me, AI is not just a chatbot or an API call. What matters is whether an AI system is actually usable, secure, integrable, and operable inside a company: with data access, permissions, knowledge sources, monitoring, cost control, infrastructure, and clear ownership.
My work is hands-on: I build, review, operate, and structure systems so they stay maintainable, secure, and traceable over the long term.
Companies, products, and projects
My work spans several brands, with one common focus: bringing software, infrastructure, and operations under control.
Software · Cloud · Local AI · Operations
WZ-IT
Software, cloud infrastructure, local AI, and open-source platforms for companies that want more control over systems, data, and operations: sovereign infrastructure, managed operations, AI infrastructure, private LLM stacks, RAG/knowledge bases, cloud exits, and custom platforms.
View WZ-ITIoT · Edge · my company
merkaio
My own company for production-ready IoT infrastructure and IoT platforms: LoRaWAN, ChirpStack, ThingsBoard, MQTT, Node-RED, Grafana, edge devices, gateway management, and operations.
View merkaioAI Software Oversight
Veriploy
Ongoing technical oversight for AI-built software: repo reviews, CVE & dependency monitoring, Supabase RLS & tenant isolation, auth/roles, secrets, launch readiness, and production hardening, for teams that build faster with AI.
View VeriployBuilding in Public
Content & Channels
On LinkedIn, TikTok, and my own pages I share insights on AI software, technical risks, infrastructure, IoT, entrepreneurship, and building my projects.
Connect on LinkedInWhat I'm open to
I'm interested in projects and people building technical systems with real ambition: AI products, SaaS, infrastructure, IoT, edge, open source, cloud, security, operations, and new business models around software.
Partnerships with companies & agencies
For agencies, product teams, or IT service providers that want to add technical depth, infrastructure expertise, or ongoing technical oversight in client projects.
AI Software Oversight
For teams building faster with AI who need a technical point of contact to regularly assess code, security, infrastructure, CVEs, auth, data access, and launch risks.
Local AI, RAG & knowledge systems
For companies building internal knowledge bases, RAG systems, private LLM stacks, local AI infrastructure, or AI assistants with controlled data flows, without unnecessarily handing sensitive information to external platforms.
Infrastructure & Operations
For companies that want to professionally build or operate cloud, open source, local AI infrastructure, Proxmox, monitoring, backups, or sovereign operating models.
IoT, Edge & Field Systems
For projects with devices, gateways, sensors, HMI, remote access, React Native field apps, NFC/BLE provisioning, or distributed sites.
Exchange & Network
I'm happy to connect with founders, technical decision-makers, agencies, investors, creators, and people working on AI, infrastructure, software, and production systems.
Technical topics I work on
I combine AI oversight, local AI, software development, infrastructure, IoT, security, and operations. Not as a loose tool list, but as the foundation for resilient systems.
AI Software Oversight
repo reviews · AI code review · security hardening · CVE monitoring · dependency monitoring · auth/roles · tenant isolation · Supabase RLS · secrets · launch readiness · production hardening
Local AI, RAG & Knowledge Systems
local LLMs · private LLM stacks · RAG · knowledge bases · document pipelines · embeddings · vector search · pgvector · Qdrant · Ollama · vLLM · Open WebUI · LlamaIndex · LangChain · data residency · permission models
Software Engineering
TypeScript · React · Next.js · Node.js · Python · FastAPI · Go · Java/Spring Boot · APIs · backend services · data models · multi-tenant
Infrastructure & Cloud
Hetzner · Proxmox · Docker · Kubernetes · Rancher · AWS · Azure · GCP · IONOS · OVH · Terraform · Ansible · GPU servers · AI infrastructure
IoT, Edge & Remote Access
LoRaWAN · ChirpStack · MQTT · Node-RED · ThingsBoard · WireGuard · NetBird · OPNsense · HMI · remote access · edge devices
Operations & Security
Grafana · Prometheus · Loki · backups · disaster recovery · CI/CD · monitoring · alerting · SSO · OAuth/OIDC · Authentik · Keycloak · zero trust · audit logs · CVE processes
Open Source & Sovereign Infrastructure
self-hosted SaaS · Nextcloud · Mattermost · GitLab · Odoo · ERPNext · European providers · GDPR-oriented infrastructure · vendor lock-in reduction
Selected projects from my entrepreneurial practice
A few projects that show what I work on: software, AI, local AI infrastructure, IoT, remote access, cloud, and operations in real environments.
nextGYM GmbH · Germany
Multi-location management and deployment automation for unmanned gyms
Context
nextGYM operates unmanned gyms with local site infrastructure, IoT components, and recurring deployment processes.
Problem
New sites had to be technically prepared, configured, and integrated into existing processes. The manual effort was high and hard to scale.
Solution
Development of a central platform to manage and provision local site infrastructure. New gyms can be prepared automatically, including IoT integration, templates, VPN, SSO, and operational management.
Result
New site provisioning reduced from several hours to a few minutes. Central management of distributed gyms with IoT and edge integration.
Cloud-InitNode-REDIoTVPNSSOEdge DevicesProvisioningOperations
ABCO Water Ltd. · Australia
Remote-access and HMI platform for distributed water treatment systems
Context
ABCO Water works with distributed technical plants where secure remote access, plant overview, and controlled customer access are important.
Problem
HMI/PLC-adjacent systems and remote sites had to be made securely reachable without uncontrolled network access or manual access workarounds.
Solution
Platform for secure management and remote access to distributed technical plants. With plant management, HMI/PLC-adjacent access, remote sites, role-based access, and secure network architecture.
Result
Central, controlled access to technical infrastructure across distributed sites with secure customer access and an operationally usable platform structure.
HMIPLC-adjacentRemote AccessWireGuardIoTAudit LogsIndustrial SoftwareRemote Sites
EVA Real Estate LLC · United Arab Emirates
Cloud migration to sovereign European infrastructure
Context
EVA Real Estate used an existing cloud infrastructure with high ongoing costs.
Problem
The existing AWS infrastructure caused high monthly costs and did not provide the desired level of data control.
Solution
Migration from AWS to European infrastructure with significant cost reduction, better data control, and a cloud architecture designed for long-term operations.
Result
81 percent cost reduction from USD 1,300 to USD 250 per month, full data sovereignty, and ROI after 4 months.
HetznerProxmoxMigrationGDPRCost OptimizationManaged Infrastructure
Local AI infrastructure · Project context (anonymized)
Local AI infrastructure & private LLM stacks for companies with sensitive data
Context
Companies want to use LLMs, RAG, and internal AI assistants without sending sensitive data to external cloud platforms in an uncontrolled way.
Problem
Standard AI tools are quick to adopt but often unclear on data flows, access, operations, cost, model control, and data residency.
Solution
Building local or sovereignly operated AI infrastructure with GPU systems, private LLM stacks, RAG pipelines, knowledge bases, access concepts, monitoring, and operations.
Result
A controllable AI environment for internal knowledge work, document-based research, assistant systems, and productive use of LLMs with more control over data and infrastructure.
Local AIPrivate LLMRAGKnowledge BaseGPU InfrastructureData SovereigntyOpen SourceManaged Operations
I come from practice, not consulting slides.
I am Timo Wevelsiep. I build and operate software and infrastructure systems for companies where technology must not only work, but remain viable over the long term.
My work started with cloud, server, and software projects for international clients. From there, several entrepreneurial focuses emerged: merkaio as my own company for IoT infrastructure and production systems, WZ-IT for software, cloud infrastructure, local AI, RAG/knowledge systems, and operations, and Veriploy as a brand for the technical oversight of AI-built software.
What ties these together: I'm interested in systems that carry real responsibility, for customer data, knowledge data, sites, infrastructure, operations, security, monitoring, and decisions before launch or scaling.
Technically deep
Hands-on in AI, software, cloud, infrastructure, IoT, and operations.
Production-oriented
Architecture, deployment, monitoring, and maintainability are considered from the beginning.
Open Source & Sovereignty
Where sensible: open standards, European infrastructure, and less vendor lock-in.
Insights
All postsAI & Automation
Vibe Coding in Production: AI-Generated Code, EU Sovereignty, and the Stack That Actually Holds
Vibe coding with Cursor, Claude Code, v0 or Bolt ships MVPs in hours - but 50% of AI-generated code has security flaws. The practical pillar guide: review, patches, CI/CD, and the EU-sovereign stack reframe.
Strategy
What is a Fractional CTO? Responsibilities, costs, and when it pays off
A Fractional CTO is an external Chief Technology Officer on a part-time basis. Responsibilities, costs, comparison to Interim CTO, and when the model is actually worth it.
Let's talk.
Whether it's AI-built software, technical oversight, local AI, a RAG/knowledge base, cloud infrastructure, an IoT/edge project, a partnership, content, a podcast, exchange, or a new product idea: just write me with a short note on the context. Not every message has to be a project right away.
15 minutes · free · no obligation