diff --git a/build_raspOVOS.sh b/build_raspOVOS.sh
index 097c2a53..d92fe469 100644
--- a/build_raspOVOS.sh
+++ b/build_raspOVOS.sh
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ uv pip install --no-progress --pre ovos-phal[extras,linux] ovos-PHAL-plugin-dots
 echo "Installing OVOS Spotify..."
 uv pip install --no-progress --pre ovos-media-plugin-spotify ovos-skill-spotify
 
+echo "Installing HiveMind..."
+# TODO deltachat/matrix bridhes + hivemind help alias
+uv pip install --no-progress --pre hivemind-core
+
 # some skills import from these libs and dont have them as dependencies
 # just until that is fixed...
 echo "Installing deprecated OVOS packages for compat..."
@@ -175,6 +179,7 @@ cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-systemd-audio /usr/libexec/ovos-systemd
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-systemd-listener /usr/libexec/ovos-systemd-listener
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-systemd-phal /usr/libexec/ovos-systemd-phal
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-systemd-gui /usr/libexec/ovos-systemd-gui
+cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-systemd-hivemind /usr/libexec/ovos-systemd-hivemind
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-librespot /usr/libexec/ovos-librespot
 
 mkdir -p /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
@@ -185,6 +190,7 @@ cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-audio.service /home/$USER/.config/syste
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-listener.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-phal.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-gui.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
+cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/hivemind-core.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-ggwave.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
 cp -v /mounted-github-repo/services/ovos-spotify.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/
 
@@ -201,6 +207,7 @@ ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/ovos-audio.service /home/$USER/.config/sy
 ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/ovos-listener.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/ovos-listener.service
 ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/ovos-phal.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/ovos-phal.service
 ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/ovos-gui.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/ovos-gui.service
+ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/hivemind-core.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/hivemind-core.service
 ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/ovos-ggwave.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/ovos-ggwave.service
 ln -s /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/ovos-spotify.service /home/$USER/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/ovos-spotify.service
 
diff --git a/services/hivemind-core.service b/services/hivemind-core.service
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8aac7ed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/hivemind-core.service
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=HiveMind core
+PartOf=ovos.service
+After=ovos.service
+After=ovos-messagebus.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=notify
+Group=ovos
+UMask=002
+ExecStart=%h/.venvs/ovos/bin/python /usr/libexec/ovos-systemd-hivemind
+TimeoutStartSec=10m
+TimeoutStopSec=1m
+Restart=on-failure
+StartLimitInterval=5min
+StartLimitBurst=4
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=ovos.service
+
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-admin-phal b/services/ovos-systemd-admin-phal
index 7ebd2df1..f92ee4b1 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-admin-phal
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-admin-phal
@@ -16,18 +16,32 @@
 ##########################################################################
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_PHAL.admin import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS Admin PHAL service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of admin PHAL service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of Admin PHAL service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the admin PHAL service')
+    LOG.info('Stopping the Admin PHAL service')
 
 
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"OVOS Admin PHAL Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-audio b/services/ovos-systemd-audio
index 14e66f32..abc68822 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-audio
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-audio
@@ -14,20 +14,36 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 ##########################################################################
+import sys
+
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_audio.__main__ import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS Audio service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of OVOS Audio service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of OVOS Audio service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the OVOS Audio service')
+    LOG.info('Stopping the OVOS Audio service')
 
 
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-gui b/services/ovos-systemd-gui
index 1bb8bedf..ce85101a 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-gui
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-gui
@@ -16,18 +16,32 @@
 ##########################################################################
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_gui.__main__ import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS GUI service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of OVOS GUI service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of OVOS GUI service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the OVOS GUI service')
+    LOG.info('Stopping the OVOS GUI service')
 
 
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"OVOS GUI Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-hivemind.py b/services/ovos-systemd-hivemind.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..27e5de92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-hivemind.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import sdnotify
+from hivemind_core.service import HiveMindService
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
+
+n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
+
+
+def on_ready():
+    n.notify('READY=1')
+    LOG.info("hivemind-core service ready!")
+
+
+def on_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("hivemind-core service started!")
+
+
+def on_stopping():
+    n.notify('STOPPING=1')
+    LOG.info("hivemind-core is shutting down...")
+
+
+def main():
+    service = HiveMindService(
+        started_hook=on_started,
+        ready_hook=on_ready,
+        stopping_hook=on_stopping)
+
+    try:
+        service.run()
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"hivemind-core encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-listener b/services/ovos-systemd-listener
index fc0c2b16..26167544 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-listener
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-listener
@@ -2,18 +2,32 @@
 
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_dinkum_listener.__main__ import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS Listener service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of Mycroft Voice service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of OVOS Listener service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the Mycroft Voice service')
-
-
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    LOG.info('Stopping the OVOS Listener service')
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"OVOS Listener Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-messagebus b/services/ovos-systemd-messagebus
index fce55853..fa7d970c 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-messagebus
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-messagebus
@@ -16,18 +16,32 @@
 ##########################################################################
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_messagebus.__main__ import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS Messagebus service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of OVOS Messagebus service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of OVOS Messagebus service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the OVOS Messagebus service')
+    LOG.info('Stopping the OVOS Messagebus service')
 
 
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"OVOS Messagebus Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-phal b/services/ovos-systemd-phal
index fb29d280..8d7805f6 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-phal
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-phal
@@ -16,18 +16,32 @@
 ##########################################################################
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_PHAL.__main__ import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS PHAL service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of OVOS PHAL service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of OVOS PHAL service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the OVOS PHAL service')
+    LOG.info('Stopping the OVOS PHAL service')
 
 
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"OVOS PHAL Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)
diff --git a/services/ovos-systemd-skills b/services/ovos-systemd-skills
index 73199790..aecf9ab3 100644
--- a/services/ovos-systemd-skills
+++ b/services/ovos-systemd-skills
@@ -16,18 +16,32 @@
 ##########################################################################
 import sdnotify
 from ovos_core.__main__ import main
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 n = sdnotify.SystemdNotifier()
 
 
+def notify_started():
+    n.notify('STARTED=1')
+    LOG.info("OVOS Skills service started!")
+
+
 def notify_ready():
     n.notify('READY=1')
-    print('Startup of OVOS Skills service complete')
+    LOG.info('Startup of OVOS Skills service complete')
 
 
 def notify_stopping():
     n.notify('STOPPING=1')
-    print('Stopping the OVOS Skills service')
+    LOG.info('Stopping the OVOS Skills service')
 
 
-main(ready_hook=notify_ready, stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main(started_hook=notify_started,
+             ready_hook=notify_ready,
+             stopping_hook=notify_stopping)
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.error(f"OVOS Skills Service encountered an error: {e}")
+        n.notify(f'ERRNO=1')
+        exit(1)