features
Alexa in action
landing page

Inspiration

This project came from watching two everyday problems happen right in front of us:

First, money slipping away on forgotten subscriptions. Almost everyone we know has signed up for a free trial or a service like streaming apps, software tools, or fitness memberships and completely forgotten about it. The next thing you know, an unexpected charge hits your card. Finding out where your money is going usually means digging through bank statements, scrolling through emails, and hunting down cancellation buttons hidden behind confusing app menus. It’s a frustrating chore that wastes time and money.

Second, our parents and grandparents getting targeted by digital scams. Phishing texts, fake banking alerts, and deceptive emails are getting scarily good. It’s tough for non-tech-savvy family members to tell what’s real and what’s a trap. When a suspicious message pops up, they often don't know who to ask, leaving them vulnerable to financial fraud.

We realized that most homes already have a smart speaker sitting on the counter. So we asked ourselves: What if Alexa could handle both of these problems naturally through simple conversation?

What if you could just ask Alexa what subscriptions you're paying for, get warned before a trial renews, and cancel unused services instantly with your voice? And what if your parents could ask Alexa to check a suspicious text out loud, getting an instant scam check and calm, clear steps on what to do next?

That is why we built SubTrack & ElderGuard MCP Server, giving families an effortless, voice-driven way to save money and stay safe.

What it does

SubTrack & ElderGuard MCP Server turns smart speakers into an active financial manager and security guardian through voice commands:

SubTrack (Subscription Control): Automatically scans active subscriptions, breaks down monthly recurring spend by category, flags upcoming billing dates, and alerts you before free trials expire. You can ask Alexa to pause or cancel unwanted subscriptions right away without opening an app.

ElderGuard (Proactive Scam Shield): Evaluates suspicious SMS texts, emails, or bank alerts out loud. It analyzes scam risk in the background and speaks back clear, plain-language guidance to help non-tech-savvy family members avoid financial fraud.

Streamable HTTP Terminal: Provides a live visual dashboard where developers can inspect real-time Model Context Protocol (MCP) JSON-RPC payloads as tools are executed.

How we built it

We built the system to connect conversational voice queries directly to our backend server using the Model Context Protocol (MCP):

Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server: Developed in TypeScript and Node.js using @modelcontextprotocol/sdk. We set up a Streamable HTTP Transport endpoint (POST /mcp) so Alexa+ can execute backend tools in real time.

Custom Voice Tools:

get_active_subscriptions: Scans user accounts, organizes monthly recurring spend, and flags upcoming billing dates and expiring trials.

cancel_subscription_alert: Lets users pause or cancel unwanted subscriptions right away through natural voice commands.

analyze_suspicious_message: Reads suspicious messages, evaluates scam risk using AWS Bedrock, and speaks back clear, plain-language safety instructions.

AWS Bedrock: Runs threat analysis in the background to detect phishing patterns, urgency tactics, and fraudulent links.

Lumio-Inspired Web Dashboard: Created a clean visual dashboard with a deep ocean teal layout, clear financial summary cards, category spending breakdowns, and a live terminal to view incoming MCP payloads during testing.

Challenges we ran into

Getting the HTTP Transport Right: Building a reliable, spec-compliant Streamable HTTP endpoint (POST /mcp) using Express required careful handling of JSON-RPC payload streaming so responses returned smoothly to the voice agent.

Making Voice Responses Natural: Translating financial alerts and security warnings into spoken conversation was a huge focus. Especially for elderly users, voice alerts need to sound reassuring, direct, and completely free of confusing tech jargon.

Designing a Clean, High-Contrast UI: Combining financial tracking and threat defense into a single dashboard meant focusing heavily on visual clarity. Adopting the Lumio design language helped us keep the interface clean, accessible, and easy to read at a glance.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully implementing a spec-compliant Streamable HTTP MCP Server in Node.js that executes tool calls over POST /mcp.

Creating a voice workflow that empowers older adults to protect themselves from scams independently, without feeling overwhelmed by complex smartphone menus.

Building a high-fidelity, Lumio-inspired dashboard that gives users complete visibility over both their recurring finances and incoming security threats in one place.

What we learned

Voice Assistant Potential: MCP changes how voice assistants work. Instead of rigid, hardcoded commands, standardizing tool calls lets voice assistants handle complex real-world tasks dynamically.

Designing for Real Accessibility: True accessibility means removing hurdles. Removing the need to open apps, remember passwords, or navigate menus makes digital tools far more useful for older family members.

Proactive Smart Homes: Smart speakers don't just have to play music or report the weather they can actively safeguard a family's finances and digital safety in the background.

What's next for SubTrack & ElderGuard MCP Server

Direct One-Touch Cancellations: Expanding banking integrations so users can cancel paid subscriptions across more services with zero friction.

Family Caregiver Alerts: Sending a quick notification to a trusted relative whenever ElderGuard flags a high-risk scam targeting a senior family member.

Proactive Voice Reminders: Having Alexa automatically speak up 48 hours before any free trial converts into a paid charge, so you never pay for a forgotten service again.