AWS previously operated temporary Pop-up Lofts in various cities to support early-stage builders learning cloud technologies. When generative AI emerged, the company launched Gen AI Lofts as pop-up collaborative environments for startups and developers worldwide. Recognizing demand for dedicated community infrastructure, AWS shifted to establishing permanent Builder Lofts—spaces designed to serve as ongoing hubs for hands-on learning, networking, and technical collaboration.

The inaugural AWS Builder Loft opened in San Francisco in July 2025 and has already hosted more than 22,500 developers. The venue has run hackathons, workshops, demo nights, and community-led events that bring together the local technology ecosystem. Today, AWS announced plans to establish new permanent Builder Lofts in Berlin, Hyderabad, and São Paulo, each offering free workshops, networking events, pitch nights, content creation areas, and co-working spaces for developers, students, and technology professionals.

Beyond AWS staff presence, the Builder Lofts aim to become gathering places for established local communities, including AWS User Groups, AWS Student Builder Groups, and independent developer organizations. Community leaders can request to book the spaces at no charge to host their own meetups and events.

Why these three cities

Each location represents a strategically important developer hub and innovation center within its region.

  • Berlin: Following the launch of AWS European Sovereign Cloud, the company is strengthening ties with Europe's developer base. The Berlin location will feature educational programming on digital sovereignty, hackathons, security-readiness training, and community meetups that link Germany's emerging startup sector with the wider European and international technology community.
  • Hyderabad: Indian developers will gain access to dedicated facilities for upskilling in artificial intelligence, studying cloud-native design patterns, and networking with peers developing next-generation applications.
  • São Paulo: Brazil's cloud sector is expanding at 30% annually, with São Paulo serving as the epicenter of Latin America's technology growth. The Builder Loft will function as a regional gathering point, delivering free programming developed alongside local communities, educational institutions, and startup networks.

A typical week at the Builder Loft

The San Francisco Builder Loft hosts between four and eight community-organized events each week, ranging from technical explorations of generative AI to startup pitch competitions, student coding workshops, and regional developer networking sessions.

The physical design prioritizes adaptability. A training room accommodates more than 50 students during a Tuesday morning session, then converts into a presentation stage by evening where a startup demonstrates its latest product to potential partners. Weekend programming features meetups organized by community groups.

The success of this model stems from community-driven programming. Local developers, meetup coordinators, and technology leaders determine what gets scheduled. AWS supplies the physical space, technical resources, and organizational backing, while the participating builders generate the momentum and engagement. Developers can discover upcoming events or submit requests to host their own gatherings at the San Francisco Builder Loft.

What's next

AWS will announce the opening dates for the three new Builder Lofts through future blog posts. Additional details and updates are available on the AWS Builder Loft page.