Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its physical developer community network with plans to open permanent Builder Lofts in Hyderabad, Berlin and São Paulo, creating dedicated spaces for developers, students, startups and technology professionals to learn, collaborate and host community events.
The move builds on AWS’s earlier Pop-up Lofts, which provided temporary physical spaces for developers and startup entrepreneurs to attend technical sessions, meetings and collaborative activities. AWS later introduced Gen AI Lofts as generative AI gained momentum, offering immersive experiences and collaborative environments for startups and developers. AWS said the new Builder Lofts are intended to provide a permanent base for local technology communities, with free workshops, networking events, pitch nights, content creation facilities, collaboration and co-working areas, and spaces for community-led events.
The first AWS Builder Loft opened in San Francisco in July 2025. Since then, more than 22,500 developers have visited the space, which has hosted hackathons, workshops, demo nights and other community-led events. The company said AWS experts will continue to be available at the new locations, while the spaces will also be opened to AWS User Groups, AWS Student Builder Groups and independent developer communities. Community leaders will be able to request the spaces for meetups without a venue fee.
Hyderabad to focus on AI and cloud-native development
The Hyderabad Builder Loft is expected to provide Indian developers with a dedicated environment for technical learning and collaboration, with programmes focused on artificial intelligence, cloud-native architecture and application development. Hyderabad has emerged as a major technology and engineering hub, with a large developer and startup community. AWS said the new facility will allow developers to upskill, experiment with technologies and connect with peers working on new applications. The location is part of a broader expansion across three cities that AWS described as important developer and innovation hubs in their respective regions.
Berlin to focus on sovereignty and security
In Berlin, AWS plans to connect the Builder Loft with its wider European developer initiatives. Programming is expected to include sessions on digital sovereignty, hackathons, security-readiness workshops and community meetups. The company said the Berlin space will also connect Germany’s startup and developer ecosystem with the wider European and global technology community.
São Paulo to serve Latin American developers
São Paulo will host the third new Builder Loft. AWS said Brazil’s cloud market is growing at 30% annually, with São Paulo positioned at the centre of the country’s technology ecosystem. The space will offer free programmes in partnership with local developer communities, universities and startup networks, providing a base for technical events and collaboration across the region.
The San Francisco Builder Loft currently hosts between four and eight community events each week. These range from generative AI technical sessions and coding workshops to startup pitch events and developer networking programmes. AWS said the spaces are designed to accommodate different types of activities throughout the day. A training room, for example, can be used for a workshop with more than 50 students in the morning before being converted into a venue for a startup demonstration or community event later in the day.
The company is positioning the Builder Loft model as a community-led initiative rather than an AWS-only programming space. Local developers, meetup organisers and technology leaders will have a role in shaping events and activities, while AWS provides the physical infrastructure, facilities and technical support. With the planned expansion to Hyderabad, Berlin and São Paulo, AWS is looking to take the permanent community-space model beyond San Francisco and establish local venues where developers can learn, build and collaborate on a regular basis.
