build your first app with AI together (+ free credits)
- Date
- 2026-06-05
- Location
- Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
- Host
- ai + frnds
About this event
You do not need to be an engineer, a prompt expert, or someone who already has a polished startup idea to start building with AI. This meetup is designed to help you go from curiosity to a real first app, in a room full of people doing the same thing, with practical support, shared momentum, and free credits to help you get started. What Is This? This is an in-person, hands-on meetup in Santiago for people who want to build their first AI-powered app alongside others. The focus is not on passively listening to abstract theory. It is on showing up with interest, learning the core building blocks, and making concrete progress before you leave. The event brings together people interested in AI, autonomy, community, and networking around a simple idea: building is easier when you do it together. Whether you are exploring a side project, testing a product idea, or trying to understand what AI tools can actually do in practice, this session gives you a place to start. Expect a collaborative format rather than a formal conference setup. The goal is to make the first step feel accessible, useful, and motivating, especially if you have been meaning to build something but have not yet found the right push. What to Expect The session will center on helping attendees move from idea to execution. You can expect a mix of guided context, practical building time, and conversation with other people who are experimenting in the same space. Likely activities include: A clear introduction to the event flow and what you can realistically build as a first AI app Guidance on how to think about simple AI app ideas, workflows, and use cases Time to start building, testing, or sketching your app with support from the room Opportunities to ask questions, compare approaches, and learn from what others are making Informal networking with people interested in AI products, tools, and autonomous systems This is the kind of event where progress matters more than perfection. You do not need to arrive with a fully defined concept. You can come with a rough idea, a problem you want to solve, or even just a strong interest in learning by doing. The free credits are there to reduce friction and make experimentation easier. Instead of getting stuck on setup costs or hesitating to try something, you will have more room to explore, test, and actually build. Why Attend If you have been consuming AI content but have not yet crossed the line into building, this event gives you a practical reason to start. It shortens the gap between "I should try this" and "I made something." That shift matters, because once you build even a small first version, the technology becomes much easier to understand and use with confidence. You will also benefit from being in the room with other builders, operators, creatives, and curious newcomers. Community changes the energy of early experimentation. You can borrow ideas, get unstuck faster, hear how others are approaching similar problems, and leave with a stronger sense of what is possible. This meetup is especially valuable if you want: A low-barrier way to begin building with AI Real momentum instead of more passive learning Exposure to practical use cases and early product thinking New connections with people interested in AI and autonomy A friendly environment where questions and experimentation are welcome For many attendees, the biggest takeaway will not be a perfect finished app. It will be clarity. Clarity on what kind of tool you want to build, which next steps make sense, and how to keep going after the event. Practical Details The event takes place in person in Santiago, Chile on Friday, June 5 at 5:00 PM GMT-4. Being in person matters here: this format makes it easier to collaborate, ask quick questions, meet other attendees naturally, and stay focused long enough to make tangible progress. This is a meetup-style environment, so expect a more social and interactive atmosphere than a traditional lecture. You should come ready to participate, talk with others, and spend some time actively working through ideas rather than just observing. A few helpful ways to prepare: Bring a laptop if you want to build during the session Come with a simple problem, idea, or use case you care about, if you have one Be ready to introduce yourself and what you are interested in exploring Leave space for both building and conversation; both are part of the value If you are looking for a concrete starting point in AI, a room full of motivated people, and a format that helps you actually make something, this meetup is built for exactly that.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want to stop circling AI from a distance and start making something real. - You are curious about AI and want a practical first step, not another high-level talk. - You have an idea for a small tool, workflow, or app and want the structure and momentum to begin building it. - You are a founder, operator, student, designer, developer, or independent creator exploring how AI could fit into your work. - You learn best by doing, asking questions, and seeing how other people approach the same problem. - You want to meet others in Santiago who are experimenting with AI, autonomy, and new products in a collaborative setting. - You have little or no experience building AI apps yet, but you are motivated to try and want an accessible environment to get started. You do not need to arrive as an expert. If you are excited to experiment, open to collaborating, and ready to leave with more clarity and momentum than you came in with, you will fit right in.