# Upcoming Build First Workshops & AI Power Hours *Join me for one of our upcoming AI Power Hours or public-facing workshops to level up on AI by building something yourself* By [Hard Mode First](https://hardmodefirst.xyz) · 2025-07-24 --- ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/cd08611c0a9f367335181aeb8de46ad3.jpg) I’m excited to announce my first series of public-facing workshops and AI Power Hours through [Build First](https://buildfirst.ai/), my new AI workshop and training business. The [first three events](https://buildfirst.ai/events) include: ### [**AI Power Hour - Build a Side Scrolling Game**](https://buildfirst.ai/events/ai-power-hour) _(virtual)_ **Date:** Aug 7, 3 p.m. ET**Co-Host:** Sara Chipps** Cost:** _Free_ Go from 0 to MVP in just 60 minutes. This AI Power Hour hour features developer evangelist and community leader [Sara Chipps](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarajchipps/), cofounder of Girl Develop It and most recently a senior engineering manager at LinkedIn. Whether you’re inspired by classic arcade games or just want to see what’s possible, Sara will kick us off on a vibe coding adventure to build your own side-scrolling game. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c51c85d786d001b06bc4a92251ab3cce.png) ### [**AI Power Hour - Build a Social Impact Tool**](https://buildfirst.ai/events/ai-power-hour-2) **_(virtual)_** **Date:** Aug 14, 3 p.m. ET**Co-Host:** Julia Gitis**Cost:** _Free _Go from 0 to MVP in just 60 minutes. In this AI Power Hour, [Julia Gitis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliagoolia/), founder of [SF Good Neighbor Walk](https://sfcommunityliving.org/neighbors/) and the [Community News Lab](https://www.communitynewslab.org/) will inspire us to think beyond the commercial into community-first uses for AI. Whether you’re stepping up as a leader in your neighborhood, curious about civic impact, or looking to level up your volunteer game with AI-first enablement, join this Power Hour to build something for your community. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2c052adea5653b2c2c30e7faa10ceaab.png) ### [**Build First Workshop - Build Your Own Internal Tool**](https://buildfirst.ai/events/half-day-intensive) **_(virtual)_** **Date:** Aug 21, 2 - 5 p.m. ET**Cost:** $250 Find and build an AI-enabled use case to build something to dramatically improve your at-work workflows in just 3 hours. In this intensive 3-hour session, you'll go from concept to deployed application, building a custom tool that your team can actually use. In this paid workshop, we’ll go deeper into setting up your builds for success with an introduction session on AI-shaped problems and design thinking with AI. Then you’ll get guided coaching to build your first MVP with a no-code prototype like ChatGPT and ultimately pull your AI workflow into a no-code builder tool (like Replit) to instantly build a front-end interface. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d94b64903c05b2d8a23debbb2a4ee871.png) * * * You can read more about these events and sign up directly here: https://buildfirst.ai/events * * * **Why We Build First** ---------------------- One of the things that I’ve learned about myself over the past several years is that I learn best by doing, and that I reinforce that learning by teaching. This method — [do the thing, then teach others how to do the thing](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/teach-to-learn-why-sharing-what-you-know-makes-you-smarter) — has been the undercurrent to my success throughout nearly a dozen job changes while working fractionally over the past four years. Learning how to use AI in novel and useful ways is the single-greatest upskilling event of our generation. If you’re not used to learning as an adult at a rapidly accelerated pace (let’s be real…who is?) then it can feel impossible to catch on, let alone keep up. [**Being AI-forward is not the same as being AI-fluent**](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/ai-forward-doesnt-mean-ai-fluent)**.** But don’t get discouraged. Learning how to use AI is just like learning how to ride a bike, or learning a new language…you just need a little **practice**. That’s why all of these sessions and workshops start from place of building something first. I think you’ll be surprised to learn what you can do. Hope to see you at one of these sessions or a future workshop! * * * _By the way, if you’re looking for a deeper immersion with a team or corporate setting on some of these_ [_Build First_](https://buildfirst.ai/) _principles and frameworks, drop a line to set up a workshop for your team this fall or learn more at_ [_buildfirst.ai_](https://buildfirst.ai/)_._ ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/28fdebda964d79628d171831eccf6019.jpg) --- *Originally published on [Hard Mode First](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/upcoming-build-first-workshops-and-ai-power-hours)*