Richmond AWS User Group

Unlike the previous session (a tutorial), the goal of this workshop session is to help participants build a simple, working AI agent using OpenClaw, deployed and running on AWS.
Instead of trying to cover everything, we’ll focus on one concrete use case: turning raw notes into structured knowledge that can be stored, queried, and reused in the cloud. The intent is that people leave with something real, running in an environment they can extend, not just an understanding of concepts.
For this first workshop, we’ll keep the scope tight. Participants will start from a prebuilt AWS-backed workflow that takes messy input, processes it, and outputs structured content. This avoids complex architecture decisions while still exposing the core building blocks of a cloud-based agent.
We are intentionally prioritizing a fast, working system over completeness.

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### Expectations

This is not an installation session. Participants are expected to arrive ready to build in AWS.
Before the event, participants must:

• Install OpenClaw locally
• Have an active AWS account with billing enabled
• Configure AWS credentials locally (CLI or environment)
• Load ~$15 into an Anthropic account for API usage
• Clone the starter repo (provided before the event)
• Run the starter workflow successfully at least once

Anyone who hasn’t completed setup can still attend, but they should expect to observe rather than receive live troubleshooting.
To reduce friction, this first session will be optimized for Mac users. Not a philosophical stance, just a survival tactic.

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### What We’ll Build

A simple knowledge agent that:

• Accepts unstructured input (notes, text, etc.)
• Processes and structures that data
• Stores or interacts with it via AWS-backed components
• Produces reusable, queryable output

Participants will leave with a working foundation they can extend into more complex systems.

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### Session Structure (3 hours)

• 10 min — Meet & greet
• 20 min — Framing: what we’re building and why it matters on AWS
• 90 min — Guided build and iteration
• 60 min — Extensions and more advanced use cases on AWS

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### Format

• Short intro to align on the architecture and goal
• Quick baseline run to confirm everything works
• Extended hands-on build time
• Facilitator support focused on unblocking, not lecturing
• End-of-session show-and-tell

We’ll support this with:

• A short setup video
• A clean starter repo
• A lightweight troubleshooting guide

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### Pricing

• $15 ticket
• ~$15 in Anthropic API usage (paid by participant)
• AWS usage expected to stay within free tier or minimal cost

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### Success Criteria

Participants should leave with:

• A working OpenClaw agent running with AWS integration
• At least one real cloud-backed workflow
• A clear understanding of how the pieces fit together
• Enough confidence to keep building independently

If people walk out with something that actually runs in their own AWS account, this becomes repeatable.

Monthly community meetup to talk about all things AWS. Bring your laptop and a willingness to learn and share. Beer & pizza & AWS credits/swag sponsored by AWS & Ippon. Parking available on the side of the building and on the street.

Monthly community meetup to talk about all things AWS. Bring your laptop and a willingness to learn and share. Beer & pizza & AWS credits/swag sponsored by AWS & Ippon. Parking available on the side of the building and on the street.

Monthly community meetup to talk about all things AWS. Bring your laptop and a willingness to learn and share. Beer & pizza & AWS credits/swag sponsored by AWS & Ippon. Parking available on the side of the building and on the street.