Manav Chawla
Manav Chawla is the founder of co/Build and one of my closest friends in the Dubai builder scene.
What He Means to Me
Manav built the place where I found my people. Before co/Build, I was just a kid building stuff alone in my room. After co/Build, I had a room full of people doing the same thing. That changes everything.
But beyond co/Build, Manav is genuinely one of the people I trust most. He came to my house in Mudon Rahat in January 2026 and sat with my parents for hours. My dad loved him. My mom loved him. That's rare — most of my friends are "internet friends." Manav showed up.
"Thank you bro; please thank your dad & mom too! That was a pretty insightful conversation" — he texted after.
He's a designer at heart — creative director energy. When I need a logo for AI + Frnds Labs or a thumbnail that doesn't look like it was made by a developer, Manav steps in. He brings taste to the things I build.
co/Build
Manav created co/Build as a weekly gathering for founders and builders in Dubai — now 200+ members strong. Every Friday, people show up, work on their things, and exist in the same space. No pitch decks, no networking theater. Just building.
The community runs under the Nevermind brand (nevermind.ae/cobuild). Manav's vision is anti-corporate: irreverent, real, action-first. It's the creative home base for a huge chunk of Dubai's builder community.
Who He Is
- Designer and creative director — brings visual thinking to everything
- Competitive Pokémon player — yes, seriously
- Print media enthusiast — interested in newspaper/printing partnerships for community projects
- Close friend — one of the few people who knows both my work and my family
See also
- co/Build — the community he founded
- Armaan Khan — another close friend from the co/Build Core
- Community Building — the broader philosophy
- AI + Frnds — events he helps design for