Sid Haldar

Sid Haldar is the founder of AI + Frnds and one of Shaurya Bahl's closest collaborators. He is a builder, creator, and the person who shaped how Shaurya thinks about content, community, and building in public.

AI + Frnds

Sid founded AI + Frnds as a global community event series making AI and app-building accessible to beginners. The first AI + Frnds event in Dubai was held at GEMS Modern Academy. The events are sponsored by Emergent (emergent.sh), a Y Combinator-backed AI development platform with 3M+ users.

Shaurya joined as a core organiser and co-host, and together they built AI + Frnds into something with real reach — events, YouTube content, and an online community.

What He Means to Shaurya

Sid is the first person Shaurya collaborated with who genuinely shares the "AI makes everyone a builder" belief. When they started working together on AI + Frnds content, it was not a formal partnership — just two people who believe the same thing, making stuff.

He is older than Shaurya and far more experienced with content and communities, but he never talks down. He just says things like "You the goat" after they ship something and moves on to the next idea.

"Dw about it bro, At least you did it, Now it's on to the next thing you're working on!" — that is Sid's energy in one line.

Working with Sid taught Shaurya that content IS the community. You can host events all day, but if you are not creating things people can find and share, the community stays small. Sid pushed the thinking toward YouTube, shortform, and reaching people who will never come to a physical event.

Collaboration

Together they co-produce the AI + Frnds YouTube channel. Content like "I showed my school friends how to build their first app with AI" captures the whole thesis. They have done:

• Livestream events on Luma and YouTube
• Pre-recorded sessions — one ran over an hour
• Shortform content with scripts and thumbnails designed by Manav Chawla

The Lab

In early 2026, Sid and Shaurya co-organised The Lab — a community event bridging AI + Frnds with the Emergent platform. It had its own WhatsApp group, Luma page, and brought together builders interested in AI-powered creation.

See also: AI + Frnds | AI+Frnds Events | Community Building | Emergent