diff --git a/khk/lambda/lambda_function.py b/khk/lambda/lambda_function.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..456364d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/khk/lambda/lambda_function.py
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+import json
+import os
+import requests
+import boto3
+import time
+from typing import Dict, Any
+
+
+def get_sqs_client():
+    if __name__ == "__main__":
+        # for local testing, load temporary credentials. see notes.md
+        try:
+            with open('assume_role_output.json', 'r') as f:
+                credentials = json.load(f)['Credentials']
+
+            session = boto3.Session(
+                aws_access_key_id=credentials['AccessKeyId'],
+                aws_secret_access_key=credentials['SecretAccessKey'],
+                aws_session_token=credentials['SessionToken']
+            )
+            return session.client('sqs', region_name='us-west-2')
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            print("Warning: assume_role_output.json not found. Using default credentials.")
+            return boto3.client('sqs')
+    else:
+        # When running in Lambda, use the role attached to the function
+        return boto3.client('sqs')
+
+
+sqs = get_sqs_client()
+DAILY_API_KEY = os.environ.get('DAILY_API_KEY')
+SQS_QUEUE_URL = 'https://sqs.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/955740203061/khk-sqs-launch-day-demos'
+
+
+def create_daily_room() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    if not DAILY_API_KEY:
+        raise ValueError("DAILY_API_KEY environment variable is not set")
+
+    url = "https://api.daily.co/v1/rooms"
+    headers = {
+        "Content-Type": "application/json",
+        "Authorization": f"Bearer {DAILY_API_KEY}"
+    }
+
+    exp = int(time.time()) + 305
+    payload = {
+        "properties": {
+            "exp": exp,
+            "eject_at_room_exp": True
+        }
+    }
+
+    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)
+    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    return response.json()
+
+
+def send_to_sqs(room_info: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    if not SQS_QUEUE_URL:
+        raise ValueError("SQS_QUEUE_URL environment variable is not set")
+
+    if sqs:
+        sqs.send_message(
+            QueueUrl=SQS_QUEUE_URL,
+            MessageBody=json.dumps(room_info)
+        )
+        print(f"Message sent to SQS queue: {SQS_QUEUE_URL}")
+    else:
+        print(f"Simulated sending message to SQS queue: {SQS_QUEUE_URL}")
+        print(f"Message body: {json.dumps(room_info, indent=2)}")
+
+
+def lambda_handler(event: Dict[str, Any], context: Any) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    try:
+        print("Creating Daily room...")
+        daily_room = create_daily_room()
+        print(f"Daily room created: {json.dumps(daily_room, indent=2)}")
+
+        print("Sending room info to SQS...")
+        send_to_sqs(daily_room)
+
+        return {
+            'statusCode': 200,
+            'body': json.dumps({"room_url": daily_room['url']})
+        }
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error occurred: {str(e)}")
+        return {
+            'statusCode': 500,
+            'body': json.dumps(f'Error: {str(e)}')
+        }
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # Simulate the Lambda event and context
+    event = {}
+    context = None
+
+    result = lambda_handler(event, context)
+    print(f"Lambda handler result: {json.dumps(result, indent=2)}")
diff --git a/khk/lambda/requirements.txt b/khk/lambda/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a873d9293
--- /dev/null
+++ b/khk/lambda/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+requests
+boto3
diff --git a/khk/sqs-runner/sqs-runner.py b/khk/sqs-runner/sqs-runner.py
index 152f22529..ecd770dfe 100644
--- a/khk/sqs-runner/sqs-runner.py
+++ b/khk/sqs-runner/sqs-runner.py
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-# - block while running bot
-# - watchdog timer
-# - build docker and deploy to eks
-
 import boto3
 import json
 import subprocess
@@ -26,7 +22,7 @@ QUEUE_URL = 'https://sqs.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/955740203061/khk-sqs-launch-day
 SUBPROCESS_PROGRAM = 'your_subprocess_program.py'
 
 # Timeout in seconds
-TIMEOUT = 620
+TIMEOUT = 320
 
 # ------------ Configuration ------------ #
 
@@ -99,7 +95,7 @@ def delete_message(sqs, receipt_handle):
 #     os.kill(process.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
 #     return False
 
-def start_bot(room_url):
+def run_bot(room_url):
     runner_settings = RunnerSettings()
 
     # Check passed room URL exists, we should assume that it already has a sip set up
@@ -128,20 +124,33 @@ def start_bot(room_url):
         )
         bot_settings_str = bot_settings.model_dump_json(exclude_none=True)
 
-        subprocess.Popen(
+        process = subprocess.Popen(
             [f"python3 -m bot -s '{bot_settings_str}'"],
             shell=True,
             bufsize=1,
             cwd=os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+
+        start_time = time.time()
+        while time.time() - start_time < TIMEOUT:
+            if process.poll() is not None:
+                # process has finished
+                print("BOT EXITED BEFORE TIMEOUT")
+                return
+            time.sleep(1)
+        # process did not exit. need to kill -9 it
+        print("KILLING BOT PROCESS")
+        os.kill(process.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
     except Exception as e:
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=500, detail=f"Failed to start subprocess: {e}")
 
 
 def main():
+    print("sqs-runner.py - started.")
     sqs = setup_sqs()
 
     while True:
+        print("sqs-runner.py - polling")
         message = receive_message(sqs)
         if message:
             delete_message(sqs, message['ReceiptHandle'])
@@ -149,16 +158,7 @@ def main():
             message_body = json.loads(message['Body'])
             print(f"Received message. {message_body}")
 
-            start_bot(message_body['url'])
-
-            # success = run_subprocess(message_body)
-            # if success:
-            #    print("Subprocess completed successfully.")
-            # else:
-            #     print("Subprocess timed out and was terminated.")
-
-        else:
-            print("No messages received. Continuing to poll...")
+            run_bot(message_body['url'])
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":