The Malaysian government has ordered the closure of the Network School, a startup-focused community founded by investor Balaji Srinivasan, citing licensing issues.
Key facts
- •The Network School is based on a seven-stage plan for building a new society detailed in Balaji Srinivasan's book, "The Network State."
- •The Malaysian campus is closing due to licensing issues.
- •Attendees reported poor living conditions, including moldy rooms, and a lack of social amenities.
- •Srinivasan renounced his American citizenship in 2023 and now identifies as a Singaporean.
- •A new campus is planned for Kazakhstan.
The Malaysian government has ordered the shutdown of the Network School, a startup-centric community established by entrepreneur and investor Balaji Srinivasan. The program, which operated out of an abandoned hotel in Malaysia, was designed as the first step in a seven-stage plan for building a new society as outlined in Srinivasan's book, "The Network State."
Program Operations and Complaints
Described as part tech incubator and part self-improvement retreat, the Network School billed itself as a frontier community for techno-optimists. Attendees of the program reported issues with the facility, specifically citing moldy rooms and a lack of women and nightlife.
Srinivasan’s Response and Future Plans
Following inquiries from The Wall Street Journal, Srinivasan posted on X, characterizing the reporting as a potential hit piece. Srinivasan, who renounced his American citizenship in 2023, identified himself as a Singaporean. Despite the closure of the Malaysian campus due to licensing issues, Srinivasan has announced a new agreement to establish a campus in Kazakhstan.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TechCrunch.
