In a modern experiment blending education, innovation, and nation-building, Indian-American tech entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan has created a private island retreat aimed at prototyping a new kind of country. This initiative—known as the Network School—welcomes ambitious startup founders and fitness enthusiasts for a three-month, immersive experience in learning, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
Nick Peterson, an Instagram user and participant, recently gave viewers a virtual tour of the island, describing it asa dreamlike “oasis” designed for future builders. The project was launched in September 2024 and is the first real-world implementation of Srinivasan’s “Network State” concept. His vision centers around establishing a decentralized, internet-native society—starting online and eventually occupying physical territory.
Srinivasan, who has previously served as the CTO of Coinbase and a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, is also known for co-founding Counsyl. Educated at Stanford University with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, he draws on a strong technical background and Indian-American heritage. His parents originally migrated from Tamil Nadu to the United States.
The island, located near Singapore, was acquired using cryptocurrency, according to Srinivasan’s Substack post in August 2024. “Through the power of Bitcoin, we now have a beautiful island where we’re building the Network School,” he wrote.
The school’s ethos is built on four pillars: learn, burn, earn, and fun. Students start each day with physical workouts and then dive into sessions covering artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation. The overarching idea is to cultivate a group that shares common values—like decentralization, longevity, and educational advancement—and to test the feasibility of forming a real-world “network state.”
This community-based venture seeks to demonstrate what a 21st-century country could look like: borderless, decentralized, and values-driven. Srinivasan’s ambition is not just academic—it’s to revolutionize governance, empower individuals, and push boundaries between digital ecosystems and physical governance structures.
The Network School may be a school today, but in the eyes of its creator, it’s tomorrow’s sovereign community.
