SINGAPORE: Indian-origin entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan has taken startup culture to a whole new level—literally. He has transformed a private island near Singapore into a self-styled paradise for tech founders, digital nomads, and fitness enthusiasts. The island is now home to The Network School, a unique community that blends education, innovation, and wellness.
Srinivasan, former Coinbase CTO and venture capitalist, launched The Network School as an immersive learning hub where residents can participate in quarterly and yearly programmes. These include accommodation, nutritious meals, gym access, and thought-provoking talks from global tech leaders. The aim is to create a nurturing environment that supports self-improvement, collaboration, and startup incubation.
One of the island’s residents, Instagram user Nick Peterson, shared his experience, calling it a live experiment in building a new kind of nation. During his stay, he took courses on AI, future tech trends, and joined fitness sessions—all while enjoying island life and networking with like-minded innovators.
The first three-month cohort of The Network School drew over 4,000 applications from more than 80 countries, with just 128 selected to participate. These residents worked across sectors like artificial intelligence, robotics, and genomics. Guest speakers included Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Flexport’s Ryan Petersen, and Bryan Johnson, founder of Don’t Die and Blueprint.
Building on the success of this pilot batch, The Network School has now launched a year-long programme for 256 participants. Srinivasan describes the initiative as a place for “dark talent” and changemakers eager to create a “win-and-help-win society.” He is looking for a mix of remote workers, online creators, personal trainers, and tech visionaries who are ready to live, learn, earn cryptocurrency, and stay fit together.
Long-term plans include expanding Network Schools to key global cities such as Dubai, Tokyo, and Miami. Applications are currently open via the project’s official website.
Balaji Srinivasan previously co-founded Counsyl and held leadership roles at Coinbase and Andreessen Horowitz. With The Network School, he’s redefining the future of education and work—starting from an island, with big global ambitions.
(This article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Brew News and The Free Press Journal)
