Malaysia orders closure of Network School startup community
Sunday, 2 August 2026, 20:40
Based on data from Techcrunch
The Malaysian government has ordered the closure of the startup-oriented Network School community, according to a reliable source.
Network School positions itself as “a leading community for techno-optimists.”
According to the source, the program is part of a seven-step plan to build a new society outlined in Balaji Srinivasan’s book “The Network State.”
The program is housed in an abandoned hotel in Malaysia; sources described it as “part tech incubator, part self-improvement retreat.”
Reaction and Next Steps
start a new country.
– Balaji Srinivasan
Participants also noted mold problems in the buildings, as well as a lack of female staff and an active nightlife.
After questions, Balaji Srinivasan, who, according to reports, declined U.S. citizenship in 2023, posted a lengthy post on X, where he stated that he is a “proud Singaporean” and accused the media of trying to portray him as a “weirdo” in comparison with an early supporter.
that would make him look like a weirdo, in comparison with an early supporter.
– Balaji Srinivasan
Nevertheless, the campus in Malaysia was slated to close due to licensing issues; at the same time Balaji Srinivasan announced a new deal for a campus in Kazakhstan.
The event underscores the difficulties that initiatives of this kind face when dealing with regulators and across different jurisdictions.
