Astana, Kazakhstan2024
Network School
A frontier community for techno-optimists who want to build themselves up while also building a start-up society that bootstraps other start-up societies. Based in Astana, Kazakhstan, NS offers membership with optional society-as-a-service plans for housing, meals, fitness, and other services.
Network School (NS) relocated from Malaysia to Astana, Kazakhstan. It reopened on September 2, 2026. Learn more at ns.com.
What is Network School?
Balaji Srinivasan, the founder, frames it as a frontier community for techno-optimists.
What kind of people attend Network School?
Its members include remote workers, digital nomads, online creators, personal trainers, self-improvers, event organizers, and engineers of all stripes.
History
Network School v1 was announced in August 2024, pitching itself as a pioneer 3-month cohort to empower dark talent, and replace declining traditional universities with a cheaper, digital-first alternative. Inspired by Balaji's experiences teaching at Stanford, the original pop-up village ran from September to December 2024 in Forest City, Malaysia, following the Network State Conference.
After proving demand, by March 2025 it evolved into Network School v2, a year-round residency program with double the capacity, hosting ongoing cohorts, hundreds of speakers, high-profile events, and expanding facilities.
In parallel, the core team started building a permanent Network School campus around the same place, with the goal that it becomes the template for "franchising" and the launchpad for exogenous communities to emerge.
At its peak the community counted 400+ members from 70+ nationalities, having drawn over 4,000 applications from more than 80 countries for the 128 spots in that first v1 cohort. The Forest City campus closed in July 2026, and Network School reopened in Kazakhstan on Sep 2.
Network School v1
128 slots | 100 days
Network School v2
256 slots | 365 days
Network School Campus
1024 slots | Permanent
Location
Network School ran from Forest City, Malaysia, in the Singapore-Johor Special Economic Zone, from 2024 until mid-2026. The campus included private rooms, gym, coworking spaces, and auditoriums.
Astana, Kazakhstan is now the main hub. The campus is at Astana Hub, in the Alem.ai building. Network School operates in partnership with the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As per Network School's roadmap, future nodes will arise throughout the world, forming a decentralized yet unified community.
Duration
The first iteration (v1) of Network School lasted only 90 days, while (v2) ran for a full year, from March 2025 to March 2026, on rotating monthly cohorts.
Throughout both iterations, members joined for a minimum of 1 month and extended their stay on a monthly basis.
Pricing
Network School membership costs $500/month. According to the updated information supplied by Network School, optional society-as-a-service plans start at $350/month, in addition to membership. Members can configure housing, healthy food, gym, and cell plans after acceptance.
The society-as-a-service model combines membership with optional living arrangements and services. Confirm the selected plan and its inclusions when applying.
Amenities
Campus amenities and services available through the optional plans include:
- Serviced room.
- 3 nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
- Gym access.
- Fitness classes.
- 24/7 co-working access.
- Content studios.
- High-speed Wi-Fi.
- Workshops, lectures, and events.
The Network School Exam
The Network School Exam offers a pathway to tech recruitment. Applicants first take an online practice exam covering personality, reasoning, mathematics, and computer science. Those who qualify can take a proctored, in-person exam using pen and paper at the campus. Network School says it helps strong performers connect with tech employers.
Reviews
The accounts below include Jason Calacanis’s visit to the former Malaysian campus and member or visitor impressions of the Kazakhstan campus.
" It’s gritty AND pretty. " Jason Calacanis, Entrepreneur and Investor
I just visited Balaji's Network School — it’s gritty AND pretty. Perfect place for founders to camp out and find product market fit with other founders.
" So glad to be at the frontier of technology with @ns " Dheeraj, NS member
Dheeraj describes his experience at Astana Hub, highlighting government support for startups, AI, and robotics.
" Network School and Kazakhstan make a powerful duo. " Andre Froes, NS member
Andre describes the new campus inside the Alem.ai sphere, its place in the Astana Hub ecosystem, nearby universities, and services restarting after the move.
" Always great to be surrounded by ambitious people who are building, learning, and creating. " Nursultan Tleukhanov, NS visitor
Nursultan describes a visit to the campus and its combination of technology, entrepreneurship, education, and community.
How can you enter Network School?
Applications are submitted via the form at ns.com/apply, requiring personal details, background, and motivation.
Batches are selected periodically, and membership cohorts start on the first of the month. No strict prerequisites apply, but priority goes to longer stays of techno-optimists with relevant skills in engineering, creation, or organization.
After acceptance, applicants can arrange membership and select optional services through Network School.
Network School says applicants using a member referral receive one week of free membership.
FAQs
What is the goal of Network School?
1. Run an experimental short-term cohort. 2. Group a curated batch of pioneers for a 1-year stay. 3. Create the first permanent hub. 4. Create a portable open-source template to recreate anywhere in the world. 5. Fund the best startup societies.
What kind of events can I expect at Network School?
Network School hosts a packed calendar of events, featuring talks, hackathons, and accelerator programs from partners like Solana Superteam, BNB Chain, and Coinbase Base.
What kind of speakers can I expect at Network School?
Hundreds of personalities have spoken at Network School, including Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum's co-founder), Bryan Johnson (Blueprint founder), and Olaf Carlson-Wee (Polychain founder).
Is Network School a network state or a school?
It’s closer to a network state experiment than a traditional school. In practice, it combines a curated learning community and a society-as-a-service lifestyle (housing, meals, gym, coworking, events) that makes it convenient to focus on building.
How long is Network School (and can I stay for only 1 month)?
Network School v2 ran for a full year (March 2025 to March 2026) on rotating monthly cohorts, and people could join for a minimum of 1 month and then extend their stay.
Where is Network School now?
Network School operated from Forest City, Malaysia until July 2026, and has since relocated to Astana, Kazakhstan. It reopened on September 2, 2026, and is based at Astana Hub in the Alem.ai building. Current cohort dates and membership details are available at ns.com.
How much does Network School cost per month?
Membership costs $500/month. Network School reports optional society-as-a-service plans starting at an additional $350/month, with housing, healthy food, gym, and cell plans configured separately after acceptance.
Can I invite a friend for a day trip?
Yes, but they need to check in upon arrival if they intend to use the facilities.
How do referrals work?
According to Network School, only past members can share a referral link. Applicants who use one receive one week of free membership.