

The Network State: The Book That Started It All
Why are we here?
Here, in Ipê City, in this community, living this experiment.
There's a book behind all of this. A blueprint that Balaji wrote in 2022 that planted the seed for Network School, for the popup city movement, for multiple special economic zones. Dozens of experiments happening right now around the world.
If you haven't read it, this session will give you the essential frameworks. If you have read it, we'll go deeper and connect it to what's actually being built.
What We'll Cover
PART 1: The Book
The core concepts that make a network state possible:
→ The 4 evolutionary stages: Startup Society → Network Union → Network Archipelago → Network State → The 7 practical steps to build one → The "One Commandment" — why moral innovation matters more than money → Why missionary communities outlast mercenary ones → Cloud first, land later: the principle we're living right now
PART 2: What's Actually Happening
An eagle's flight over the ecosystem being built as we speak:
→ Special Economic Zones: Próspera and other legal experiments → Popup cities: Ipê City and others: the "testnets" for permanent communities → Network School: Balaji's take on this space → Exclusive preview: Our new project in this space
A Note on Focus
This session focuses entirely on the practical aspects of Network Societies, what's being built, and what you can do with these ideas. Actionable frameworks, avoiding geopolitical discussions (those are covered extensively in Balaji's recent podcasts).
Who Should Come
→ You haven't read the book → You've read it but want to discuss with others → You're thinking about building your own community someday
Format
Presentation + open discussion, one hour sharp
Resources
📕 The book (free): thenetworkstate.com (http://thenetworkstate.com/)
See you there!