The Network State is a project founded by Balaji Srinivasan to develop startup societies, defined as digital communities with a dominant online presence that crowdfund territory to gain diplomatic recognition as sovereign entities. It provides a theoretical framework and practical roadmap outlined in Srinivasan's 2022 book of the same name. The organization targets digitally-native groups seeking alternatives to existing nation-states, such as tech communities or ideological collectives. Startup societies start as cloud countries under host nation protection before transitioning to physical territory. The project has gained attention through the book's sales, podcast episodes, and conference talks. Srinivasan previously served as CTO of Coinbase and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. It emphasizes crypto-enabled funding and governance via network unions. Activities span global online coordination with examples drawn from historical and contemporary movements.