Raghav Jhawar, Co-founder of Indian food startup The State Plate, is spending the month of August immersed in a unique entrepreneurial program called Network School in Malaysia. The initiative brings together 200 individuals from over 40 countries, offering a high-intensity, peer-driven learning experience focused on emerging technologies and global startup ecosystems.
I am Super Excited: Raghav Jhawar
“Super excited to share that I will be spending my August in Network School, Malaysia,” Raghav posted recently, signaling a temporary shift from operations at his India-based startup to an international community of entrepreneurs, creators, and digital nomads.
Network School, or NS for short, is well-known for month-long immersive cohorts where people from startup founders to tech builders live, work, and learn together under one roof. The program goes beyond building businesses; it involves wellness, community-building, and organized knowledge-sharing in topics such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics.
“I’m going to lock myself in for 30 days and focus on learning new things, crypto, AI, robotics, things I had never done before,” Jhawar noted, underscoring his intent to expand his technological understanding beyond food commerce.
The State Plate, founded by Raghav in India, has made a name for itself by bringing regional cuisine and food items from all over Indian states and shipping them throughout the country. His action of joining the program is part of a larger movement of Indian startup founders looking to gain global outlook and networks.
The idea to join Network School came via a recommendation from a fellow founder, identified only as Heet in Jhawar’s post. The emphasis, he said, is not just on learning but also on contributing. “Plan is simple: Share whatever I’ve learnt building The State Plate here in India. Learn how others think about startups, markets and sectors. Make friends and have amazing amounts of fun.”
One of the unique aspects of NS is its commitment to physical well-being. With a culture that mandates daily “burn” sessions, structured workout routines, Jhawar expressed enthusiasm about using the opportunity to establish a consistent fitness routine alongside professional growth.
This month-long initiative serves as both a learning sabbatical and a form of intentional networking, a growing approach among young Indian founders looking to scale their worldview and understand how global operators approach innovation.
While many founders head westward for such exposure, Jhawar’s move towards a Southeast Asian learning hub like Network School signals a shift in where global startup communities are emerging. Kuala Lumpur and surrounding regions have increasingly attracted digital nomads and remote-first teams due to their connectivity, cost-efficiency, and vibrant communities.
As Jhawar temporarily steps away from day-to-day operations at The State Plate, the experience is expected to yield not just global insights but also future partnerships and cross-cultural collaborations. For now, Jhawar sums it up simply: “One month long vacation locked. Let’s go.”
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