Decision
Network School vs Hacker Residency Group
Hacker Residency Group is a 1-month, 10-founder sprint in Da Nang. Network School is an ongoing Malaysia campus. Different commitment levels.
Quick answer
Hacker Residency Group (HRG) is a month-long residency for a small batch of about 10 indie hackers, hosted at a villa in Da Nang, Vietnam, with its next batch running May 1 to 31, 2026. Network School is an ongoing campus in Forest City, Malaysia. One is a tight, short sprint; the other is a longer-running base.
What Hacker Residency Group actually is
HRG runs a single villa on the Son Tra Peninsula near Da Nang, Vietnam, in partnership with the City of Da Nang, hosting roughly 10 ambitious indie hackers per batch for one month at a time. It was co-founded with indie hacking figures Tony Dinh and Minh-Phuc Tran, and covered on Hacker News and IndieHackers as a new format specifically for solo indie hackers, not founders in general.
What Network School actually is
Network School is a residential program near Singapore, at Forest City, Malaysia, founded in 2024 by Balaji Srinivasan, running on a learn-burn-earn-fun model for dark talent, people skilled but overlooked by traditional credentialing systems.
| Hacker Residency Group | Network School | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 month per batch | Ongoing |
| Batch size | ~10 indie hackers | Larger, broader cohort |
| Location | Da Nang, Vietnam (one villa) | Forest City, Malaysia (campus) |
| Who it’s for | Solo indie hackers specifically | Any dark-talent builder, broader remit |
Who should pick Hacker Residency Group
If you’re a solo indie hacker who wants a tight, small-batch, one-month sprint with known community figures like Tony Dinh, and you don’t need a longer-term base, HRG’s format is built exactly for that.
Who should pick Network School
If you want an ongoing base rather than a one-month sprint, and you’re not exclusively an indie hacker but part of the broader dark-talent category (engineers, founders, makers of any kind), Network School fits better.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Hacker Residency Group batch?
One month, with the next batch running May 1 to 31, 2026.
Is Hacker Residency Group only for indie hackers?
Yes, it's specifically built for solo indie hackers, unlike Network School's broader dark-talent remit.
Does Network School have a referral discount?
Yes, through ns.com/thedarktalent/invite: one week free (25% off first month). You have to use the link before you sign up.