Strategic Discussion with Josh Anderson (Bowser) - May 20, 2025

Overview

This conversation between Gary Sheng and Josh Anderson (nicknamed "Bowser") explored potential collaboration opportunities across several domains: government contracts for Alpha Schools, new campus development, and longer-term visions around community/city development. Josh expressed interest in leveraging his extensive network to support Alpha's initiatives while seeking a more strategic role beyond just deal facilitation.

Key Topics

Government Contracts & First Step Act

Josh indicated connections that could potentially help Alpha Schools secure government contracts, particularly related to the First Step Act. Gary expressed interest in creating a commission structure that would benefit all parties involved:

Gary: "I want to get massively paid on whatever government contract we bring to Alpha Schools, and I want you to be paid. I want Sam to be paid. I want Ron to be paid."

Gary: "...if we don't collectively bring this in for Alpha Schools, they just don't get that revenue. Right? They don't get that opportunity."

Josh mentioned his connections to political figures through associates:

Josh: "We do have the congressmen. So Jim just wants to button up the pitch before that introduction is paid."

New School Development Opportunities

Gary suggested Josh could take a more entrepreneurial role in developing a new Alpha School campus:

Gary: "We need trusted doers that can help put together the business for a Pasadena, Althadena school. And then get massive upside on it."

Gary: "We're talking about the same thing because we do not have our shit together in terms of building the other campuses outside of Austin. Right? Have not even documented every SOP that's needed to do the scaling."

Gary: "The biggest bottleneck is full stack entrepreneur that can just figure things out... it's such a stakeholder game. Right? Like, every aspect of it is so important to get right. The parents... local marketing team, local everything..."

Josh expressed interest in the Orange County market:

Josh: "I was actually going to talk with him about your stuff and bring a school to Orange County."

Josh's Background & Network

Josh shared his background and potential value to Alpha:

Josh: "I was what, almost fifteen years probably. It was very high level traffic growth various substances. So I'm very intertwined within those communities... We've helped supply, you know, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Gary, Jacksonville, Atlanta, various parts of New York, etcetera."

Josh: "A lot of them are in music. Other things... So a lot of what you guys are building at the moment are kind of the same network and relationships that I've cultivated over the last ten, twenty years."

Josh: "This has kind of been the first time I've actually looked at something and been like, everything that I've been building for indirectly kind of directly influences what you guys are trying to achieve."

Josh: "I would be on a phone call after this one with a buddy of mine that's worth 9 figures. And I'm actually gonna be talking with him. He lives in Newport."

Longer-Term Vision: New Cities & Development

Gary shared a broader vision that could align with Josh's interests:

Gary: "My stuff is literally just the future of civilization... what I wanna do is quite literally start new cities. And, like, have equity in new cities. Like, what does the new Austin look like? What does the new New York look like?"

Gary: "The next step that we do with our collective networks is literally get a stake in what eventually becomes trillion dollar organizations... The fast track to us being a billionaire is to just alchemize our networks into new city developments."

Gary: "I wanna create Trump world. In outside of Austin and outside of Gigafactory."

Personal Motivations & Strategic Alignment

Josh expressed his current situation and motivations:

Josh: "I'm also kinda fucking bored and want something to do."

Josh: "I'd rather come in more on the structural and strategic side of it to be part of the actual team instead of just be bringing deals up."

Gary acknowledged their complementary strengths:

Gary: "You to me are just such a... I think it's because I'm just maybe projecting because I see a lot of similarity in how we operate and can operate. We can just put the right people in the right room."

Educational Philosophy

Both shared perspectives on current educational approaches:

Josh: "Even getting my daughter into preschool was a nightmare... there's always space for new schools, especially those that actually kind of advance civilization since the majority of schooling efforts now are just completely fucking retarded and make absolutely no sense."

Next Steps

The conversation concluded with specific action items:

1. Josh to circle back with Sam about the government contract opportunity
2. Josh to connect Gary with his friend Matt
3. Gary open to involving his "super genius mentor" Lael when appropriate
4. Josh to speak with his Newport contact about Alpha Schools
5. Josh mentioned a meeting with Jessica in LA the following day

Potential Value Creation

The conversation identified several potential value streams:

1. Government contracts through political connections
2. New Alpha School campuses in California (Pasadena/Altadena and Orange County)
3. High-profile parent network connections
4. Longer-term community development projects
5. Potential commission structures on successful deals

Key Relationships Referenced

• Sam: Working with Josh on potential government contracts
• Ron: Part of Alpha leadership team, mentioned regarding commission structure
• Jim: Political connection who wants to "button up the pitch"
• Jessica: Has congressional connections, meeting with Josh in LA
• Matt: Josh's contact who he planned to connect with Gary
• Lael: Gary's "super genius mentor"
• Unnamed Newport friend: Worth "9 figures" who Josh planned to discuss Alpha Schools with
• Joe/Joe Liemandt: Referred to as "the billionaire Joe" who wants to start "really high quality schools"
• Mackenzie Price: Described as Alpha's "quote, unquote, visionary founder," who has "met with 50 billionaires over the past two years"