Jack Ma's Lakeside University is a group organization led and funded by Jack Ma and participated by well-known domestic entrepreneurs. It is a paradise for famous entrepreneurs. It is not a full-time university in the traditional sense. These entrepreneurs exchange and learn from each other's successful experience in starting a business there. They can also reach some intentions for cooperation on future development there. It is said that Lakeside University was stopped by the state not long after it was opened.

Lakeside University was renamed Zhejiang Lakeside Entrepreneurship Research and Study Center.

Why did it change its name? The organization responded that Lakeside has been a private non-unit registered with the civil affairs department since its inception. It does not belong to the academic education sequence. In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is now renamed "Zhejiang Lakeside Entrepreneurship Research and Study Center", abbreviated as "Lakeside Entrepreneurship Research Center".

Lakeside University was jointly initiated and founded by nine entrepreneurs and famous scholars including Jack Ma, Liu Chuanzhi, Feng Lun, Guo Guangchang, Shi Yuzhu, Shen Guojun, Qian Yingyi, Cai Hongbin, and Shao Xiaofeng. The dean of academic affairs is Zeng Ming of Alibaba, the school is based in Hangzhou, and Jack Ma is the president.