Hangzhou sees rise of AI-driven one-person companies

The number of AI-powered one-person companies (OPCs) in Hangzhou, China's Zhejiang Province capital, has surged to over 2,000 in the first half of 2026. This rise is part of a nationwide trend where the number of OPC communities has grown from 95 to 618, spanning 24 provinces and 75 cities. Hangzhou now houses more than 50 OPC communities, offering entrepreneurs a supportive ecosystem for growth.

Li Yunfan, an entrepreneur at Honghub, an OPC community in Hangzhou's Shangcheng district, uses AI to handle various aspects of his business—from product design to market launch. His AI-powered essay-grading app has attracted over 15,000 users. He describes AI as bridging the skills gap, allowing him to manage an entire company with just his own expertise.

Since its launch in September 2025, Honghub has incubated more than 50 AI+ projects across sectors like finance, construction, education, and healthcare. Notably, 75% of OPC founders now come from non-technical backgrounds, thanks to AI tools. Zeng Xiaofeng, a former IT consultant, used AI tools to build his first app prototype in just two weeks, leveraging a developer incentive program by Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system.

He has since expanded his team to over 60 employees, evolving from an OPC to a 'Super Team Company' with AI support.

Hangzhou's AI+OPC ecosystem includes dedicated communities like the Y Community, which provides entrepreneurs with services such as free workstations, meeting rooms, and high-speed internet. These communities foster collaboration, idea exchange, and provide resources to help startups thrive. The city's initiatives, including faster regional planning, smoother data flows, and stronger computing power, aim to build more than 100 OPC communities by 2028 and attract over 30,000 OPC entrepreneurs.