One-person companies utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) are gaining popularity across China as entrepreneurs leverage AI tools to manage all stages of business operations—from product development to market launch.
According to the national OPC adoption report for 2026, the number of OPC communities nationwide increased from 95 to 618 in the first half of this year, covering 24 provinces and 75 cities.
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China, is now home to over 2,000 'AI+OPC' enterprises and more than 50 such communities.
Success Stories in OPC Communities
In the Honghub OPC community, located in the Shancheng district of Hangzhou, entrepreneurs work side-by-side at open tables, managing each company independently. Li Yunfan, a participant in this community who previously led a development team, transitioned to solo entrepreneurship. He noted that AI eliminated skill gaps by providing one person with competencies in copywriting, design, and programming.
His main product—an AI-based essay checking application—has attracted over 15,000 users who can photograph assignments and receive instant feedback. Additionally, he develops a study monitoring application. According to Li, AI currently handles about 80% of the coding, allowing him to focus on the roles of strategist, product manager, and chief operating officer.
Since its launch in September 2025, Honghub has overseen more than 50 'AI+' projects in finance, construction, education, and healthcare sectors. Honghub's 2026 report showed that 75% of OPC founders have non-technical backgrounds.
Overcoming Barriers Through Technology
Another founder, Chen Xiaofeng, previously worked as an IT consultant and solutions architect but left his job last year without coding experience. In August of last year, he utilized a developer incentive program under Huawei's HarmonyOS from the Chinese tech giant. Using AI tools, he managed to create a prototype of his first application in just two weeks. After completing a 20-hour HarmonyOS course and extensive interaction with AI, he brought the application to a fully functional state.
Since then, he has developed an AI-based intelligent hub and is testing a multi-agent collaborative management system. Chen emphasized that because AI lowered the marginal cost of writing code, technical proficiency is no longer a prerequisite for starting a business; instead, industry knowledge, understanding user needs, and business acumen are more important.
The 2026 national OPC adoption report characterizes today's OPC founders as young and highly educated, noting that one person can now perform work that previously required a team of five to ten people.
Ecosystem Support in Hangzhou
‘AI+OPC’ communities are emerging throughout Hangzhou, providing entrepreneurs with a favorable environment for growth. At Y Community, a full-cycle AI industrial center in the Xiaoshan district focusing on chips, models, and applications, OPC founder Zhang Xiaobo created a data labeling platform for intelligent driving systems. Zhang noted that his company's rapid growth is largely due to the systematic support from Y Community, which provides ready-made services including free workspaces, shared meeting rooms, and high-speed internet, and where entrepreneurs regularly gather to exchange ideas.
Zhang, recognized through the Xiaoshan district talent program, reported that the monthly rent subsidy provided by this program helped him overcome the most challenging initial stages of company creation. Subsequently, he expanded his team to over 60 people, describing this transition as moving from an OPC to a 'super-team company.'
At the first 'AI+OPC' Innovation and Development Conference in Hangzhou, the city presented support measures for developing 'super-individuals' in the age of AI, covering communities, resources, talent, funding, and services. These measures include accelerated regional spatial planning, improved data flows, and enhanced supply of computing power and models.
Hangzhou also aims to establish over 100 OPC communities by 2028, nurture over 100 OPCs with annual revenues exceeding 10 million yuan (approximately $1.48 million USD) each, and attract more than 30,000 OPC entrepreneurs. In April, the city's market regulation administration introduced 12 measures concerning business registration, intellectual property protection, and credit support for OPC founders.
The city attracts over 350,000 individuals under the age of 35 annually, and its key AI industry generated revenue of 122.9 billion yuan in the first quarter, a 25.2% increase compared to the previous year. Du Xilian, Mayor of Hangzhou, stated that the city strives to become a leading 'AI+OPC' entrepreneurial hub in the country.