BEIJING: China’s startup landscape is being reshaped by a fast-growing class of businesses powered not by teams, but by individuals armed with artificial intelligence.
Known as “one-person companies” (OPC), these ventures are emerging as a defining feature of the country’s digital economy, prompting local governments to rethink how entrepreneurship is supported and scaled.
The numbers underscore the shift. As of mid-2025, China had more than 16 million one-person limited liability companies, said a report by the Zhongguancun Talent Association.
In the first half alone, 2.86 million new OPCs were registered, up 47% year-on-year and accounting for nearly a quarter of all new businesses. The surge reflects how artificial intelligence tools – from code generators to content engines – are dramatically lowering the cost of starting and running a company.
Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is positioning itself at the forefront of the trend. The eastern tech hub recently moved to formalise the model, with Shangcheng district unveiling one of the country’s first policy frameworks aimed specifically at OPC development. — China Daily/ANN
