- New rules target “one person companies” using AI to run end-to-end operations
- Measures aim to lower entry barriers and formalize a fast-growing micro-entrepreneur model
Hangzhou has introduced a policy framework to support a new class of AI-enabled solo businesses, as local governments seek to adapt regulation to emerging forms of entrepreneurship.
The city’s market regulator recently released a set of measures designed to support so-called one person companies, or OPC.
This term refers to businesses run by individuals or very small teams employing AI tools to manage everything from product development to marketing and delivery.
The document marks the first dedicated policy of its kind issued by a municipal regulator in Zhejiang Province, reflecting growing official interest in the model as AI tools reduce the need for large teams.
“The rollout of these measures is a concrete step in responding to the city’s goal of becoming a national leader in AI innovation and advancing the ‘AI plus’ strategy,” a spokesperson for the Hangzhou Market Supervision Administration was quoted as saying in Chinese media reports, without being named.
The policy outlines 12 measures spanning areas such as market entry, compliance guidance, rights protection, credit support and regulatory oversight, targeting challenges faced by early-stage founders such as limited capital, workspace constraints and operational capacity.
To lower barriers to entry, the city will expand fully online business registration services, allowing entrepreneurs to complete incorporation procedures without physical paperwork or fees.
Applicants can use digital platforms to access automated form-filling, electronic signatures and business licenses, with approvals potentially completed within half a day, authorities said.
‘Desk registration’
Hangzhou is also piloting a “desk registration” system under an expanded “one address, multiple licenses” framework.
Under this framework, entrepreneurs operating within designated startup hubs can register a company using proof of a workstation provided by the facility operator, bypassing traditional requirements such as lease agreements or property certificates.
The approach formalizes a shift toward asset-light, digitally driven businesses, where founders rely on AI tools to scale operations without traditional organizational structures.
Similar initiatives have been introduced in other Zhejiang cities, including Taizhou and Wenzhou, as regional authorities experiment with policies to support AI-assisted solo entrepreneurs.
