- City rolls out first municipal policy in Zhejiang targeting “solo companies” powered by artificial intelligence
- Plan aims to incubate 10,000 AI-driven micro firms by 2028 as local governments compete to attract next-generation founders
Wenzhou is betting that the next wave of tech entrepreneurship won’t come from large startups but from individuals armed with artificial intelligence.
The eastern Chinese city on March 19 unveiled a sweeping policy package designed to turn the city into a national center for so-called “One Person Companies,” or OPCs.
These are small, AI-enabled businesses typically founded and operated by a single entrepreneur with the aid of AI agents like OpenClaw.
The initiative reflects a growing belief among Chinese policymakers that AI tools can dramatically lower the barriers to starting and scaling companies.
Under the plan, Wenzhou aims to attract more than 20,000 “super-individual” entrepreneurs and incubate over 10,000 OPCs by 2028, positioning itself at the forefront of a new model of AI-era self-employment and micro-enterprise formation.
The concept of OPCs, essentially solo founders running lean, AI-augmented companies, has gained traction in China as generative AI automates coding, marketing, design and customer service tasks that once require full teams.
Officials see the model as a way to stimulate innovation and employment without relying solely on large corporate investment cycles.
To accelerate adoption, Wenzhou will open up the local manufacturing space to OPC founders, allowing them to compete for small digital transformation contracts from larger companies through a “challenge-based” system.
The city plans to act as a matchmaking platform linking AI entrepreneurs with established industrial firms seeking automation and efficiency upgrades.
Building a talent pipeline
The policy also introduces an unusually flexible talent recognition framework.
Qualified OPC founders and core members can receive official talent status, granting access to housing subsidies, rental support and priority school placement for children — benefits traditionally reserved for high-level researchers or corporate executives.
Authorities also said they will provide one-stop digital services covering company registration, startup mentoring, computing resources and legal assistance.
Other benefits include free basic legal services during a company’s first year, alongside fast-track intellectual property protection and online infringement handling.
Financial backing will come through a dedicated pool within so-called government-initiated guidance funds, as well as tailored bank loans, insurance support and interest subsidies.
Besides, a new investment matchmaking platform will connect OPC founders with venture capital firms.
Wenzhou’s move comes amid intensifying competition among cities in Zhejiang province — including Hangzhou and Ningbo — to attract AI entrepreneurs with packages spanning workspace, computing power, financing and talent incentives.
Together, these initiatives signal how local governments are adapting industrial policy to an era where AI could enable individuals, rather than large teams, to build scalable businesses.
