"One Person Company" (OPC), a new model of entrepreneurship, is burgeoning in Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC), driven by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The model is challenging traditional startup norms that rely heavily on significant assets and large teams, reshaping innovation and employment landscapes.

The OPC model involves founders who either start alone or with a small core team, using AI to develop products swiftly, connect with markets, and secure funding. This approach diverges from conventional business models by emphasizing agility and efficiency.

Modal spaces created by OVC for startups

A notable example is Lei Zhenpeng, who launched his OPC during his university years at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Post-graduation, he ventured into cross-industry entrepreneurship, leading a small team with an average age of just 20. In eight months, they developed "Simen", an intelligent office assistant dubbed "the work universe for young people", securing nearly 40 million yuan ($5.7 million) in investment from top-tier institutions.

"This is not about a 'one-person limited liability company' in the legal sense," explains Hu Kaiwei from OVC's AI+ Office. "It's a globally emerging entrepreneurial model where individuals, supported by large models and cloud services, can validate ideas and capture markets at minimal cost."

With minimal teams and space, OPCs are creating immense value. Chen Qiushuang, a researcher at the Yangtze River Financial Think Tank, describes this as the "Square Meter Effect": a single desk or an office less than 10 square meters can yield valuations in the millions or even billions. He argues that in the AI era, value density, rather than team size, is becoming the new benchmark for entrepreneurship.

Editor: DaiJingYi