Anhui blazes trail for young entrepreneurs

In East China's Anhui province, a bold approach to fostering sci-tech talents is taking shape, offering young entrepreneurs, researchers, and job-seeking graduates the resources they need to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

This initiative, known as the "Tech Talents Community", which was proposed by the Grand Union of Innovation (GUi), an innovation hub in Hefei, the provincial capital, provides an array of services including free office space, ready-to-use apartments, and even crucial startup funding for young innovators.

An aerial view of GUi.

Bai Yinqi, a graduate student at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative. Bai founded a technology company, focusing on research into foundational modes to make it possible for robots and drones to function in various sectors.

With the support of the GUi platform, he connected with downstream scenario application companies. His company is expected to complete a new round of financing this month, Bai said.

Similarly, Fang Xiaowei, general manager of Hefei Guojing Instrument Technology, a tech company based in GUi, said that during the startup period, his team initially struggled with logistical challenges including office space, funding, and market access despite possessing core technology.

Thanks to the GUi platform, he had access to local resources to enable the formation of a workforce and the completion of two rounds of financing, Fang said.

Since its inception in June 2022, GUi has attracted over 7,300 enterprises and 80,000 innovative talents, most under 30 years old. These young innovators are drawn to Anhui not just for its strong policy support but also by its vibrant industrial ecosystem, according to Wu Dan, secretary general of the Anhui Association for Science, Technology and Industry Integration Innovation.

Under the "Tech Talent Community" initiative, comprehensive support is provided to young technological talents who face high costs for startups and limited resources. Its core philosophy is "embrace dreams while putting rents aside". Young entrepreneurs may enjoy a 15-day trial with free accommodation and workspace provided, followed by a six-month setup period with continued support. Successful enterprises receive up to 12 months of rent-free office space.

In March, Gen Z entrepreneur Zheng Haiyang began his entrepreneurial journey from a single workstation at GUi. He founded a company that offers AI infrastructure and intelligent solutions to medium and large enterprises.

As his business expanded, Zheng urgently needed to increase his workforce. The GUi platform provided him with a 60-square-meter office and a startup loan to alleviate the company's immediate financial challenges, Zheng said.