Guests share ideas on Hangzhou's business environment. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

Hangzhou has emerged as the leading city for entrepreneurs under 30, with 20 young innovators making the 2025 Hurun U30 China Entrepreneurship Pioneers list — surpassing Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

The city's appeal lies in its vibrant startup ecosystem, abundant talent, and supportive policies.

At the Dec 19 "Dream Together, Create the Future" event, young and experienced entrepreneurs shared insights. CEO Zhang Kai of Nash Vision highlighted Hangzhou's culture of letting creativity take the lead, recalling how his inventive showcase for The Wandering Earth roadshow opened doors for collaborations.

Investors echo this sentiment. Zhang Jie, general manager at Huadan Angel Investment, noted that Hangzhou's private capital ecosystem is uniquely willing to nurture early-stage ventures, particularly in AI and biotech, providing the first critical funding to bring ideas from lab to market.

The city's full-cycle support system combines policy incentives, talent cultivation, capital access, and service infrastructure. Since 2008, over 400,000 university graduates under 35 have been drawn to Hangzhou, and nearly 9,800 student-led enterprises were registered in 2025 alone.

From incubators and talent apartments to industry conferences and cross-border matchmaking, Hangzhou integrates digital and real-world infrastructure to make entrepreneurship practical, sustainable, and growth-oriented. With AI, biotech, and e-commerce sectors flourishing, the city fosters a cycle where entrepreneurship fuels employment, which attracts talent, which drives innovation.

The event attracts crowds of attendees. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]