The APEC Young Entrepreneurs Conference's workshop on solo entrepreneurship in Hangzhou on Sept 17. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

A workshop on solo entrepreneurship brought young entrepreneurs from APEC economies together in Hangzhou on Sept 17, using an intensive two-hour hackathon to explore how AI can lower costs and shorten the time needed to turn ideas into products.

The workshop, part of the APEC Young Entrepreneurs Conference, focused on the one-person company (OPC) model, with participants forming cross-economy teams and using AI tools to develop prototypes addressing practical business challenges, including cost control, management, and customer service.

The workshop combined technical instruction with hands-on development, with an Alibaba Cloud TBH technology expert explaining AI product development and agent building, demonstrating rapid prototyping techniques, and introducing AI tools suited to solo entrepreneurs.

The two-hour hackathon was the centerpiece: teams brainstormed solutions, developed and debugged prototypes with AI tools, and prepared products for live demonstrations, with technical experts guiding them throughout.

Teams then presented their AI prototypes and streamlined product plans, which were put to a public vote to select outstanding projects at an awards ceremony.

He Peilin from Hong Kong-based Jiahe International Group said the workshop differed from events that focus mainly on theory by addressing real business problems. The two-hour session generated new approaches to business automation, he said, adding that his team would further refine the solutions for use in actual business scenarios.