The city of Hangzhou is one of the most historic and beautiful in China.
But this ancient place now has the most modern of reputations, as China’s ‘Silicon Valley’.
A vibrant hub for entrepreneurs and high-tech start-ups, Hangzhou is home to headline-grabbing success stories like Alibaba and breakthrough AI firm, DeepSeek.
In the context of escalating competition with America, the world is increasingly paying attention.
Those who are part of the tech scene here brim with enthusiasm.
Over coffee, in an ultra-modern city complex, they describe how exciting this moment feels, not just for their businesses, but for China too.
«We have the talents, we have the environment, and we have the full supply chain, even though we have a challenging environment,» says Grace Zheng, who has worked at the AI glasses creator Looktech since its inception.
«It’s our time.»
The others laugh and nod. «I agree with it,» says Jia Dou, whose company Wuli Coffee, creates high-tech, automated commercial coffee machines. «And I think it’s our time to show and battle with other foreign countries.»
Grace Zheng is enthusiastic about the future for China
And is that a battle China could now win, I ask? «Of course,» comes the answer.
They tell stories of how estate agents in Hangzhou dedicated hours of their time for free to find the perfect laboratory space, and how the local government showered them in grants and incentives; so hungry is this city for tech success.
These entrepreneurs in Hangzhou say the city supports a vibrant hub of tech start-ups
«Hangzhou says we’ll provide the sunshine and the water, you go ahead and grow,» explains Zhang Jie.
She is the convenor of this group. An entrepreneur herself and the founder of a thriving ‘incubator’ for start-ups, she has invested in and mentored all the others around the table.
She is passionate, energetic and has a second-to-none understanding of what makes Hangzhou and China’s tech scene so successful.
«In China, we have more than 10 million university and college students graduating. She says that there are at least five to six million engineers with a college education background. With such a large group of young and intelligent people in a favorable environment for entrepreneurship, she believes that even greater companies will emerge in the future. The combination of light-touch local regulation and the business-oriented Zhejiang University is seen as the secret sauce in Hangzhou. Zhang has noticed an increase in the number of young people approaching her with business ideas, leading her to be optimistic about the current wave. She even suggests that there are already companies in China that could surpass Apple. The success of DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based AI firm, has garnered attention worldwide and is referred to as the ‘DeepSeek moment’. China’s leaders are praising such successes, positioning tech as a key pillar in the country’s future economy. However, the United States views China’s innovation as a threat, with Donald Trump increasing restrictions on exports to China. Despite the trade war, businesses in Hangzhou like Diagens are still innovating and adapting to the changing landscape. Dr. Song Ning, the founder of Diagens, showcases his company’s AI technology that accelerates medical diagnostics and is optimistic about the future of his business. «It makes us all stronger,» he says.
The city of Hangzhou is one of the most historic and beautiful in China.
But this ancient place now has the most modern of reputations, as China’s ‘Silicon Valley’.
A vibrant hub for entrepreneurs and high-tech start-ups, Hangzhou is home to headline-grabbing success stories like Alibaba and breakthrough AI firm, DeepSeek.
In the context of escalating competition with America, the world is increasingly paying attention.
Those who are part of the tech scene here brim with enthusiasm.
Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, has been labelled ‘China’s Silicon Valley’
Over coffee, in an ultra-modern city complex, they describe how exciting this moment feels, not just for their businesses, but for China too.
«We have the talents, we have the environment, and we have the full supply chain, even though we have a challenging environment,» says Grace Zheng, who has worked at the AI glasses creator Looktech since its inception.
«It’s our time.»
The others laugh and nod. «I agree with it,» says Jia Dou, whose company Wuli Coffee, creates high-tech, automated commercial coffee machines. «And I think it’s our time to show and battle with other foreign countries.»
Grace Zheng is enthusiastic about the future for China
And is that a battle China could now win, I ask? «Of course,» comes the answer.
They tell stories of how estate agents in Hangzhou dedicated hours of their time for free to find the perfect laboratory space, and how the local government showered them in grants and incentives; so hungry is this city for tech success.
These entrepreneurs in Hangzhou say the city supports a vibrant hub of tech start-ups
«Hangzhou says we’ll provide the sunshine and the water, you go ahead and grow,» explains Zhang Jie.
She is the convenor of this group. An entrepreneur herself and the founder of a thriving ‘incubator’ for start-ups, she has invested in and mentored all the others around the table.
She is passionate, energetic and has a second-to-none understanding of what makes Hangzhou and China’s tech scene so successful.
«In China, we have more than 10 million university and college students graduating. She explains that there are at least five to six million engineers with a college education background. She believes that with such a large group of young and intelligent people in a favorable environment for entrepreneurship, there will be even greater companies emerging in the future. The combination of light-touch local regulation, unusual in China, and Zhejiang University’s business-oriented environment is seen as the secret sauce in Hangzhou. Zhang mentions that more young people have approached her with business ideas recently than ever before, and she is optimistic about the current wave of entrepreneurship. She even jokes that there are already companies in China that may surpass Apple. The success of companies like DeepSeek is being praised by China’s leaders and is positioning tech as a key pillar in China’s future economy. Despite the ongoing trade war with the U.S., businesses in Hangzhou remain confident and resilient. Dr. Song Ning showcases his company, Diagens, which uses AI to accelerate medical diagnostics and is working on innovative projects like the WiseDiag chatbot. Despite the challenges posed by the trade war, businesses like Diagens are adapting and seeking opportunities in other markets. «It makes us all stronger,» he asserts.
The city of Hangzhou is a blend of history and modernity, earning the title of China’s ‘Silicon Valley.’ As a bustling center for entrepreneurs and high-tech start-ups, Hangzhou boasts success stories like Alibaba and AI firm DeepSeek. Amidst escalating competition with America, global attention is increasingly drawn to this tech hub.
Enthusiasm resonates among those immersed in Hangzhou’s tech scene. Over coffee in contemporary city complexes, individuals express excitement not only for their businesses but for China as a whole. Grace Zheng, a key player at Looktech, emphasizes the city’s abundant talent, conducive environment, and robust supply chain despite challenges. She believes it is China’s moment to shine, a sentiment echoed by others like Jia Dou of Wuli Coffee, known for its innovative commercial coffee machines.
The tech battle is one that Hangzhou believes it can win. Stories circulate of estate agents tirelessly scouting lab spaces and local government offering grants and incentives, underscoring the city’s hunger for tech triumphs. Zhang Jie, a prominent entrepreneur and founder of a start-up incubator, elucidates Hangzhou’s ethos of providing resources for growth. With a deep understanding of China’s tech landscape, she champions the city’s support for innovation.
Dr. Song Ning, a Hangzhou-based entrepreneur, dismisses the notion that Trump’s policies can stifle China’s scientific and technological progress. He asserts that such restrictions will only spur greater tech innovation, leveraging the intelligence and resources present in each country. While the trade war poses economic challenges for China, its rapid innovation pace promises global impact.
In the realm of innovation, Hangzhou stands as a beacon of progress. As tech firms push boundaries and defy limitations, the city’s resilience and determination set the stage for groundbreaking advancements. Despite external pressures, Hangzhou’s tech community remains unwavering in its commitment to drive change and leave a lasting mark on the world. The speaker mentions that there are at least five to six million engineers with a college education background. She believes that with such a large group of young and intelligent people in a favorable environment for entrepreneurship, there will be even greater companies emerging in the future.
Indeed, Hangzhou’s light-touch local regulation and the presence of Zhejiang University are seen as key factors contributing to the city’s success. Zhang has noticed an increase in young people approaching her with business ideas, and she is optimistic about the current wave of entrepreneurship. She jokes that there are already companies in China that may surpass Apple in the future.
The recent success of DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based AI firm, has garnered global attention and has been dubbed the ‘DeepSeek moment’. China’s leaders have recognized and celebrated such achievements, highlighting the importance of tech in the country’s future economy. However, the United States views China’s technological advancements as a threat, leading to increased restrictions on exports.
Businesses in Hangzhou, aware of the trade war implications, are finding ways to adapt. Dr. Song Ning, for example, showcases his company Diagens, which uses AI for medical diagnostics. Despite facing challenges from the trade war, companies like Diagens are optimistic about their ability to navigate the changing landscape.
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