Discussion keeps the world turning.
This is Roundtable.
China's startup dream is moving beyond the skyscrapers.
A growing number of solo founders are leaving Beijing's high rents and Shenzhen's crowded tech scenes for county towns.
Why are these entrepreneurs turning away from the mega cities?
And could the next breakthrough come not from a glass tower, but from vegetable fields and fishing villages?
Coming to you from our studios here in Beijing, this is Roundtable.
I'm Fei Fei, and for today's program, I'm joined by Steve Heatherly and Yuxuan.
First on today's show.
What if you could build a real company without hiring anyone?
AI now handles marketing, coding, customer service, and administration where you steer.
And this idea isn't really that crazy and new in 2026. But here in China,
the next question is, if one person with AI tools can run a business,
does it really need to be in Beijing or Shenzhen?
Well, earlier this year, we have like AI agent apps exploded in these big cities
that there are basically tools that don't just chat, but actually work around the clock.
Well, you can sleep.
But there are also counties chasing this trend, handing out free AI devices to newcomers.
They're not only offering subsidies only,
they're also rising to attract one-person companies the way it once chased factories.