With government support, fresh ideas, high-quality advancements and a thriving park for innovative companies, developers feel optimistic about their futures

Feeling bogged down and in need of a hug? Then step into the AI Power Box where a virtual friend appears on the screen, listens intently, offers emotional support, and even guides you through breathing exercises.

This artificial intelligence-powered psychological health product has been created by tech startup Glacier Wisdom, with the aim of addressing the growing emotional needs of people in today's fast-paced society.

"An increasingly high-tech society will accelerate emotional alienation, creating more psychological needs," says Yuan Rui, 25, founder and CEO of the company. "I want to harness technology to meet these needs."

Glacier Wisdom's AI product is just one of many innovative creations from the Beijing Subway Line 10 Youth Entrepreneurship Village in the Jijiamiao area of Fengtai district, a former hub for traditional industries, such as paper-making and automotive bearing manufacturing.

Amid China's industrial upgrading and drive for high-quality development, this location is transforming into a thriving entrepreneurship park where young innovators are turning ideas into tangible outcomes.

Established in 2018, the village currently hosts 316 enterprises and has drawn a total investment of approximately 1.5 billion yuan ($211 million).Notably, of the over 1,600 employees working in the village, more than 78 percent were born in the 1980s and 1990s.

"This place is a cradle of dreams," says Zuo Hongwei, an official from the Yuquanying subdistrict in Fengtai.

From idea to life

Zhang Yichao calls himself a "dream creator". The 29-year-old, who returned from Japan three years ago with a master's degree in architecture, opened the company Dream Lab in the village.

Equipped with facilities such as robotic arms and 3D printers, the company serves as an incubator platform for college students and graduates who want to bring creative ideas to life.

"We support them throughout the entire process, from blueprint drafting and modeling to 3D printing, as well as market operations and packaging," he says, adding that the lab is currently helping a student produce a smart teacup that can display temperature and automatically select brewing methods based on different types of tea.

"The company is not making any profit, but I love what I do and believe in the power of creativity," Zhang says.

The daring spirit of young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams stems largely from the country's growing prowess in science and technology.

According to Zhang Zhihao, general manager of an investment firm that has funded over 10 startups in the village, AI technology has been empowering young people's dreams.

"Previously, I had to look for an extremely versatile project team. The lead creator of the project needed to be skilled in all aspects of the work, from giving ideas and manufacturing to team management and finance," he says. "But now, with AI technology, the targets of our investment only need to have one thing: an idea."

The right direction

Also located in the entrepreneurship village, Beijing Volumetric Capture Technology Co, a player in the field of virtual humans, leverages volumetric technology to convert real human images into holographic images, which have been used in TV programs and tourist site videos.

"A business is a journey where nine out of 10 ventures fail," the company CEO Guo Songjie says. "I once worried about my business failing.

"But if we're moving in the right direction, things will work out; and high-tech industries are that right direction," he adds.

In recent years, several enterprises founded by young Chinese entrepreneurs, such as Unitree, DeepSeek and DJI, have demonstrated the innovative vitality of China's youth and the rapid development of the country's high-tech sector.

China's innovation-driven economy is seeing rapid advancements. In 2024, the value-added output of new growth drivers, such as new industries, business forms and models, rose to over 18 percent of the GDP while the value-added output of high-tech manufacturing grew by 8.9 percent year-on-year, outpacing overall industrial growth by 3.1 percentage points, according to official statistics.

Guo says that government support, such as financial subsidies and training programs, also boosts his confidence.

According to the Yuquanying subdistrict, a maximum amount of 3 million yuan will be provided to companies recognized as national high-tech enterprises, or "little giants", as well as those with innovation platforms, such as key laboratories.

Companies in the village also have access to one-stop services, in terms of industrial, commercial and tax registration.

In February, several Chinese ministries, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Education, issued a document proposing the building of a support system that integrates "entrepreneurship training, services, incubation, and activities".

"Market potential and the government's support fill us with courage and hope," Guo says.