Hard tech AI emerges as core track for young entrepreneurs

The 2026 Changshu Kuncheng Lake · Hurun China Under30s entrepreneurship pioneer conference was held in Changshu, Jiangsu province, on Thursday, presenting findings from the Hurun China Under30s list. A total of 147 outstanding individuals aged 30 and under are featured on the list.

The most striking trend is that AI entrepreneurship has shifted deep into hard tech territory. Tech-intensive sectors, including humanoid robots, chips and foundation models, have attracted a wave of young founders, mirroring the fresh impetus behind China's AI industry.

First-generation entrepreneurs make up 58 percent of all listees, totaling 85. The software and services sector dominates at 39 percent — up 6 percentage points year-on-year — covering frontier fields such as AI large models, embodied intelligence and photonic computing. Life and health sciences, and industrial equipment follow with 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

"Unlike previous years when focus stayed on the application layer, this year's U30 entrepreneurs are moving into hardware-focused tracks: foundation models, humanoid robots, embodied intelligence platforms and joint modules, all of which have significantly lifted the threshold for entrepreneurship," Rupert Hoogewerf, founder and chief researcher of Hurun Report, said.

He noted that young people hold inherent advantages in the AI wave.

"Breakthrough technologies like DeepSeek and ChatGPT have only existed for two to three years. Young people are the most receptive to and frequent users of new technologies, granting them the best chances to roll out AI in entirely new scenarios."

The list reveals a clear tiered structure of youth AI startups. Embodied intelligence and humanoid robots form the core track with the highest concentration of founders, while the AI-biomedicine crossover, though still nascent, has drawn many young research-driven entrepreneurs and carries strong growth potential.

Frontline entrepreneurs' practices bear out this trend.

Zhao Wanqiu, co-founder of U30-listed firm YOUIBOT, presented industrial-grade embodied intelligence products at this year's WAIC, which is underway in Shanghai. He said the robust manufacturing base in East China delivers rich application scenarios. The company has already deployed solutions in automobile manufacturing and 3C electronics production lines.

"Robots will inevitably permeate every aspect of work and life," Zhao said.

Wu Bin, founder of fellow listee Infimind, focuses on AI applications in vertical industries. He noted China leads globally in both AI foundation models and e-commerce retail, leaving huge room for niche-sector innovation.

"Just as the App Store spawned legions of app developers, the AI era unlocks entrepreneurial opportunities across all industries," he said.

Beyond the AI boom, two trends define this year's list. Geographically, entrepreneurship is spreading beyond first-tier cities: Shenzhen has dethroned Hangzhou to become the top "entrepreneurship hub" for U30 founders, with Beijing and Shanghai ranking second and third. New first-tier cities, including Ningbo, Hefei and Dongguan, have also entered the top 10.

Meanwhile, second-generation business successors now account for 33 percent of listees, up from 27 percent last year, signaling an ongoing wave of generational succession in China's private economy.

Hurun Research Institute also released its China Under25s and Under35s 2025 lists earlier this month, mapping the full growth trajectory of China's young tech founders.