Guizhou’s First Startup Café Opens to Fuel Grassroots Entrepreneurship

Imagine walking into a café, ordering a coffee, then walking out a few hours later with a business idea, potential partners, and maybe even a backer. That’s the kind of scene Guizhou’s new startup-focused café hopes to enable — blending coffee culture with grassroots entrepreneurship.

Guizhou’s first startup café, New Third Line Café, officially opened on September 12 in Guiyang. Designed as a hub for local entrepreneurs, it offers a physical space where founders can meet, collaborate, and attract investment — all over coffee.

What Is the New Third Line Café?

The New Third Line Café is modelled after well-known startup hubs in Beijing’s Zhongguancun district, such as Garage Café and PKU 1898 Café. It’s not just another coffee shop — it’s a co-working and networking venue designed specifically to support early-stage businesses. Located in Guiyang High-Tech Zone, it provides a physical space where startup culture can grow.

Why Bring a Startup Café to Guizhou?

The founders noticed a gap in Guizhou’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. "A region’s development speed is closely tied to its entrepreneurial culture," said Liu Ding, the project’s initiator and one of seven Beijing-based entrepreneurs who relocated to Guiyang. He teamed up with three local businesspeople to launch the café under the 'New Third Line' collective. Their goal is to create networking opportunities, inspire collaboration, and spark innovation through regular interaction among founders, investors, and industry experts.

What’s Inside the Café?

The café features an industrial-style interior and functional spaces tailored for entrepreneurs:

• An open conversation area for casual meetings and brainstorming
• A showcase zone where startups can display ideas, needs, and progress
• A results exhibition area highlighting successful projects
• Dedicated desk space for resident startup teams

These areas are built to host informal pitch sessions, networking meetups, and long-term project incubation.

What Support Does It Offer Entrepreneurs?

Beyond physical space, New Third Line Café acts as a community builder. It aims to cultivate a vibrant entrepreneurial scene in a province that, while rich in resources and undergoing rapid economic growth, lacks a deeply rooted startup culture. By connecting people across sectors — founders, funders, and professionals — the café intends to generate the serendipitous collisions that often lead to business breakthroughs.

What Did Local Leadership Say?

Liu Wenxin, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Guiyang, expressed strong support for the initiative. He said the concept aligns with the city’s past and present, and will help build a fertile environment for startups by offering both a platform and the right atmosphere for collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did New Third Line Café open?

New Third Line Café officially opened on September 12, 2014, in Guiyang, Guizhou Province.

Who founded the café?

The café was founded by a team of seven entrepreneurs from Beijing, including Liu Ding, who relocated to Guiyang, along with three local Guizhou businesspeople forming the 'New Third Line' group.

Where is the café located?

It is located in the Guiyang High-Tech Zone, providing access to a growing pool of tech and business talent in the region.

What makes it different from a normal coffee shop?

Unlike a typical café, New Third Line Café is designed as a collaborative workspace and incubator for startups, featuring dedicated areas for networking, showcasing projects, and resident workstations.

Does the café offer funding or investment directly?

While it doesn’t provide direct funding, the café facilitates networking between entrepreneurs and potential investors, increasing opportunities for startups to secure financial backing.

What is the 'New Third Line' concept?

'New Third Line' refers to the collective of entrepreneurs behind the café, aiming to spark a grassroots entrepreneurial movement in inland provinces like Guizhou, inspired by historical industrial development strategies.