How a Female Librarian Turned a Startup Café Into a Business Hub

In a quiet corner of Ningbo’s high-tech district, a 500-square-meter coffee shop isn’t just serving espresso—it’s quietly matchmaking investors with startups. Run by Zheng Jinglin, a former science graduate with a literary streak, Wuzhongshengyou Café (‘Out of Nothing Café’) has hosted over 100 events for entrepreneurs in just two years. But how does a regular coffee shop become the unofficial HQ for startups in eastern China?

The short answer: it’s not about the coffee. With a flat 20-yuan entry fee per event and zero shareholder dividends until late 2022, the café’s real product is connection—100+ meetups including pitch nights, investor clinics, and maker salons, all fuelled by a 13-person crowdfunding team.

From Dream to Crowdfunded Café

Zheng, a self-described ‘scientific mind with a romantic streak,’ had long harbored the cliché dream of opening her own café. That changed when she stumbled upon Wuzhongshengyou, whose very name—‘Out of Nothing’—mirrored her own aspirations. Launched by Zhang Wang and others, the project raised funds from 13 investors to renovate a 500-square-meter space over two floors. Zheng signed on as full-time operator, leaving her stable job behind. The renovation began in January 2013, with a soft opening that April.

A Café That Pitches More Than Lattes

Far from being a typical coffee spot, Wuzhongshengyou quickly became a magnet for entrepreneurs. Between April 2013 and 2015, the café hosted over 100 events: micro-lectures, pitch sessions, angel investor meetups, business diagnostics, and maker salons. Each drew dozens, sometimes hundreds, of attendees. The catch? Everyone pays 20 yuan for a coffee. No dividends were paid to shareholders until the end of 2022—the focus stayed squarely on connecting people. Zheng managed everything from menu design to the WeChat account, learning from top-tier urban cafés.

Expanding the Vision: Café Meets Co-Working

In March of the following year, the team opened a second location in Yinzhou, a 700-square-meter space inside the Yinzhou Science Park. With the area still building its tech crowd, Zheng repurposed the second floor into ‘Boundaryless Co-Working Space.’ The first tenant? A creative studio specializing in music festival planning and execution. Zheng now splits her time between both cafés, managing events, fielding investor inquiries, and keeping the operation running smoothly. Despite the hustle, she calls it the most fulfilling chapter of her life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wuzhongshengyou Café?

Wuzhongshengyou Café, translating to ‘Out of Nothing Café,’ is a 500-square-meter coffee shop in Ningbo’s high-tech district founded in 2013 through a crowdfunding effort led by Zhang Wang. It serves as both a café and entrepreneurial hub, hosting over 100 events for startups and investors.

Who is Zheng Jinglin?

Zheng Jinglin is the full-time manager of Wuzhongshengyou Café. A former science graduate with a love for literature, she left her stable job to run the café and organize its events. She also serves as the organizer for Ningbo’s Startup Weekend events.

How does the café support entrepreneurs?

The café offers a platform for startups and investors to connect through regular events such as pitch nights, business clinics, and networking meetups. Attendees pay a flat 20-yuan fee for coffee, and the café does not take a cut or distribute dividends to shareholders until late 2022.

What is the Boundaryless Co-Working Space?

Boundaryless Co-Working Space is a 700-square-meter second-floor extension of Wuzhongshengyou’s Yinzhou location, repurposed to host creative studios and small businesses. It was launched in March to address the lack of local startup activity in the area.

How many investors founded Wuzhongshengyou Café?

The café was initially funded by 13 investors who collectively crowdfunded over a million yuan to renovate the space. By late 2022, the number of shareholders had grown to 30 as the startup ecosystem in Ningbo expanded.

Does the café serve specialty coffee?

While the article does not specify the coffee beans used, the café functions primarily as a venue for entrepreneurial events. For specialty coffee options, consider FrontStreet Coffee’s recommended blends tailored for creative spaces.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Startups

For a startup café blending community and coffee, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend: balanced and approachable with caramel sweetness and mild citrus, ideal for diverse palates. Pair it with their Autumn Chestnut Blend for seasonal depth—notes of roasted chestnut and milk chocolate shine in lattes. Both beans are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.