My Age of Investment

  Chapter 42 The road is wider

  Xia Jingxing also thought about the issue of Facebook financing.

   Tens of thousands of dollars, that is definitely not necessary, because you can get it out by yourself.

  Several millions of U.S. dollars, with the current achievements, it is definitely not possible to get them.

  It is best to raise a few hundred thousand dollars first, and then do the best results before the next round.

  But financing is not only about money, but also depends on the contacts and relationships that angel investors bring to the company.

  Of course, if it’s the one that is short of money and crazy, and you die if you can’t raise money, then there’s no choice!

  It’s not that Xia Jingxing underestimated Rao Lei. The other party came to be an angel investor in Facebook, which is really inappropriate.

  Although Rao Lei has worked in the United States for nearly ten years, he has some relationships and contacts, but there is still a gap between what Xia Jingxing wants.

   "I want to raise 500,000 U.S. dollars at a post-investment valuation of 5 million U.S. dollars."

  Rao Lei immediately laughed when he heard it, “It’s a bit difficult for you! If I am an angel investor, I will definitely not agree easily.”

  Xia Jingxing’s purpose is to offer a high price and block the road to prevent Rao Lei from speaking again, and then refuse by himself, which hurts the harmony of both parties.

  Xia Jingxing nodded, “I also know that it is a bit high. The current operating data of Facebook is not eye-catching enough. Maybe it’s better to raise funds later.”

  Rao Lei did not speak, but he was thinking quickly in his heart.

  He has been in the United States for so many years, and he is engaged in technology and project management, and venture capital related work.

  There was a fever for returning home in the late 1990s, but unfortunately he did not go back.

  But Charles Zhang, Robin Li, Chen Yizhou, Zhou Yunfan, and Yang Ning who went back have become trendies in the Internet age.

  Although Chen Yizhou sold Chinaren to Sohu for $33 million, which is no match for the independent listing, he also got a lot of money.

  Zhou Yunfan and Yang Ning also took the money to sell the company and started a second venture and founded Kongzhong.com.

  All three of them have read books at Stanford, he is very familiar with them, and everyone is still in contact from time to time.

  The other party told him from time to time: Chinese Internet users have broken through tens of thousands, and which Internet company has obtained financing again.

  I heard that he was ready to move.

  Although he is currently studying for an MBA in business school, he has been thinking about entrepreneurship, and he is still watching Internet innovations in China and the United States.

  When he saw the website of Facebook, he was quite impressed. He felt that this might be a brand-new Internet model, and he hoped to break into the sky.

  So when he heard that the Facebook website was founded by a Chinese student, and that the student suffered racial discrimination, he couldn’t wait to invite the Chinese student to come to meet him.

  In addition to helping the other party to "beg for justice", he also has some careful thoughts.

   "Refinancing after a period of time..." Rao Lei groaned, "Let me talk about my views!"

  Xia Jingxing listened with respect. He also wanted to hear what the creator of the Chinese SNS website has.

   “Although the US intellectual property legal system is relatively complete, plagiarism cannot be prevented at all.”

  Rao Lei smiled and said: "I have also heard of your grievances with "ThisFacebook".

   is said to have been tinkered with by two senior boys.

  I heard that their website stinks in the Ivy League school, is it yours? "

  Xia Jingxing nodded and smiled, there is nothing bad to admit, just to safeguard his own legitimate rights and interests.

   "Good job, kill the opponent in the bud."

  Rao Lei first exaggerated, and then preached: "But what if the opponent is not two seniors, but a large-scale company?"

   Before Xia Jingxing could answer, Rao Lei continued: “Then the other party might not be so stupid. Make a website that is almost the same as yours.

  Only need to change the appearance, and even more functions can be added.

  So they can make a brand new website with even more features than Facebook.

  Can you say they are plagiarism?

   Even if it is plagiarism, it will not be judged so easily, right?

  You can sue them.

  But I’m sorry, they can hire a lawyer to slow you down and drag you to death.

  The big deal is to pay the last sum and settle out of court. "

  Xia Jingxing asked: "You want to tell me that we must speed up to prevent endless competitors?"

  Rao Lei has been in the United States for so long, and he has been contaminated with some local habits, so he snapped his fingers, "Bingo!"

   "Think about it, as long as you have a path to success, those big companies will definitely flock to it.

  There are more people than you, the product is better than you, and the money is more than you.

  What are your advantages? It's just time. "

  Rao Lei smiled, "What you have to do now is to raise funds quickly, formally set up the company, recruit people, and then "ride the dust."

  Of course, this will not prevent competitors from springing up.

  But at the very least, you have more "leading" advantages. "

  Xia Jingxing thought about it carefully, Rao Lei said something reasonable, but some exaggerated it.

  Large companies are definitely looking down on Facebook at present, and most of those who can follow the trend are some dicks.

  Ryan and Phyllis are also considered dicks, and rent a server for a few hundred dollars and start doing it.

  This also exposed a problem. The current Facebook website does lack technical content and the threshold for plagiarism is too low.

  "Don’t pursue valuation and financing too much. What you have to do now is to establish a company and improve your team and products."

  Rao Lei helped the gold-rimmed glasses that supported his nose, and said in a kind tone: "You have nothing now. Improving your survival rate is more important than anything else.

  In case of another competitor, it may not be so easy to deal with.

  According to some information I know, the patent application related to your website has only been submitted soon.

  Then you have to wait, at least several years. "

  Xia Jingxing smiled and said: "Brother Rao, what you said is very reasonable, but we have not yet reached the time for large-scale expansion.

  If we just set up a company and recruit a small team, we don’t need financing, we have the money ourselves. "

Rao Lei stunned, and said with a smile: "The United States is not China. If you rent a house and hire five full-time employees, it may cost you more than 20,000 US dollars a month."

  Rao Lei did not go on to say that he was afraid that this little brother would only come to the United States, he did not understand the wage level here, and he misunderstood the capitalist countries.

  As a result, Xia Jingxing nodded to express her awareness, which made Rao Lei a little surprised.

  I looked at Xia Jingxing again from head to toe again. Is there a mine in this brother's house or what's wrong?

  But he didn't doubt the truth or falsehood in Xia Jing's jargon.

It has been more than 20 years since    reopened. It is not surprising that some people in China have become rich.

  It's different from their family in the early 90s when the whole family borrowed money to go abroad at their own expense. Today's children, life is really happy!

  Sighed in his heart, Rao Lei also gave up the idea of ​​investing in Facebook.

  After all, he didn't save much. After coming to the United States for 10 years, he saved less than 300,000 US dollars by frugality.

  People can afford to spend 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a month in salary expenses, so I don’t think I can count on my own money.

  He originally wanted to talk to Xia Jingxing, take a look at the project, and vote for 20,000 to 30,000 US dollars if appropriate.

   But now, this idea can only be extinguished.

  In addition to feeling that the other party's appetite is too big, there is also a risk issue.

  Betting on a project with all his net worth is almost crazy.

Although the   Facebook website is good, it is only good.

  Venture investment is just like its name, it is very risky.

  Especially in the early angel investment projects, one hundred may die ninety-nine.

  If it hadn’t been for Facebook’s sweeping college campuses that attracted him, he might not even have the idea of ​​investing.

After dispelling the careful thought of investment, Rao Lei and Xia Jingxing talked about going back to China to start a business.

   "Brother Rao, do you plan to return to China to start a business?"

  Xia Jingxing was very surprised. In fact, he knew that the other party would return to China next year. He set up UUme, the earliest SNS website in China, and worked as a fashionista for a period of time.

   "Yes, don't look at the domestic lagging behind in all aspects, but in fact this is an opportunity, we need to return to China to fill the gap.

  Stay in the United States, you may be a comfortable middle class.

  But it is very difficult to achieve a career. "

  Rao Lei smiled, "Of course, you have made such a good website now, and you must stick to it if you have the opportunity.

  Maybe we can still work together in the future, then you can support the brother a lot. "

   "Senior brother praised! I still need to work harder..."

  Rao Lei did not put on any pretensions, and Xia Jingxing were like friends. You talked to me and chatted gossip.

  From the United States to China, from entrepreneurship to life, the two talked about everything, and they talked very happily.

   "Okay, that's it for today! Thank you Brother Rao for his kind words."

  It’s been more than an hour since we talked, and Xia Jingxing got up to leave.

  "You are welcome, come and sit often in the future."

   Rao Lei said with a smile, this is really not a polite remark. Through the short chat, he felt that he really underestimated the little brother.

  No matter what you are talking about, the other party can always answer, with a wide range of knowledge, and logical thinking, and often put forward some refreshing ideas.

  Although he had a taste and didn't talk about it in depth, he was amazed.

  The most outrageous thing is that the other party is very familiar with American society and various business laws, and is completely unlike an 18-year-old kid who has only been in the United States for two or three months.

Before leaving, he called Xia Jingxing again and left the phone number and email address with each other, indicating that everyone must communicate more in the future.

   is completely equal. He really saw Xia Jingxing as a character.

  Finally, he also said that if Xia Jingxing needs it, he can also introduce some angel investors or VC institutions to Xia Jingxing.

  Xia Jingxing naturally and readily agreed, and thanked him "elder brother, brother short".

  This made Rao Lei more satisfied, thinking that this little brother was humble and polite.

  As for the fight that day, he automatically made up for it: young people, it is inevitable to be impulsive in doing things. At the same time, it's even more frank and straightforward, flesh and blood!

  (End of this chapter)