Investment Life

The next day, when several proposals were placed in front of Mr. Jonathan, his facial expression twitched slightly for a moment.I don’t deny that taking all the materials is a bit of a way for the rich second generation to retreat, but it took a week to finish reading, and I didn’t even pay attention to the excellent alternatives that I put on the top of each box. Instead, he picked out such a bunch of weird things, Mr. Jonathan didn't know what expression to use to face this Chinese boy!

After looking through the few not-so-thick documents several times, Jonathan finally sighed and raised his head. "Have you really considered choosing these?"

Although the voice of the blond man is still gentle and elegant, the disappointment in his tone can hardly be concealed, Chen Yuanming smiled good-naturedly, "Of course, I think these ideas are quite good, if the company's employees are also reliable, it will be very good investment object."

Jonathan's lips moved slightly, and finally he just closed the folder in his hand. "I will contact them one by one. Two of the companies are in Silicon Valley, one is still studying at Stanford University, and the last game company is set up in the southern city of El Bay. It may take 2 or 3 days to get in touch with them... ..."

"It's okay, I have enough patience." Chen Yuanming nodded simply, indicating that there is plenty of time.

Seeing that the other party had made up his mind, Mr. Jonathan really couldn't say anything more, so he stood up helplessly, and after thinking for a long time, he still added a word with sincerity. "Although in your opinion, the money may not be worth mentioning, but it is very precious to entrepreneurs. Therefore, please use them as much as possible to those who really need the money. The reason why angel investors It is precisely because of this precious spirit and belief that he is called an 'angel' rather than a "vampire".

These words obviously exceeded the scope of what a partner should say, but Chen Yuanming was not angry, but sat up straight, "Thank you for your advice, but I also believe in my own vision, this is not a waste of money."

Seeing the boy's rare and serious expression, Mr. Jonathan was only slightly taken aback. Looking at the materials in his hand, he couldn't help feeling a little confused. Does this boy really think they are profitable projects?But after thinking for a long time, there was still no result, so he exhaled lightly, hey...don't care.Standing up politely, Mr. Jonathan nodded at Chen Yuanming, "I will give you an answer as soon as possible."

His speed is indeed not slow.Just the next day, two companies made an appointment. The young man who developed the USB interface had a team of four. A few computers operated randomly, but prepared a set of pretty explanatory diagrams, explaining the benefits of the universal USB interface from the principle level.He also took out a square prototype machine and handed it over to the investors present.

Jonathan couldn't help raising his eyebrows when he got the interface. The idea is of course good, but the actual production value is not great.Compared with the barriers between several computer giants, their efforts are too insignificant to compete with them at all.

Chen Yuanming listened with great interest. The business acumen shown by these young men is very impressive.Nowadays, there is no concept of "universal serial port" on the market. In this era, personal computers from different manufacturers seem to be products from different planets. The differences are very large, and there is no plan to be compatible at all.However, there are more and more computer-related products, and the demand for compatibility will naturally become more and more urgent. This USB is already quite close to the finished product of later generations in concept, but the size is a bit outrageous. If the shape is improved, it will match the classic models of later generations. , then when a large company sets standards, it is obviously more convenient to acquire the ready-made technology directly by acquiring the company.

This is not a company that can hold its own, but that doesn't mean it can't bring wealth.After thinking for a while, Chen Yuanming smiled and asked his own question in front of several young people who looked anxious.

"I really appreciate this idea, but there are two issues that must be said first. First, is there room for improvement in this product, such as reducing the socket area and making it less conspicuous on the host as much as possible. Second, have you Take the patent with confidence and make it work for most systems."

Although the two questions have nothing to do with the technical core, they are quite straightforward.The people on the opposite side were obviously taken aback, but the red-haired boy in the lead quickly calmed down and answered calmly. "According to the design plan, these will be our main goals for the next step. At present, the chip has been roughly determined, and all that is needed is time. Give us half a year, and we will hand over the results that will surprise you."

Whether it is a product or a team, this combination is enough to satisfy Chen Yuanming.In the end, the contract was successfully signed, with an initial investment of 20 US dollars to support the other party's research and development. The investor owns 50% of the company's shares and does not involve team management. Before the next financing, the company will have to come up with staged results.

The next two C language design teams were not very satisfactory. The product goals were not clear. Although the ideas were trendy, the possibility of implementation was not high.The team researching instant messaging software also has similar problems, but their programming level and ideas are obviously more in line with future development. After careful consideration, Chen Yuanming finally invested 10 US dollars in it first, but the company must further integrate and consider the software. For compatibility issues, we can only discuss further financing after the next step of progress.

After talking about the four plans, [-]% and [-]% failed. The investment is not too big, but Jonathan is really impressed.Although it is impossible to confirm the criteria for the selection of projects by this Chinese teenager, when he actually invests, he appears to be extremely sophisticated, no less than any mature venture capitalist.

What's more, what he pays attention to is not the hype introductory speeches in the project, but to set the landmarks for these ignorant small companies, so that their illusory ideas can be realized on the ground, and it is possible to realize them.It's not that Jonathan has never seen this amazing technique, but it is usually only used by experienced industry veterans. Now it is used by this young man who obviously does not have much computer knowledge. It is self-evident.

Compared with Jonathan's astonishment, Chen Yuanming felt a little apprehensive at this time. In fact, the plan of the "Silicon and Neural Synapse" company has not only invested in one venture capital company, but also been rejected by more than one company.It's like the unspoken rule in the VC world that being "bearish" will affect the selection criteria of other investors. In an industry where there is no secret, being rejected by many people means that the potential purchase value is approaching zero, but "that" company is in What kind of fame is it in later generations? If no one invests, how can it develop to such a scale?

This kind of uneasy mood slowly fermented over time. Compared with the quickness of several other companies, the response speed of "Silicon and Synapse" was comparable to that of a snail. It was not until the weekend that they finally set up an appointment time. The meeting was scheduled at Monday morning.

Early in the morning, Chen Yuanming flew to Shashan Road in his soft-top Land Rover, but someone came earlier than him.Outside the parking lot of Aaron's company, an old Ford car was leaning pitifully on the side of the road. There were two young people squatting beside the car. One was holding a computer nervously, and the other was holding a stack of The materials, washed white jeans with a wrinkled T-shirt, a down-and-out outfit worse than a Silicon Valley IT dog.

Hearing a car approaching, the curly boy holding the computer lazily raised his head, his eyes lit up, "Wow, Land Rover! New Land Rover! Cool! Alan, look!"

The short-haired boy on the opposite side didn't even want to raise his head, "Mike, please, can't we wait until 9 o'clock? I drove all night just to save money on those two hotels..."

"I wasn't the one who cried poor before!" The curly boy put his head on the computer in frustration, "I don't know if Aaron has that kind of treat cookie, I'm so hungry..."

This dialogue is so unique, Chen Yuanming was slightly taken aback, and suddenly smiled.

"Are you also here to try your luck in Aaron?"

A voice interrupted the weak conversation between the two, and Mike raised his head again, looking at the boy in front of him curiously.This is an oriental guy, he doesn't know his age - crap, all orientals look like minors - and he's dressed casually, just looks rich...

rich people.Feeling a little hurt inside, Mike sighed, "Yeah, we're the bosses of Silicon and Synapse...uh, CEO, come over here and find an 'angel' to throw money at us."

"Actually, I think I can get through it if I hold on." Alan on the side complained, "You also know the temper of the technology nerds and rich men in the venture capital company, they don't even look down on gamers... Anyway, "" The Lost Vikings is almost finished, and when we find a seller, we will definitely get the start-up capital, so why not be afraid.”

"I'm afraid that if I eat pickles again, I'll turn into a Hulk!"

With a pop, Chen Yuanming laughed. "What kind of game are you guys playing, are you interested in telling me?" Seeing the tired and defensive expressions of the two, he added, "There is an IHOP Pancake House not far away, why don't you Shall I treat you to a light meal?"

He was answered by two loud borborygmus.Allen swallowed, "Isn't there still an hour? I think it's a good idea to chat!"

It is.

Crowded in the narrow seat, Mike tried to stuff muffins into his mouth like a starving ghost. The muffins sprinkled with special maple syrup were so delicious that people could swallow their tongues. Alan beside him had already wiped out a whole A plate of beef and potato cakes, filling his mouth with egg cakes.

"Why do you have to choose computer games? Isn't SFC still very popular." Sitting at the side, Chen Yuanming drank coffee leisurely and continued the topic just now.

SFC is the follow-up version of Nintendo's red and white machine. The sales volume in Europe and America is very amazing, and it is currently the mainstream TV game console.

Mike took a big sip of coffee and flushed the muffin stuck in his throat, "We all think that PC games will be the king of the game world in the future. Game consoles will be eliminated sooner or later, but computers will not. And as computers With the upgrading of the equipment, its performance will only become more and more amazing, just like the "Dune Devil" launched by Westwood before, it is simply fascinating, isn't it?"

"But our 'Warcraft' will be better than 'Dune'!" Alan interrupted, "Frank is studying the core of Dune at home, and he thinks he can make a better game engine. We have already contacted a few fellows. , as long as the lineup of the studio is expanded to 20 people, it will definitely produce a masterpiece that attracts worldwide attention!"

"I think the cost of 20 people is a bit too much..." Mike interjected weakly, "Is 15 people enough?"

"Hey, it would be great if "The Lost Vikings" can sell 20 yuan, well, 15 yuan is fine. You don't have to eat, but you still have to add things that should be added..." He scratched his head annoyed Allen grumbled, "Everyone thinks we're not going to make it, but our Rock Racer game is really well received. If those two games can't get enough money, we'll have to keep making new games." , the plan about Warcraft must be postponed... If only we could be as rich as Ximu!"

"How long has Westwood been established, and how about you?"

"Hehe." With a few dry laughs, Allen drank the remaining coffee in his cup like a Viking warrior before the battle, and smashed the cup on the table, "Whatever, we're all on Sand Mountain Road anyway! This is the first time that an Angel Club has responded to us!"

"That's right!" Mike proudly raised the coffee cup in his hand, "Cheers to that angel's 'wisdom eye'!"

Chen Yuanming smiled and raised the coffee cup in his hand, and lightly touched the other party, "Cheers to his wise eyes."

After a meal full of interest, the two young men seemed to have finally regained their original fighting spirit. When parting, the curly-haired boy secretly slipped a floppy disk to Chen Yuanming, saying it was the DOS version of "Rock and Roll Racing", and he was welcome to enter Silicon Valley together. Game world with synapses.

Holding the floppy disk, looking at the straight backs of the two, Chen Yuanming had mixed feelings in his heart.When he went to Zhongguancun to sell computers, it just happened to be the turning point in 2000 when the Internet became popular and the computer industry developed rapidly. The sale of pirated discs has never stopped. When "Diablo 2" came out, die-hard fans of the game rushed to tell each other and were overjoyed.

Although he is not a person who is obsessed with games, but for this company, who has experienced the budding era of computers, who can not feel sad?

Now he is holding this floppy disk presented by Mike Mohamy himself... Flipping the disk slightly, Chen Yuanming laughed.

Following behind the seemingly elite partner, Mike whispered to Alan, "After I go in, I'll find an outlet and connect the computer to it, and then you can show them the design drawings, yes, those are the awesome ones." Orc blueprints, and those story structures, stabilize them first, and after I open "The Lost Vikings", we can have a two-person show. Regarding the contact with Nintendo to sell games, we can leave it at that. Say, this way you can ask for more money..."

"Okay, Mike! I've listened to it eight hundred times!" Allen kicked the opponent, "Make sure your broken computer doesn't hurt you!"

It seems that in just a moment, they walked to the door of the meeting room, took a deep breath, and the two of them bravely stepped into the door like Viking warriors facing a dragon. Who knows that before they split up according to the plan, the chief The figure sitting upright made them open their mouths...

"You..." Mike felt a little confused. Isn't this the Chinese boy who invited them to dinner just now?

Allen hugged the information book in his arms tightly, recalling in horror what he said during the meal just now. He didn't say that Warcraft is a bit like Sand Dune, right?

The scene fell into a horrible embarrassment for a while, and finally Mr. Jonathan dutifully introduced, "These two are the founders of Silicon and Synapse, Mr. Allen Adham and Mr. Mike Mohamy."

The smile on Chen Yuanming's face did not fade by half, "Yes, I am quite familiar with these two gentlemen. However, the application amount in the proposal makes me a little suspicious. 30 does not seem to be a particularly appropriate number."

"I...we..." Cold sweat dripped from Mike's forehead. Did he brag about selling the Vikings to Nintendo just now?Is it still too late to say that it only costs 20...

Seeing the other party's panicked expression, the smile on the corner of Chen Yuanming's lips deepened, "Your company is more interesting than I expected. I'm afraid 100 million is the most correct price. But..." the elongated With a final note, he said unhurriedly, "Silicon and Synapse is such a terrible name, don't you plan to change it?"