My Age of Investment

Xia Jingxing also thought about the issue of Facebook financing.

Tens of thousands of dollars, it is definitely not necessary, because you can pay for it yourself.

Several million dollars, with the current achievements, will definitely not be able to finance.

It is best to raise a few hundred thousand dollars first, and then the next round of financing after the results are obtained.

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

Of course, if it’s the kind of person who is crazy because of lack of money and will die if he can’t raise money, then there is no choice!

It wasn't that Xia Jingxing looked down on Rao Lei, but it was really inappropriate for the other party to be an angel investor in Facebook.

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

"I want to raise $500,000 at a post-money valuation of $5 million."

When Rao Lei heard this, he immediately laughed, "It's a bit difficult for you! If I were an angel investor, I would definitely not agree easily."

Xia Jingxing's purpose was to charge a high price to block the road, so that Rao Lei would not speak again, and then refused, hurting the harmony between the two parties.

Xia Jingxing nodded, "I also know that it is a bit high. Facebook's current operating data is not bright enough. Maybe it would be better to delay financing for a while."

Rao Lei didn't speak, but he was thinking fast in his heart.

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

In the late 1990s, there was a fever of returning home, but unfortunately he did not go back.

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

Although Chen Yizhou sold Chinaren to Sohu for $33 million, which is incomparable to the independent listing, he also made a lot of money.

Zhou Yunfan and Yang Ning also took the money from selling the company to start a second business and founded "kongwang".

All three had studied at Stanford, and he was very familiar with them, and they were still in touch from time to time.

The other party told him from time to time: how many thousands of Chinese netizens broke,

Which Internet company has received financing again.

Hearing that he was just around the corner.

Although he is currently studying for an MBA in a business school, he has been thinking about entrepreneurship, and at the same time is still eyeing Internet innovation in China and the United States.

When he saw the Facebook website, he was quite touched and felt that it might be a brand new Internet model, and it was very hopeful that it would make a breakthrough.

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

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

"Refinance after a while..." Rao Lei pondered, "Let me tell you my opinion!"

Xia Jingxing seemed to listen carefully, and he also wanted to hear what the founder of the Chinese SNS website had to say.

"Although the U.S. intellectual property legal system is relatively complete, plagiarism is completely eliminated."

Rao Lei said with a smile: "I have also heard about your grievances with "This Facebook".

It is said that it was tinkered with by two undergraduate senior boys.

I heard that their website has been stinky at the Ivy League school, is it your handwriting? "

Xia Jingxing nodded and smiled, this was nothing to admit, it was just to protect his legitimate rights and interests.

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

Rao Lei first boasted, and then said: "But what if the opponent is not two senior students, but a large company?"

Without waiting for Xia Jingxing to answer, Rao Lei continued: "Then maybe the other party won't be so stupid and make a website that is almost the same as yours.

It only takes a big change in appearance, and even more functions can be added.

That way they could make a whole new website with even more features than Facebook.

Can you say they are plagiarizing?

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

You can go and sue them.

But I'm sorry, they can hire a lawyer, slowly consume you, and directly drag you to death.

The big deal is a final payment and an out-of-court settlement. "

Xia Jingxing asked, "You want to tell me that we must speed up to guard against endless competitors?"

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

"Think about it, as long as you have a successful path, those big companies will definitely swarm.

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

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

Rao Lei smiled and said, "What you have to do now is to quickly raise funds, formally set up a company, recruit people, and then "go ahead".

Of course, this does not prevent competitors from springing up like mushrooms after a rain.

But at the very least, you have more of a "leader" advantage. "

Xia Jingxing thought about it carefully, Rao Lei made some sense, but some exaggerated.

At present, big companies absolutely dislike Facebook, and most of the people who can follow the trend are some sluts.

Ryan and Phyllis are also considered assholes, renting a server for a few hundred dollars will do it.

This also exposes a problem. The current Facebook website is indeed lacking in technical content, and the threshold for plagiarism is too low.

"Don't pursue valuation and financing too much. What you need to do now is to set up a company and improve the team and product."

Rao Lei held up the gold-rimmed glasses that held his nose, and said kindly: "You have nothing now, improving the survival rate is more important than anything else.

If there is another competitor, it may not be so easy to deal with.

According to some information I know, the registered patent application related to your website has only been submitted not long ago.

Then you have to wait, at least a few years. "

Xia Jingxing said with a smile: "Senior Brother Rao, what you said is very reasonable, but we have not yet reached the time for massive 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 was stunned for a moment, then 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 further, he was afraid that this little brother came to the United States, did not understand the wage level here, and had misunderstandings about the capitalist country.

As a result, Xia Jingxing nodded to show that he knew, which made Rao Lei a little surprised.

He looked at Xia Jingxing from head to toe again, what's wrong with this brother's mine?

However, he did not doubt the truth of Xia Jing's jargon.

It has been more than 20 years since the reform was opened, and it is not surprising that some people in China have become rich.

Unlike in the early 1990s, when the whole family borrowed money to go abroad at their own expense, today's children are really happy!

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

After all, he doesn't have much savings. After 10 years in the United States, he saved less than 300,000 US dollars by living frugally.

People can afford the salary expenses of 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a month, so how can they see their own money.

His original intention was to chat with Xia Jingxing, look at the project, and invest $20,000 to $30,000 if appropriate.

But now, I can only put out the idea.

In addition to feeling that the other party has too much appetite, there is also a risk issue.

It's almost crazy to gamble with all your net worth on a project.

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

Venture capital, as its name suggests, is very risky.

Especially for early-stage angel investment projects, 99 out of 100 may die.

He might not have even thought about investing if it hadn't been for the momentum of Facebook sweeping college campuses that attracted him.

After dispelling the careful thinking of investment, Rao Lei and Xia Jingxing chatted about returning to China to start a business.

"Senior Brother Rao, are you planning to go back to China to start a business?"

Xia Jingxing was very surprised. In fact, he knew that the other party was going to return to China next year. He started UUme (Youyoumi), the earliest SNS website in China, and became a trend-setter for a while.

"Yes, don't look at the domestic backwardness in all aspects, but in fact this is an opportunity, and we need to go back to China to fill the gap.

Stay in America and you might be a comfortable middle class.

But if you want to achieve a career, it is very difficult. "

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

Maybe we can work together in the future, and then you have to support the senior brother a lot. "

"Senior brother has won the prize! I still need to work harder..."

Rao Lei didn't put on any airs, and he and Xia Jingxing were like friends.

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

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

After chatting for over an hour, Xia Jingxing got up and prepared to leave.

"You're welcome, I will come to sit often in the future."

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

No matter what they are talking about, the other party can always answer them. They have a wide range of knowledge, and their thinking logic is meticulous. They often put forward some refreshing points of view.

Although he had only tasted it and didn't talk about it in depth, it also made him amazed.

The most outrageous thing is that the other party is very familiar with American society and various business laws.

Before leaving, he called Xia Jingxing again, and exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, saying that we must communicate more in the future.

With a completely equal tone, he really regarded Xia Jingxing as a character.

In the end, he also said that if Xia Jingxing needed it, he could also introduce some angel investors or VC institutions for Xia Jingxing.

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

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

As for the fight that day, he also automatically made up for it: young people, it is inevitable to be impulsive when doing things. At the same time, it also appears to be more straightforward and flesh-and-blood!