Sprinkle coins every day

Chapter 304 Germination adds generals, Wally Smart Manufacturing refinances, Zhang Shuo shows favor to Tengda!
"how do you feel?"

In the lounge of the Fertile Soil Research Institute, Professor Wu acted as a broker again and asked Professor Tang Ou with a smile.

"It's a bit unexpected."

Tang Ou did not hide his shock, "Before I came here, it was hard for me to imagine that a domestic company would have such an ambition in the research and development of cutting-edge technology, and it would be put into practice."

"Sprout is indeed an outlier."

Professor Wu also laughed, "But you can't deny that Germination has the ability to realize its ambitions."

"Yes."

Tang Ou didn't refute either, Zhang Shuo's richest man's name is there.

"Well, how about it, do you want to join?"

Professor Wu continued to lobby, "Zhang Shuo has already agreed to build the laboratory in Xiangjiang, and he will not interfere with the daily scientific research work of the laboratory. It is just a waste of money."

"I don't seem to have any reason to refuse again?" Tang Ou also took the opportunity to get off the donkey.

"Ha ha!!!"

Professor Wu was also very happy, "Let's go, Zhang Shuo has already arranged a meal."

.........

Zhang Shuo's so-called dinner was arranged in the small cafeteria of the Fertile Soil Research Institute.

Because Professor Tan Yunsong doesn't like socializing outside.

Fortunately, Professor Wu and Professor Tan are also engaged in research, and they don't pay too much attention to what to eat. The most discussed topics at the dinner table are related to artificial intelligence.

Today it is today.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a general concept, but includes many research directions.

The more popular ones are-

1. Natural language generation
Artificial intelligence uses computer data to generate text, which can be used in customer service, report generation, and business intelligence information summary.

2. Speech recognition

AI dictates human speech and converts it into a form useful for computer applications, such as interactive voice response systems and mobile applications.

3. Virtual assistants

It's the "current media darling," which ranges from simple chatbots to advanced systems that can network with humans.

Can be used in customer service and support, and smart home management tools.

4. Machine learning platform

Provide algorithms, APIs, development and training toolkits, data, and computing power to design, train, and develop computing models into applications, processes, and machines.

Can be widely used in enterprise applications, most of which include prediction or classification functions.

5. Hardware optimized by artificial intelligence
GPUs and applications specifically designed and architected to run AI computing tasks.

Can be used to transform deep learning applications.

6. Decision-making management

An engine that inserts rules and logic into AI systems, which can be used for initial setup/training, as well as ongoing maintenance and optimization.

It can be used in many different enterprise applications to assist or automate decision-making.

7. Deep learning platform

A special form of machine learning platform consisting of multiple layers of artificial neural networks can be used for pattern recognition and classification based on large data sets.

8. Biological information

Enabling more natural interactions between humans and machines, including but not limited to image and touch recognition, voice and body language, can be used for market research.

9. Machine processing automation
The automation of human operations using scripting and other methods to support more efficient business processes can be used for certain tasks and processes that are labor-intensive or inefficient.

10. Text Analysis and Natural Language Processing
Artificial intelligence uses statistical and machine learning methods to understand the structure, meaning, emotion, and intent of sentences, which can be used for fraud detection and information security, various automated assistants, and mining of unstructured data.

For example, using artificial intelligence to write press releases.

11. Image recognition

Image recognition refers to the process of recognizing and detecting features in videos or pictures, and its mechanisms are useful for massively processing image searches and detecting license plates, diagnosing diseases, and studying personalities.

The main direction of Professor Tang Ou's team is the face recognition system.

This is only the mainstream direction that can be explored at present. In the future, as artificial intelligence technology continues to mature, its application scope and fields will become wider and wider.

Until it becomes one of the main production tools of social progress.

There are so many research directions in the field of artificial intelligence, and each branch field needs a long time to work. Naturally, it cannot be done by the Wotu Research Institute alone.

This is why Zhang Shuo is so eager to win over Tang Ou's team.

Professors Tan Yunsong and Tang Ou are both masters in the field of artificial intelligence. Professor Wu is also quite dabbled in the research of artificial intelligence, but Zhang Shuo is a bit of a layman.

But Zhang Shuo is not useless. As a reborn person, he has a very intuitive feeling about the development trend of artificial intelligence in the next ten years, such as language assistants, face recognition, online translation and so on.

Therefore, a few words can also be inserted.

Sometimes the proposed application prospects of artificial intelligence even resonate with professors.

Lu Qingyun, the CEO of Wali Zhizao who accompanied him, would occasionally add a few words.

The core business of WALL-E is robot research and development, and the core of robots is actually artificial intelligence, including face recognition technology, map navigation technology and other intelligent sensing technologies.

Especially the automatic pathfinding and planning system is the core of the robot.

"As long as a breakthrough is made in automatic road finding, various robots such as sweeping robots, collaborative robots, tracked unmanned vehicles, AGV logistics vehicles, and fixed-wing drones will be developed in the future. The prospects are broad."

Speaking of the rising point, Lu Qingyun danced with hands and feet.

"Sweeping robot? This is fine."

Zhang Shuo doesn't know much about other things, but he is looking forward to the next few years, which will gradually change from a rare item to a sweeping robot that is gradually accepted and recognized by thousands of households.

The market prospect is absolutely broad!

"Then what's the matter, Zhang Shuo, are you interested in investing some more money in Walli Intelligence? The early funds of Walli Intelligence are almost exhausted." Professor Wu took the opportunity and said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

This is also his real intention for bringing Lu Qingyun here this time.

To put it bluntly, it is here to attract investment.

"How far has the automatic pathfinding technology been developed?" Zhang Shuo asked.

"Uh, it's still in the stage of tackling key problems." Lu Qingyun felt a little embarrassed. Wali Smart Manufacturing has been established for more than a year, and the money is spent, but decent research and development results are still not available.

Inevitably a little embarrassing.

"Okay, let's just talk about it, how much money does Germina need to invest in this round of financing?"

Zhang Shuo is still very self-aware. He knows that even if Wali Zhizao lacks money, he will not accept a wholly-owned acquisition by Germina. In terms of capital needs, it is estimated that he will be squeezed out of toothpaste.

Every time a round of financing is completed, the valuation of Walli Zhizao will rise a little.

The advantage of doing this is that, even if each round is the main investment of Germination, the shares held by the founding team of Wally Intelligence will be continuously diluted, but at least some can be retained.

It will not become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sprout.

The founding team of WALL-I are all elites in the field of robot research and development at home and abroad. They are mainly doctors.

But pride is pride, and it's okay if you don't have money.

Compared with other VCs, Bud’s word-of-mouth reputation is quite good. The key point is Bud’s layout in the field of artificial intelligence is very deep. In the future, WALLI can strengthen technical cooperation with Fertile Research Institute.

Create a synergistic effect.

"WALLI's A-round financing is valued at 5 million yuan. It plans to raise 1 million yuan and sell 20% of the shares. Mr. Zhang, do you think it is acceptable?" Lu Qingyun was also prepared.

"can."

For Professor Wu's sake, Zhang Shuo didn't bargain at all.

The investment of hundreds of millions was finalized in a few words at the dinner table. It seemed unbelievable, but it was the truth, and it was not that profound at all.

Because Zhang Shuo trusts Professor Wu, it's as simple as that.

When Wali Zhizao was founded, Germination Group was one of the original shareholders. It invested 4500 million yuan and obtained 35% of the shares of Walli Zhizao, with a valuation equivalent to 1.3 million yuan.

A year has passed.

The overall valuation of WALL-I has risen to 5 million, which is a little watery, but it is barely acceptable.

After Germina leads the A-round financing, its shareholding in Walli Intelligent Manufacturing will rise from 35% to 48%. Not to mention it is still the largest shareholder, it is still close to realizing the controlling stake in Walli Intelligent Manufacturing.

This is obviously also carefully calculated.

In the next round of financing, Walli Zhizao is bound to introduce new investors to prevent Germination Holdings.

Again--

Friendship is friendship, business is business, and brothers are still clear about it.

"Thank you, thank you Mr. Zhang!"

It could be seen that Lu Qingyun was very excited, very excited.

Don’t blame him. Before looking for Mengya to invest, Lu Qingyun actually contacted other VCs, but those VCs saw that WALLI hadn’t produced any results for a year, and the highest valuation could only be 3 million .

Their expectations are too low.

If it is based on the internal estimation of the founding team of Wall-E, even if there is no major achievement, their research and development in the past year is not for fun, and there are still some breakthroughs.

The estimated valuation at the beginning was eight to one billion.

It's just that reality gave them a very loud slap in the face.

"Thank you, I don't need it. I just look forward to the early results under the leadership of Mr. Lu. After the financing, Walli Intelligent Manufacturing can set up a contact group to connect with the Wotu Research Institute. For affiliated companies Germinal has always been fully supportive of the technology research and development."

Zhang Shuo took advantage of the situation and threw out an olive branch.

This is not only a way of showing favor, but also strengthening the business relationship between Germination Group and Wali Zhizao, so as to prevent Wali Zhizao from being outside the Germination system.

Similar methods have also been used on Wujiang Technology before.

Lu Qingyun has Lu Qingyun's careful thinking, and Zhang Shuo naturally has his small calculations. After this financing, Germination will definitely not carry out wild stocking of Wall-E.

At least.

It is necessary to send relevant personnel such as finance and auditing to Walli Zhizao to ensure that the money invested by Germination is really used for technology research and development, rather than being used by the founding team for personal consumption in disguise.

Even for personal pleasure.

[-] million may not be a big deal to Germination, but it is impossible to be taken advantage of.

"Thank you, for sure!" Lu Qingyun hurriedly made a promise, "There will definitely be breakthroughs this year."

"Good things come in pairs today."

Professor Wu was also very happy. He won Tang Ou for Zhang Shuo in the morning, and he smiled and told about Tang Ou's agreement to join the Wotu Research Institute.

"Thank you!"

Zhang Shuo was also very happy, and raised his glass with a smile. Professor Wu is indeed his lucky star.

.........

After lunch, Professor Wu left first.

Lu Qingyun stayed, and he wanted to connect with Lu Kai, the Rotating President of Sprout, and take advantage of the following weekend to lead the legal and financial teams of both parties to finalize the specific investment contract as soon as possible.

So is Professor Tang Ou.

In principle, it is planned to set up a face recognition laboratory in Xiangjiang, as a subsidiary institution of the Wotu Research Institute, with Professor Tang Ou as the chief scientist of the laboratory.

At the same time, he was selected into the Germination Thousand Talents Program.

Normally, Professor Tang Ou only needs to report to Tan Yunsong, the chief scientist of Germination Group, and Tan Yunsong signs and approves the laboratory-related scientific research plans and research and development funds.

Zhang Shuo will never interfere.

.........

On the weekend, Zhang Shuo met his second uncle again.

"Sprout moves very quickly."

Tang Yi is obviously in a good mood and well informed, knowing that Sprout has not only completed its investment in Huaxia Microelectronics, but also allocated an additional one billion yuan for investment in semiconductors.

Even the activation of rice ear semiconductors has been heard.

Obviously, after the beginning of the year, Germination has accelerated its investment and layout in the semiconductor industry.

This is also what he likes to see.

"It's just a small fight now." Zhang Shuo was very modest.

The fact is also true. Compared with the output value of trillions of dollars in the semiconductor industry, this small amount of investment in Germination is not even a warm-up, and this small amount of funds alone will not make any waves.

If you want to make breakthroughs in the future, you need at least tens of billions, or even hundreds of billions of investments.

Don't say far.

Just look at Huaxia Microelectronics, which has absorbed 20 billion funds in just one financing.

This is how the current germination can bear it?
"Everything is difficult at the beginning!" Tang Yi is very confident in Zhang Shuo, "It is said that you are the hand of miracles, then create another miracle in the semiconductor industry."

"Second Uncle, don't make fun of me." Zhang Shuo scratched his head.

With the growing scale of Germination, Zhang Shuo will inevitably become the focus of attention of all parties. The wind in the field of public opinion is also blowing, and news will emerge from time to time.

This is not.

After the scandal of the richest man, some people on the Internet claimed that Zhang Shuo was a miracle hand. In just over a year, he started from scratch and saved a large fortune.

He also analyzed that Germination has never made a wrong move since its establishment, and every move has been played extremely well.

Obviously it has the meaning of flattery.

For these rumors, Zhang Shuo can only learn to adapt slowly.

"Weixin has recently developed a smart city solution, and it will be tried in Binhai City first." It is also rare for Tang Yi to mention specific work to Zhang Shuo.

"I've also read that plan. The prospect it depicts is very tempting, and it has already been approved."

"Thank you, uncle."

In fact, Zhao Xiaohu was behind this matter, and Zhang Shuo did not intervene, let alone play the second uncle card, and the two sides cooperated as they wanted.

It doesn't take any extra money.

"You don't have anything to tell me?" Tang Yi seemed to have something to say.

"No."

Zhang Shuo shook his head resolutely, "I just want to make a small suggestion. As a first-tier city, Binhai City is also a city of youth and innovation. The speed of 4G construction can be appropriately accelerated. I heard that Lin'an has already gone ahead of Binhai City. It is expected that by the end of this month, full coverage of the 4G network in the main urban area will be achieved.”

"is it?"

Tang Yi really took his heart, "I will understand what you said."

It stands to reason that Binhai City is not only the headquarters of Warwick, but also well-known Internet companies such as Tenda and Sprout. If it lags behind in 4G construction, it really shouldn't be done.

But as long as the official wants to promote this kind of lag, it is easy to speed up.

The early realization of full 4G network coverage in Binhai City is definitely a great benefit for Bud, not to mention that it is more convenient to play mobile games, mainly because it can promote the implementation of Weixin's "Smart City Solution".

It's a win-win.

.........

Monday, May 3.

While having breakfast in the cafeteria, Zhang Shuo met Lu Kai.

Of course, Lu Kai also knew what Zhang Shuo cared about, and reported with a smile: "The investment contract for Walli Smart Manufacturing has been drawn up, and the formal process can begin today."

In order to finalize the investment, he worked overtime on weekends.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

Zhang Shuo was very satisfied. After breakfast, he invited Lu Kai to the office and made tea for Lu Kai himself.

"Thank you, President Zhang!"

Lu Kai was a little flattered.

"You proposed to invest in Kuang Shi Technology and Xiyin before. How is the progress?"

It has been a month since the incident, and Zhang Shuo originally expected that according to Lu Kai's impatience in wanting to make achievements, the two investments should have been negotiated last month.

Unexpectedly, it has not come out until now.

"The two companies have already agreed to accept our investment. I don't know where Scarlet Capital got the news, and United Tengda suddenly got involved."

Lu Kai is also having a headache recently, "The current situation is a bit complicated."

"Then talk slowly."

For business competition, Zhang Shuo is now able to treat it with a normal heart.

Since the Green Orange Group can carry out a sneak attack and annex the mold group under the eyes of the Big Three, then Scarlet Capital and Tengda can naturally intervene halfway and cut off the budding business.

In the end, it depends on who's method is better.

"As for the research on the semiconductor industry, is there a suitable investment target?" Zhang Shuo asked again.

"There is."

Lu Kai was also unequivocal, "For the time being, three unicorn companies, namely Huaqing Communication, Chengrui Optics and Jiali Chuang, have been designated, and we will keep in touch with them in secret in order to make the investment land as soon as possible."

With the lessons of Kuang Shi Technology and Xiyin first, Lu Kai will of course be on guard.

Avoid being targeted by Scarlet Capital again.

"What do these three unicorns do? Do you have any unique secrets?" Zhang Shuo asked.

"Huoqing Communication is a mobile phone ODM company. Chengrui Optics focuses on the three major businesses of lenses, modules and transmissions. Jiali creates a high-tech enterprise that produces PCBs (printed circuit boards)."

It is said that it is a semiconductor unicorn company, but in fact it is all about corners and corners, and there is not much core technology.

There are very few unicorn companies in China that can focus on research and development. Many so-called unicorns can't wait to go public to collect money after making a little noise.

"is it?"

Zhang Shuo was a little disappointed, "These three companies can invest first, but they still need to dig deeper into the semiconductor industry. They don't have to be mature, large-scale, and well-known. Small and micro enterprises can also be tapped. As long as they have unique secrets, budding investment We can support them and help them grow bigger and stronger.”

He doesn't want to be so impetuous, but hopes to be able to immerse himself in it for a long time.

"understood."

Lu Kai also understood, "I will suggest Germination Investment to build a dedicated semiconductor research group internally to conduct investment research in the semiconductor industry."

"I believe you."

Zhang Shuo is only responsible for controlling the general direction, and does not intervene much in the specific investment business.

At the end of the conversation, Lu Kai suddenly mentioned something, "Mr. Zhang, I got news that last week, Scarlet Capital led the angel round investment of a start-up company. It is said that this start-up company was founded by a graduate student from Binhai University. , leading blood testing technology.”

"You mean Luopu Medical, founded by Su Beibei?" Zhang Shuo had a strange expression.

"Yes, this is the one, Mr. Zhang, have you been in contact with it?"

Lu Kai was very surprised. He also paid extra attention because he was related to Binhai University. It was originally just a gossip on the spot.

Unexpectedly, there seems to be a story in it.

"This Su Beibei also approached me, hoping that Germina could invest, but I rejected it on the spot." Zhang Shuo really underestimated this Su Beibei, and even got in touch with Scarlet Capital in a blink of an eye.

It can be seen that there are indeed some means.

What Zhang Shuo didn't know was whether Su Beibei could be favored by Scarlet Capital, or whether he was "stained" by him.

After being rejected by Zhang Shuo.

Su Beibei was furious, and found out that Scarlet Capital was not dealing with Germinal on the Internet, so she took the initiative to contact Scarlet Capital, saying that Zhang Shuo, the project in her hand, was approved, but it was not in line with Germinal's investment direction.

A wave of reverse Q came.

When Scarlet Capital heard this, it really became interested. Although it was dubious about this blood testing technology, as a venture capitalist, it looked at the problem from a different angle than Zhang Shuo.

At least in the eyes of Scarlet Capital, this thing can become a good story if it is packaged.

That's worth the investment!
Anyway, for Scarlet Capital, which casts a wide net, investing several million angel rounds in Luopu Medical is like sprinkling water. It is gratifying to succeed, but there is no loss if it fails.

You can also disgust Zhang Shuo by the way, why not do it?

"That!"

Realizing that there might be a little gossip in it, Lu Kai tactfully didn't ask any more questions, but at the same time, he kept an eye out for people to pay attention to this Luopu Medical.

Let's see what kind of troubles come out in the future.

.........

After Lu Kai left, Zhang Shuo called Zhao Xiaohu to the office and asked about the connection between Qinghe Technology and Binhai City, so as to know what he knew.

Ok!

Zhao Xiaohu is also a very well-behaved person, and nothing happened in between.

At the end of the conversation, Zhang Shuo suddenly asked about the situation of Panda Live, "Last month, how was the user growth of Panda Live?"

"To be honest, it's average."

Zhao Xiaohu also said, "When it comes to game live streaming, client games play a major role after all. Now the only client game that Panda Live can broadcast live is Dota 2, which is too thin."

As the popularity of TI1 events faded, Panda Live also fell into a growth bottleneck period.

"Look, is it possible to introduce Tenda's games, such as "League of Legends", "Dungeon and Fighter" and "Cross Fire"?" Zhang Shuo had a whim.

"This, I'm afraid it's difficult?"

Tengda and Mengya are half deadly enemies now, "Pangda's anchor tried to broadcast "Cross Fire" before, and soon we received a warning letter from Tenda's lawyer."

It can be seen how guarded Tengda is against Pangda’s live broadcast.

"Then what if we allow Tenda to take a stake in Pangda Live?"

Zhang Shuo did not come on a whim. After realizing that Tengda and Scarlet Capital were getting closer, he was already thinking about whether to improve the relationship with Tengda a little.

It's not that you have to turn enemies into friends.

At least Scarlet Capital should not be allowed to get too close to Tenda, that would cause headaches for Germinal Investment.

fortress!

Often differentiated from within.

As long as Germina and Tenda have further cooperation, it is impossible for Scarlet Capital to have no grudges against Tenda. After all, when Tenda acquired Dacong Dianping, Scarlet Capital had been abandoned once.

One must be the other, isn't it?
"If that's the case, then you can get in touch with Tengda."

Zhao Xiaohu didn't object either.

If after the introduction of Tenda’s investment, Panda Live can broadcast Tenda’s end games, it will be tantamount to establishing its dominance in China’s game live broadcast field.

It's a win-win.

　PS: There are some popular sciences in this chapter, I wrote 6468 words specially for fear that the readers would say that I am a sucker, loyal! ! !
　　
　
(End of this chapter)