Wind Rises 2005

Chapter 343
Throughout the ages, there have been very few existences that can transcend human nature.

At the very least, Ma Liang thought that he would definitely not be able to withstand the test of human nature, and he had never seen anyone who could really do it in reality in his previous life.

And according to news reports from previous lives, at least the two founders of Twitter, Jack Dorsey and Ivan Williams, are not ruthless characters who can overcome human nature.

Everyone has desires, and everyone has selfishness.

This is exactly where Ma Liang's only chance to successfully invest in Twitter lies, and that is to make full use of the human weakness of the two founders of Twitter.

Otherwise, he has no advantage at the moment compared to those big investment institutions or well-known angel investors.

To get something, you have to pay something.

Using the voting rights of the shares he holds as a trading weight to win the full support of Jack Dorsey is the trick that Ma Liang plans to set up next.

Otherwise, on the eve of the SXSW carnival with such a tight schedule, how can a deal be concluded as soon as possible.

He is still very confident about this. After all, the two founders, Jack Dorsey and Ivan Williams, had a lot of quarrels in his previous life, which can be called falling in love and killing each other.

As long as they make good use of their human weaknesses, it is very possible to win the shares of Twitter.

At least for now, it seems that Jack Dorsey should be on the hook. After getting his special promise, his eyes turned a little more firm when he turned to make a phone call.

Ma Liang was looking forward to it in his heart, but sister Jiang University couldn't help worrying.

"How can there be someone like you who pays for a few words?
If you don't do due diligence and don't audit your finances, you won't be afraid that all your money will be scammed? "Jiang Yinqiu was really worried when he saw his lover being so impulsive.

Ma Liang waved his hands and replied nonchalantly: "Ham, don't worry, I know what's going on.

I have known about this website before, and I just pretended that I heard it for the first time, and I played it for him on purpose, but in fact, I have already investigated it.

Originally, I was thinking about looking for an opportunity to go to their company to chat someday, but I didn't expect to meet here, so I deliberately strike up a conversation to see if there is any investment opportunity. "

"Really?" Jiang Yinqiu looked at him suspiciously, but he still didn't completely dispel the worries in his heart.

Ma Liang could only keep fooling around: "Don't worry, it's not the first time I've made an investment.

Senior sister, don’t you know that I have already invested in a technology company in China, and I have a good idea of ​​investing in this area. "

"Okay, but it's better to be cautious.

Even in the United States, the success rate of entrepreneurship is very low. "Jiang Yinqiu could only exhort again kindly.

In a few minutes, Jack Dorsey came back from the phone call.

He walked up to Ma Liang and the two of them, and eagerly replied, "Dude, you still need to wait patiently for another half an hour. Ivan and Biz will come over in a while."

SXSW Carnival is not only a carnival of art, but also a grand event for the technology and venture capital circles.

As the boss of Twitter, Ivan Williams, a veteran entrepreneur and angel investor, will definitely be there in person.

It is an excellent time to look at projects, expand contacts, and talk about financing.

And Biz Stone also came to Austin. He is leading a team to maintain Twitter's server in the hotel's temporary office space, in order to cope with the pressure brought by the surge of users tomorrow.

So when Jack Dorsey called and said that there were angel investors who wanted to invest money, the two were very excited and prepared to rush over immediately.

"Very well, dear Jack, this is not the place for conversation either.

How about we find a quiet restaurant nearby and wait for them while eating. Ma Liang smiled slightly, and made another suggestion.

Jack Dorsey nodded shyly, as a promise.

……

Just near the main venue of the SXSW Carnival, I found a steakhouse called ALC Steaks. The environment is quite quiet, and it is a good place to talk about things.

In less than 10 minutes, Ivan Williams and Biz Stone walked into the steakhouse one after the other.

So far, the Big Three of Twitter are all here.

"Ivan, Biz, let me introduce you, this is Marlon, an angel investor from China.

The beautiful lady beside him is his girlfriend Rachel. Seeing that the two partners had already arrived, Jack Dorsey hurriedly made an introduction.

Ma Liang hurriedly got up and shook hands with the two: "Hi, Ivan, Biz, good afternoon, nice to meet you two!"

"Friends from China, it's an honor to meet you!" Ivan was already a little accomplished, so he was naturally much more sophisticated, so he took the lead in greeting.

Biz Stone was a little more shy, just answered, and then fell silent.

Although there is still a while before dinner time, foreigners also have a similar dinner culture.

It's just that in other people's dinners, they seldom make a toast, and basically just talk about things directly.

So everyone was seated, the steak set menu was served, and drinks and snacks were also arranged. After a brief exchange of greetings, they entered the topic while eating.

Jack Dorsey said anxiously: "Ivan, Biz, as I said on the phone, Marlon is very sincere in investing.

Just in terms of valuation, there are some things that need to be negotiated.”

"Marlon, since you're interested in Twitter, you must also see its potential.

I think Twitter will definitely become like Facebook in the future, so the valuation of 500 million is actually not high at all.

In fact, this offer is a bit conservative. Hearing this, Ivan Williams immediately blew his hair at Ma Liang.

That's it for financing negotiations, it's no different from buying vegetables.It's nothing more than boasting of each other first, then suppressing each other, and finally compromise and agree on a price that everyone agrees on.

How could Ma Liang fail to understand Ivan Williams' little thoughts.

He smiled slightly, looked at the other party and asked playfully: "Dear Mr. Ivan, since you are so optimistic about the Twitter project, why don't you go all-in (Stud)?
As far as I know, in addition to incubating Twitter, you also incubated many projects at the same time”

As soon as he said this, not only Jack Dorsey's face was very ugly, but even Biz Stone showed a slightly displeased expression.

As an entrepreneur, being with an investor is like being in love, no one likes a scumbag.

From 0 to 1, the most difficult moment, which founder does not want investors to go all out to support him.

It turns out that you are still half-hearted, divided the money into many shares, and invested in so many entrepreneurial projects at the same time, and everyone will feel resentful.

"Uh, business incubation is one of my jobs, and it has nothing to do with the Twitter project." Ivan Williams' expression suddenly became very awkward, and he could only forcefully explain.

Ma Liang doesn't care about that much, at this time, he must strike while the iron is hot and give him more eye drops.

So he asked back in a dull manner: "Mr. Ivan, as an angel investor, I think you should understand the truth of 'investment is investing in people'?"

"Of course, so the three of us as the founders of Twitter are a dream team.

Jack and Biz are in charge of operations and technology, and I am in charge of marketing and financing. There is no perfect entrepreneurial team.

About my background and experience, you can go to the industry to inquire at any time. ’ Evan Williams explained triumphantly.

After all, his resume is strong enough, which is why he can suppress Jack and Biz.

In Ivan Williams' view, as a well-known and successful entrepreneur in the venture capital circle, his endorsement in Ma Liang is enough.

It's a pity that Ma Liang didn't do what he wanted, but shook his head: "No, no, dear Mr. Ivan, you probably misunderstood what I meant.

Investing is investing in people. This does not mean that I am optimistic about the entire Twitter team.

The only one I really appreciate is Jack Dorsey, after all, I have never been in touch with you and Biz, so I don’t know much about it for the time being, haha.”

Ma Liang is also going all out, in order to win the investment, he even does not hesitate to sow discord.

Anyway, Jack Dorsey and Ivan Williams have always loved and killed each other in their previous lives, and even each had the experience of forcing the other to quit the position of CEO of Twitter.

The development of Twitter in the early years was very tortuous, and it was not unrelated to the discord between the two founders.

So Ma Liang didn't have any psychological burden to provoke the conflict between the two.

In the previous life, because of the discord between the two bastards, Jack and Ivan, Twitter missed a lot of good opportunities for development in the early days.

Otherwise, what Twitter can ultimately achieve must be greater.

(End of this chapter)