Wind Rises 2005

Chapter 347 Unstable Factors

The 2007 SXSW carnival is destined to be recorded in history.

Taking advantage of Apple's release of the iPhone, this year is recognized by the global venture capital circle as the best year for entrepreneurship.

Therefore, the technological elements of this SXSW carnival are more intense. I don’t know how many start-up companies want to take advantage of this carnival to make their projects more visible to more people.

Unfortunately, they are doomed to be disappointed.

This year's SXSW Carnival was completely covered by Twitter. With Ma Liang's financial support, Twitter attracted everyone's attention, and other entrepreneurial projects were completely reduced to the role of accompanying runners.

On the first day, Twitter added 6000 registered users, and the 24-hour Twitter dynamic data exceeded 5.

By the fifth day, there were no less than 1 new Twitter users, and no less than 24 tweets in 8 hours.

At the highest record, the number of tweets in a single day exceeded [-].

And the numbers are still growing. This year's SXSW carnival is not only a carnival of art and technology, but also a feast among Twitter users.

On this day, Ma Liang brought Sister Jiang University to the main venue to watch the performance.

Because the influence of the SXSW carnival is growing, not only the number of artists and bands participating in the performances is increasing year by year, but the number of celebrities is also increasing each year.

Just like the performance the two are watching at the moment, it comes from the dedication of Katy Perry, the fruit sister.

Sister Fruit is also a frequent visitor to the SXSW carnival. After singing a few songs, the entire main venue immediately became a sea of ​​joy.

"That's great, in terms of pure business, these foreigners still know how to play.

The perfect integration of technology and art not only promotes the development of art, but also brings a good platform for popularizing technology products.

The key point is that people do not need government subsidies for this kind of activities, and they can make profits on their own.

Not only has it earned hundreds of millions of dollars in profits, but it has also created hundreds of millions of dollars in surrounding economic value for the local government.

I don't know when we will have such an activity in our country. "Sister Jiang University has an extraordinary family background, so she is naturally far-sighted when looking at problems, and she thinks a little more.

Hearing this, Ma Liang looked at Sister Guoguo's stage performance, and then thought of the rich woman's "Red Square Music Festival", his eyes suddenly became extremely firm.

He replied calmly: "As long as you work hard, there will be such a day."

Although he had never seen such a grand event in China until his rebirth in his previous life, this life is different.

With the existence of my own pending approval, I can always do some practical things within my ability.

The most important thing is that people have to do it. The SXSW carnival was just a small event at the beginning, and it took decades to reach this scale.

As long as you work hard, maybe Sister Ice Beauty's [Red Square Music Festival]

It can also be transformed.

One day in the future, it will become a perfect fusion of art and technology [Red Square Carnival].

Ma Liang was suddenly looking forward to that day, what would be left behind in the first rebirth, otherwise it would be too boring.

At this time, even he himself didn't realize that his mentality had slowly changed.

Now that you don't have to worry about survival, you can say that you have basically achieved financial freedom.Psychology also began to shift from purely making money to realizing self-worth unconsciously.

The mentality of the strong is like this. As for whether they will be very happy in the future, or what they can really do, no one can know at this moment.

But there was at least one person at the scene who agreed with Ma Liang's idea.

"Well, there will be such a day." Jiang Yinqiu glanced at him affectionately.

She held her lover's hand tightly, and her gaze towards the stage also became extremely firm.

……

On the seventh day of the SXSW carnival, Ma and Liang planned to withdraw early.

Although the grand event is not over yet, Ms. Jiang University still has to go back to class, and her one-week leave is already two or three days overtime.

Before leaving, Ma Liang met with the Big Three of Twitter again at the hotel.

He had to explain it carefully, otherwise he would not be at ease when he left.

"Dear Marlon, the number of registered users on Twitter has exceeded [-], which is [-]." Upon seeing him, Jack Dorsey couldn't help but start announcing the good news.

Biz Stone was not to be outdone, and then added: "Now the number of Twitter updates every day will not be less than 12.

Moreover, the growth trend is getting stronger and stronger, and the previously prepared servers are not enough.

After the SXSW carnival is over, I will digest this part of the seed users for a period of time. I predict that within two or three months, the number of Twitter users will exceed the 100 million mark. "

"I knew it, I knew that Twitter is an extraordinary product." Ivan Williams couldn't help but sighed when he heard the words.

On the one hand, he was glad that he bet on the right treasure, and on the other hand, he regretted that he failed to make a big bet.

If he had decided to gamble earlier, he would not have to accept Ma Liang's investment in advance.

In that way, the Twitter project still belongs to their Big Three 100% at this moment, and the shares will not be diluted in advance.

But it's too late to say anything now, the investment agreement has been signed, and it's useless to regret it.

How could Ma Liang fail to see the careful thinking of the boss, Ivan Williams, this guy was so hesitant in his previous life, so he was easily manipulated.

He didn't bother to care about whether the other party's mentality was balanced, and directly explained: "Three, we are leaving tomorrow.

It will be up to you in the next few days, and my suggestion is to further hype it up.

If you need to spend money, spend money, and find major media, especially technology media, to report on Twitter's amazing performance at the SXSW carnival.

If possible, make Twitter hype the most trending topic for the next month or two.

This can attract more traffic for us, and let Twitter reach the volume of millions of users in advance.

Don't worry about the money issue, as long as Twitter becomes independent and establishes a new company, I will transfer the funds over immediately. "

While talking, Ma Liang nodded at Ivan Williams from time to time with his eyes.

He had to let the other party understand that the reason why Twitter got off to a better start than in the previous life was entirely due to his $20.

Otherwise, the project can only be admired by people in the venture capital circle now, and it will not reach the point of being crazily praised by so many users.

"Don't worry, I won't let you down." Ivan Williams responded quickly, knowing that the investor was trying to point him out.

He has also thought about it, no matter how the Twitter project develops, as long as he does not have more funds to invest, the shares will be diluted sooner or later.

It’s not giving to anyone, it’s better to raise funds early to make Twitter grow stronger, and he can cash out earlier.

With money, he has more capital to incubate more projects similar to Twitter.

After all, at this moment, in Ivan Williams' mind, he values ​​another project called Obvious more.

Obvious is an idea incubator company he founded, similar to WeWork.

As far as the business model is concerned, it is even a step further than WeWork. If it can really become bigger and stronger, the prospect will not be worse than Twitter.

It’s just a pity that Ivan Williams failed to make Obvious in his previous life. The most successful project he incubated was Twitter.

But these have nothing to do with Ma Liang, he continued to explain: "Everyone, I have three things to discuss with you before leaving."

"Which three things?" Jack Dorsey asked anxiously again.

Ma Liang handed out a piece of A4 paper with all the details written on it, and he explained in a leisurely manner: "The specific content has been clearly written in the document.

The first thing is that I hope to start the next round of financing after Twitter breaks through 100 million users.

In this case, it is not a problem to call the valuation directly to 2000 million US dollars.If those investment institutions do not approve, the financing amount can still be fully covered by me personally.

Of course, if the three of you don't mind.

The second thing is that after the next round of financing, I hope that you can put part of your research and development efforts on mobile application development.

The release of the iPhone is destined to bring about a new technological revolution, and it won't be long before the world enters the mobile Internet era.

In the future I see, Twitter's battlegrounds will be on smartphones.

As for the last thing"

"What's the last thing?" Seeing Ma Liang's sudden pause, Biz Stone, who doesn't talk much, was curious. After all, there were only two points written on the A4 paper.

Ma Liang looked at the three of them worriedly, and then continued to explain: "The last thing is also the thing that worries me the most.

That's Twitter's management!

Especially Jack and Ivan, you two are the biggest unstable factors. "

"What? The two of us?" Ivan Williams was immediately unhappy when he heard this, and couldn't help but questioned.

(End of this chapter)