Wind Rises 2005

Chapter 452
Gold in troubled times, antiques in prosperous times.

No matter when, investment follows a simple law, that is the principle of scarcity.

When an economic crisis strikes, this principle becomes particularly important.

Although during an economic downturn, various investments will suffer heavy losses and financial markets will be depressed, real players will do the opposite.

High-quality companies or high-quality assets will be sought after by a small number of people because of their scarcity.

After all, the more difficult the times, the more severe the depreciation of wealth. Only the best companies or assets can hedge risks.

Most of the investment behaviors that ordinary people cannot understand are based on this logic.

The reason why Ma Liang can be so strong to the investors here is also because he deeply understands this truth.

Facebook has now become the leader of the social track, and its investors are either Microsoft or one of the world's top five venture capital institutions such as Accel Partners.

People's capital bureau is so awesome that ordinary people have no chance to participate even if they have money.

These small institutions and small investors here are no longer qualified to board the Facebook capital game table.

Since they couldn't vote for the No. [-], Twitter, as the No. [-], was their best choice.

Moreover, Twitter and Facebook are not ordinary entrepreneurial projects, and the two are about to start a battle for the king of social networking.

Although both companies are still in the growth stage, the entire venture capital circle has become more and more optimistic about social networking sites, and even believes that a giant company will emerge in the social track.

This has become the consensus of many investors.

If it weren't for this, Twitter wouldn't be admired by countless investors immediately after the fire at the SXSW carnival.

Of course, according to the current cards, Facebook must have a greater advantage, but Twitter is not completely out of chance.

Otherwise, why would these investors gather here to force Lai Lai, they must all want to play.

That's why Ma Liang boldly played aggressive tactics against these people, and forced them on the spot.

If you want to participate in this century's gambling game, don't beep so much, whether you like it or not.

After hearing his words, all the investors fell silent again, and they all stopped speaking.

Just as everyone was debating whether to participate, a few applause came slowly from the corner of the meeting room.

"You really deserve to be the founder of [Gale Capital] who has gained fame recently!
Mr. Marlon's remarks are indeed very provocative. If you are the founder of Twitter, I don't need to hesitate and vote in minutes.

But unfortunately, you are not.

The most brilliant deception in the world is that nine and a half out of ten sentences are true, and only the remaining half is false.

I admit that most of your speech is very credible.Even elevating Twitter to the point where it can compete with Facebook, I agree with these.

There is only one point that is skipped and not mentioned, which really makes people feel a little guilty! "

It was Fred Wilson, a partner of United Broad Investment, who applauded, and he was also the one who questioned so quickly.

Ma Liang knew it, but he still pretended to be confused and asked, "Oh? Which point is it?"

"I don't know how to solve the gap in strength between Twitter and Facebook? Even with the 3000 million US dollars raised in this round, the gap in capital strength between the two is still as big as a natural moat.

If this problem cannot be solved in a short time, then Twitter will only be left further and further away by Facebook in the future.

This is the core key. If this premise is not resolved, what Marlon you just said is a castle in the air. "Fred Wilson questioned playfully.

After his confusion, the investors present came to their senses and once again turned their attention to Ma Liang, wanting to see how he would explain.

Ma Liang had already made a plan in his mind, so how could he be stopped by the other party?

He responded unhurriedly: "Mr. Fred, since I dare to stand up and preside over Twitter's financing, I will naturally not fight an unprepared battle.

Twitter’s $3000 million Series A financing will be fully used to promote the development of the website.

Five months later, Twitter will start the next round of financing again, and the amount of the C round of financing is [-] million US dollars. "

If he hadn't prepared, he wouldn't have been so reckless.

For the Twitter project, Ma Liang has been thinking about how to maximize this project ever since he met and voted for the angel round at the SXSW carnival.

Although I was not a person in the venture capital circle in my previous life, I have seen some successful business cases and the wild operations of giant companies.

Coupled with the assistance of Jennifer Graves, a Wall Street elite, he has enough confidence to make some arrangements.

It's just a gamble, and there is still a situation where you can win but not lose, so there is nothing you can't do.

"What? Three hundred million dollars?"

"Oh my God, it's crazy!"

"Five months? That's impossible!"

The investors present shouted out one after another. They were all so shocked by Ma Liang's remarks that their jaws almost dropped to the ground.

Ma Liang nodded and replied with absolute certainty: "I'm sure you heard it right!"

"Marlon, do you know what you are talking about? And you don't know what the current financial market situation is?"

"A young man is a young man, after all, he has never suffered a big loss!"

A group of investors began to rant again. When they wanted to come to Ma Liang, they were whimsical at the moment, and it was impossible to complete that kind of operation against the sky.

Ma Liang did not rush to argue, but continued to ask: "Everyone, as we all know, there are three giants in the American technology industry today, Microsoft, Apple and Google.

In addition to Apple, which is still catching up, the market values ​​of Microsoft and Google have exceeded 2000 billion US dollars.

Not long ago, Microsoft invested US$2.4 million in Facebook.

Do you think Google will sit back and remain indifferent to this?

As long as Twitter achieves breakthrough development and does not get too far behind Facebook, I believe that the $[-] million in financing five months from now will not be a big problem.

At the very least, Google would be very interested in throwing a hand.

If you get investment from Google, more large investment institutions will definitely be willing to follow up. Do you still have to worry about it then? "

As a technology giant, Google invests and makes bets everywhere.If Microsoft can invest in Facebook, then Google may also invest in Twitter.

Of course, the premise is that Twitter's data can't be too hip, and it must have sufficient investment value.

Otherwise, Google will definitely choose to invest directly in Facebook instead of Twitter. After all, if the mud can’t support the wall, don’t expect too much.

"Marlon, I admit that what you said is a bit operable, but the problem is back to the original point.

How can you ensure that Twitter's development will not be left behind too much by Facebook?
You know, Facebook just raised $2.4 million, which is a time when they are rich. I can't think of any reason why Twitter can beat them. "

Mark Anderson, the co-founder of Netscape, asked again with a sneer, because this is the core key.

Ma Liang stretched out his index finger, shook his hand and said, "No, no, no, of course, there is no 100% guarantee on this.

But I have a detailed plan that can help Twitter achieve rapid growth, not only to catch up with Facebook's development pace, but even surpass them. "

"Really?"

"what's the plan?"

"Speak and listen"

The investors finally couldn't sit still, but how could Ma Liang let them succeed easily.

This plan was painstakingly figured out with a lot of brain cells, and he must not reveal half of it before it is implemented, otherwise it will not work.

It is with this trick that he has the confidence to implement this against Twitter.

Otherwise, he should have been doing what he was doing long ago, so he didn't dare to easily interfere with Twitter's development trajectory.

Facing the questions from the investors, Ma Liang chuckled and replied, "Sorry!
This plan is the core secret of the Twitter company. Even Ivan and Jack have not revealed half of it.

Regarding the details of the plan, I will inform everyone at the shareholder meeting after Twitter completes the A round of financing. Before that, please allow me to keep it confidential.

Please rest assured, I can use the reputation of [Gale Capital] as a guarantee, and what I said is true.

As for whether you believe it or not, please make your own judgment.

Having said all that, there is nothing left to explain, whether you want to participate in this gamble is up to you! "

Having said that, it will come to an abrupt end, and once again I will not be able to deal with all the investors.

How can there be such a game, why don't you even disclose the details, isn't this just playing with the big guys!

But if what Ma Liang said was true, the nature would be completely different.

If Twitter can really catch up with the development of Facebook, wouldn't it become a rare commodity in minutes?
(End of this chapter)