Wind Rises 2005

Chapter 453
"Is it too much?"

"That's right, how can there be such financing? It's unheard of in the Silicon Valley venture capital circle for so many years."

"Marlon, I feel like you lack the sincerity in financing. How about we talk about it another day?"

A group of investors are definitely not so easy to fool, and they will not easily believe Ma Liang's few words.

But no matter how everyone persuaded, Ma Liang remained unmoved.

Originally they were high-ranking investors, but after the other party made some nonsense, the situation suddenly reversed and they became so passive.

Everyone wanted to leave the table directly, but they were a little unwilling, for fear that they would miss a big leak.

If this kid really has some incredible ability to help Twitter win the competition with Facebook, then if they want to invest again, it will not be their turn.

This is a blatant conspiracy, and there is only one way in front of them.

Either vote or roll, there is no other possibility.

What falsehoods and pretentious actions, what delaying policies are all ineffective, people have mentioned the timing of financing, how can they wait for you to play tricks there.

The investors present were once again caught in a tangle, struggling in their hearts.

But the Big Three on Twitter looked at Ma Liang with a bewildered expression, watching him turn his hands into clouds and rain, and he played like a slippery one.

Can financing still be so tough?Google wasn’t so awesome back then!

But what is that outrageous plan?It couldn't be that Ma Liang was talking nonsense. If it was discovered that he was deceiving others, these investors would have to tear them apart.

Evan Williams and the other three were feeling guilty when they saw Ma Liang give them a comforting look.

For some reason, when they saw that look in their eyes, they immediately felt at ease.

It’s as if Twitter can really kill everyone in the next few months and win this war for the social king.

Just as they began to dream about the beautiful future in their minds, Ma Liang spoke again.

“Everyone, I forgot to tell you.

Although Twitter's A round of financing is 3000 million US dollars, it can only give you a maximum of 500 million US dollars.

The other 1000 million US dollars is for other purposes, and the remaining 500 million is reserved for myself.

So please make a decision now, I don't have much time to linger here.

Because Jennifer and I have to rush back to New York to complete the next more important plan, and we can't delay for a moment. "

As soon as these words came out, all investors panicked.

"what?"

"A decision needs to be made now?"

"Didn't you agree to pay 3000 million US dollars? How can 500 million US dollars be enough?"

"Marlon, you can't operate like this. I don't feel any respect for such a rash financing method."

Everyone shouted, this time it was even more intense than before.

As a result, Ma Liang didn't panic, just spread his hands out, and didn't even bother to answer, showing a posture of preferring to vote.

This frightened the Big Three of Twitter, especially Ivan Williams. After all, he invited all these investors today.

If you offend someone to death, it will also hurt his network resources the most.

Just when Ivan was about to speak to Ma Liang to persuade him, his good friend Dick Costolo spoke suddenly, which shocked him on the spot.

"Marlon, Ivan, 500 million US dollars, I voted!"

The company previously founded by Dick Costolo had just been acquired by Google and cashed out 3000 to [-] million US dollars. It was a time when money was abundant.

He, like all IT elites, wants more once he starts a business and achieves financial freedom, and he also wants to be an angel investor like Ivan Williams.

Now the Twitter project is in front of him. Although it is not an angel round, the A round is also within his investment capabilities.

Once the investment is successful, he can also successfully serve as the COO of Twitter.

If, as Ma Liang said, he can successfully raise US$500 million in the next round, then as the COO, he can earn back the US$[-] million investment in minutes just from his salary.

Not only can you have a decent job with a high salary, but you can also use the big platform of Twitter to brush up your resume, and you can quickly earn back your investment money. Where in the world can you find such a good deal.

So Dick Costolo was the fastest investor to make up his mind, and he was the first to open his mouth to fight for the share.

"Why? You said 500 million is 500 million?"

"That's right, the total quota is only 500 million, and you want to buy one-third of it by yourself. How is it possible?"

When Dick Costolo said this, other investors immediately became unhappy.

"Yes, yes, money is not a problem, and it's not that the big guys can't afford it. The key is to figure things out first."

Dick Costolo retorted with a sneer: "Everyone, since you are so entangled, you don't have to embarrass yourself.

What if this financing is a big pitfall?
Let me invest more shares and take more risks for everyone, how good it is! "

The small calculations in his heart were extremely sophisticated. If he didn't have enough money on hand, he would have wanted to wrap up the 500 million shares on the spot.

"Go suck an egg! (Fuck off) think good things
Even if you have to vote, everyone here will share the share equally.

Of course, if someone is hesitant, I don't mind eating his share. Gene Sabet, a partner at Spark Capital, said indignantly.

He also made up his mind, but it was only a few million dollars, so he could gamble on it.

If it is true as Ma Liang said, he can continue to follow up on the next round of US$[-] million.

Anyway, Spark Capital has the strength, even if it loses all this time, it doesn't matter.But if you win, the concept is completely different.

Social king, technology giant!

Thinking of being able to invest in such a start-up company, Gene Sabet couldn't help but get excited.

After all, for a venture capital institution like Spark Capital, which is too high and too low, successful investment cases of a future technology giant company are simply too scarce.

If there is such a case, he, Gene Sabet, can immediately become one of the most successful investors in Silicon Valley and can boast for a lifetime.

When Spark Capital raises funds again in the future, it will have enough confidence to cheat.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had to do it, and he even began to feel that if he didn't vote for Twitter, it might be the biggest regret in his life.

So Gene Sabet couldn't help but look at Ma Liang with ambiguous eyes, he really wanted to hear about the other party's heaven-defying plan.

Being disturbed by Dick Costolo and Gene Sabet, the others also reacted and started to fight for the share.

Because the investors present were very interested in this round of financing, they were invited by Ivan Williams.

It's just that because the financing details have changed a lot, everyone is entangled.

Now that we have finally thought about it, no one wants to shrink back. They all wish that others would invest less and give themselves a share.

Everyone is a respectable person, so it is naturally impossible to admit cowardice at this moment.

Even Ron Conway and Naval Ravikent, two angel investors, did not hesitate to spend their money, and they all demanded an equal share of the investment amount.

While everyone was arguing, Twitter's Series A financing miraculously reached a consensus quickly.

There are six investors, four of whom share the 200 million quota equally, 300 million each.

The two angel investors, Ron Conway and Nawal Ravikent, split the remaining 300 million equally, 150 million each.

The 500 million quota was divided up in an instant, and there was not a dime left.

As for the subsequent investment agreement issues, Ma Liang doesn't need to worry about it. He has his own professional lawyer to handle it.

Anyway, everyone has the same conditions, and these investors can't play any tricks.

However, Ma Liangding's requirements were very strict, requiring all investors to sign the agreement within a week and transfer the money to Twitter's account as soon as possible.

If the deadline is exceeded, what should I do, and I will be permanently blacklisted.

This caused the six investors to feel extremely complicated when they left.Obviously, I should be very excited about successful investment, but I feel flustered.

They have all made up their minds, and they will prepare the investment agreement when they go back, and pay the money immediately after signing.

Because everyone is looking forward to Twitter's completion of the A round of financing as soon as possible, so that they can see Ma Liang's sky-defying plan one day earlier.

Only after seeing the specific operation, can the stone hanging in their hearts really fall to the ground.

After seeing off all the investors, Ma Liang and Jennifer didn't have time to stay. The beautiful CEO had already booked a business jet to fly directly from San Francisco to New York.

There is still a big battle waiting for them to fight, and the key to victory or defeat lies there.

The Big Three of Twitter watched the extended Cadillac leave, and watched Ma Liang and Jennifer driving towards the airport.

Jack Dorsey felt that today was like a dream. He was still intoxicated by the financing negotiations just now and couldn't extricate himself for a long time. He didn't understand how it was done so easily.

"Don't say it, it's great to have an angel investor like Marlon. We don't need to worry about financing at all, so much trouble!"

Biz Stone watched the car slowly disappearing from sight, and couldn't help sighing.

Ivan Williams also praised his two partners: "I have to say, you two guys are really good at shit luck!

Going to participate in an SXSW carnival, it's great to find such a treasure investor! "

(End of this chapter)