Wind Rises 2005

Chapter 468 Let the bullets fly for a while
Even though the United States is a paradise for entrepreneurship, startup companies that can truly be called super unicorns do not appear every day.

It took several years for top-level projects like Facebook and Twitter to come out.

After these two startups have each taken the lead for several years, if you want to ask which project is the most eye-catching, Airbnb must be the leader.

In Ma Liang's previous life, Airbnb's performance was even more impressive than Twitter's, and it was considered one of the leaders among unicorn companies.

If it weren't for Airbnb's main business involving entities and real estate, and the different situations in different countries, which makes the market too complex, so that the ceiling and imagination of the project are limited, the market value will never stop at hundreds of billions of dollars.

But despite this, countless investment institutions still regret missing out on this super unicorn.

After all, it is extremely rare to develop a start-up company with hundreds of billions of dollars. If you invest in it in the early stage, it will be returned thousands of times.

Missing such a super project will definitely hurt your heart forever.

This includes Fred Wilson, co-founder of the venture capital firm Union Square Ventures and a top venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.

This boss was one of the early investors of Twitter in Ma Liang's previous life, but he was blocked by him in this life.

The Silicon Valley boss, who was originally known for his investment vision, turned a blind eye when facing Airbnb.

When the two founders of Airbnb walked into Fred Wilson's office with their project, they were often criticized and even ridiculed by the arrogant investor.

Moreover, during the most difficult period for Airbnb to start a business, there was a lot of slander behind its back.

It even spread rumors to the outside world that this project would never be completed. Such despicable behavior is actually not uncommon in the venture capital circle.

But when Airbnb really started to take off, he was completely slapped in the face.

Fred Wilson has not only become the laughing stock of Silicon Valley and even the global venture capital circle, but Airbnb has also become the most representative counterattack benchmark among entrepreneurs around the world.

And it’s not just Fred Wilson who is impressed. There are many investment tycoons like him who are dismissive of Airbnb.

That's how it is in venture capital, there are no rules or experiences at all.

No matter how awesome the capital tycoon is, his investment success rate is only [-] in [-].

Past successful experience and vision can only help you avoid stepping into big pits. If you really want to successfully invest in a project, luck and structure are more critical.

This is why so many investors are obsessed with Airbnb, because if you invest in this project in the early stage, you will really make a lot of money.

If you invest in Airbnb before the Series B round, the return rate is even close to that of investing in Google and Facebook.

One is because it is cheap, and the other is because Airbnb is developing so fast, and its financing pace is comparable to that of the Silicon Valley venture capital circle.

Ma Liang would never have thought that the two founders of Airbnb, the company that countless investors had been thinking about in his previous life, would actually be sitting behind him.

Airbnb has actually been on his investment list for a long time.

However, because he didn’t know much about Airbnb in his previous life, Ma Liang didn’t know the specific start-up time and early development nodes of Airbnb.

The only thing he remembers is that the two founders of Airbnb only received angel round investment in early 2009.

Moreover, the angel round financing did not receive much money at all, only a mere US$[-].

That’s right, that’s really all.

But it was only such a small amount of money that the founders had to put in a lot of effort to get.

When the three giants of Airbnb were desperate, they were reminded by noble people to participate in an entrepreneurial training camp organized by Y Combinatior, a famous entrepreneurial incubator in Silicon Valley.

It was in the entrepreneurial training camp that their entrepreneurial spirit touched Y Combinatior founder Paul Graham.

At first, Paul Graham didn’t really think this project was very good. He was completely moved by the story of three struggling entrepreneurs.

It was this insignificant $2 that allowed Paul Graham to obtain 6% of Airbnb’s shares. This was also the highlight of his investment career.

So with such a shocking news automatically brought to his lips, how could Ma Liang not strike up a conversation with him.

He turned around and immediately saw the two founders of Airbnb, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia.

Unlike many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, neither of these two founders were programmers.

The two of them, who studied industrial design, don't have the geeky vibe of Silicon Valley IT men in their bodies. Instead, they have a literary and artistic atmosphere everywhere.

The two were having a heated discussion about their air bed rental plan.

Ma Liang smiled and said hello: "Hey guys, sorry to disturb you two!

I'd like to apologize first. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your trade secrets. It's just that you spoke too loudly and it didn't matter whether you wanted to or not.

But what you just talked about about air bed rental sounds very interesting. "

"Well, I made you laugh!
We came up with this idea because we had no choice but to pay the rent. "Brian Chesky smiled awkwardly and explained very friendly.

On the contrary, Joe Gebbia looked excited, because he was the one who proposed this idea first.

So he proudly looked at Ma Liang and confirmed: "Man, you also think this idea is great, don't you?"

"Indeed, this is a great idea!
If possible, I would be interested in investing some money with you to test this great business model. " Ma Liang responded teasingly.

Joe Gebbia became even more excited now: "Really? How much money are you going to invest?"

"Joe, calm down!" Brian Chesky looked on anxiously when he saw that his roommate was getting too high. "It was just a joke, but you are still having fun."

In Brian's opinion, how could Ma Liang be a big investor at such a young age.

Moreover, they just met each other by chance and chatted for free. What they said to each other should not be taken seriously at all.

Ma Liang shook his head and replied with great certainty: "No, I do mean it from the bottom of my heart." "Look, what did I say!" Joe Gebbia glanced at his good brother and hurriedly Then he asked again, "Man, how much money do you plan to invest?"

Ma Liang did not respond directly, but stretched out a finger to indicate.

"Ten thousand dollars?" Joe Gebbia happily exclaimed on the spot, but seeing that Ma Liang's expression did not change, he quickly declined the offer, "It can't be a hundred dollars, right?

I said brother, this little money can't be put to much use. "

Brian Chesky listened to his roommate's off-key speech and had no choice but to speak out to help round things up: "Sorry, sorry, Joe, he didn't mean to dislike it.

We had a little money left of our own, enough to buy another air bed.

And it’s useless no matter how much money you have. The living room in our apartment can only accommodate three beds at most, but thank you for your kindness! "

"Yeah, why didn't I think of this?" Joe Gebbia suddenly realized it and replied regretfully to Ma Liang, "Man, it's a pity that I can only miss you as an angel investor."

Ma Liang smiled slightly, without any disappointment, and continued to explain slowly: "Actually, I want to invest a thousand dollars in you.

You can definitely use this thousand dollars to rent another venue and expand your business scale.

After all, if there are enough products on the market, the samples will be more convincing. Otherwise, how can you test the feasibility of your business model? "

"This is not good!" Brian Chesky still refused in embarrassment.

To be honest, Ma Liang's proposal made him very excited, because there happened to be an empty room downstairs in the apartment.

You can discuss with the administrator about a short-term rental for a few days, and then rent it out after putting in an inflatable bed.

Renting out the two houses together not only doubled the business scale, but they could also earn more rent.

If someone actually tries it, they won't have to worry about rent next month.

Joe Gebbia also said seriously at this time: "Man, thank you very much for your trust, but we cannot accept your kindness.

If this idea doesn't succeed, we really won't be able to pay you back if you lose money. "

"Haha, it doesn't matter if you lose, just treat it as a friend." Ma Liang responded with a laugh.

Joe Gebbia was so moved that he was speechless: "This"

Ma Liang didn't try to persuade him, and directly glanced at the assistant.

Fang Min reacted quickly. He quickly took out his checkbook and filled it out immediately, then tore off a piece and handed it to him.

Ma Liang took the check and saw that 1000 US dollars was written on it, so he signed his name happily.

Then he took out his business card and the check and placed them in front of Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia.

“This one thousand US dollars is regarded as my angel round investment, and the other one is my business card.

If you can really verify the feasibility of the business model and want to continue to explore greater business prospects, you can come to me at any time. "

After saying that, Ma Liang got up and left with his assistant without stopping for a moment.

As for any contract or investment agreement, he didn't care at all, and he was not at all worried that the one thousand US dollars would be hacked.

To him now, a thousand dollars is nothing, and he wouldn't even look at it when he throws it into the water.

As for why I didn’t sign an investment agreement, it was also because it was completely unnecessary.

Ma Liang had heard in his previous life that the founder of Airbnb had a very good reputation. Not only was he trustworthy, but he was also very well-organized in his business dealings.

If even this thousand dollars is lost, it is impossible to make Airbnb bigger and stronger, let alone be recognized by the venture capital circle as the originator of the global sharing economy.

Things like realm pattern are something you are born with, and you can’t learn them without learning.

Moreover, Ryan Chesky and Joe Gebbia are still novice entrepreneurs at present, and they are completely incomparable with entrepreneurial veterans like the Big Three of Twitter.

Ma Liang can push Twitter to develop rapidly, but he cannot encourage the two founders of Airbnb.

After all, a novice is a novice, and you can’t teach it through hard teaching. You have to experience it yourself.

In the process of starting a business, there are no pitfalls that should be stepped on, and detours that should be taken must also be taken, so that you can have the correct understanding of starting a business.

It is impossible to become a qualified entrepreneur without going through some training.

So Ma Liang planned to let the bullets fly for a while, waiting for Ryan Chesky and Joe Gebbia to really start the business themselves.

Otherwise, the two new entrepreneurs will not only be greedy, but will also be extremely wary of his kindness.

People who have never done business are basically like this. They wish they could hold all the shares in their hands and are unwilling to share even a dime.

The stinking problem of wanting and wanting more, the poorer you are, the more serious the symptoms are.

Once the two founders of Airbnb have experienced enough and experienced enough hardships to start a business, it will be much easier to talk to them about investment.

Anyway, Ma Liang would be intercepted by others if he didn't panic. If it were that easy, Ryan Chesky and Joe Gebbia wouldn't have suffered so much in their previous lives.

You must know that before Y Combinatior received an angel round of US$2, Ryan and Joe were so poor that they almost slept on the street to start a business.

Not only were the two penniless, they also owed more than 20 on their credit cards.

It's rare to find such a hardship in starting a business in the U.S. venture capital circle. How can there be any investors to stop it?

(End of this chapter)