Chapter 162 Untouchable projects, taking care of the investment
Not long after Roland left Los Angeles, Jerry Yang and David Filo found David Olsen, who was interested in him, with the prepared plan. For those who are studying, that is an astronomical figure, and the valuation of 10 million after financing made them even more ecstatic.
Of course, the two of them are not fools. The reason why they agreed to David Olsen's 'repurchase' condition was because he had already conceded compared to David's original 'one-vote veto' That's right, David is not a money-spreading boy like Roland. In his eyes, although angel investment is very risky, it is also controllable and preventable.
If you win a veto, you can intervene in the company's development progress, and if you win the company's repurchase clause, the investment loss can be reduced accordingly; facing such harsh conditions, even if one of the two immature chiefs of Yahoo! I don't want to agree, but considering that so far, only David Olsen, the venture capitalist who came to the door actively, and the venture capitalists they found themselves are not interested in unprofitable schedules and projects, after 'persuading When David gave up the idea of "one-vote veto", accepting the "repurchase" clause became the best result for everyone to take a step back.
However, even if the two parties reached an agreement and signed the contract, David was not interested in Roland's idea of investing in Yahoo. After making up for the current situation in the Internet market, he felt that Yahoo really didn't have much prospects. Investing in it would be better than investing in Netscape What about the company!
Now, almost everyone is using Netscape browser! Their market share exceeds ninety percent!
And they are still financing, 40 million can get 5% of the equity!
Investing in such a monopoly giant is much safer than investing in a portal website. In addition, Netscape is the last round of financing before the IPO. If you enter the market at this time, the possibility of realizing profits is extremely high!
...
"If you don't make this kind of quick money, you have to stare at a webpage. I really don't know what he thinks!"
"He still surfs the Internet every day! Such a good project as a browser can't be seen in front of him!"
"I really don't know what he's playing all day long!"
Flying back to Los Angeles from San Francisco, as soon as he entered the house, Ganetti asked about the outcome of the incident. Faced with his wife's curiosity, David, who shook his head in doubt while taking off his coat, sighed non-stop.
Hearing this, Ganetti, who took the coat, laughed, "You told me before that you don't understand the Internet."
"Why do you become an expert after a few months?"
"I don't understand, but I will look it up!" David shrugged, "Before investing in a project, investigate the market conditions first. Isn't that what a qualified investor should do? How could Roland have such an opinion?" Invest in what you like?"
"Child, isn't it normal to buy something you like when you see it?" Ganetti felt natural, "If Roland didn't have enough money, or your son would have encouraged him to buy Marvel, and Li Qi, every day If Roland wants to spend time in Disneyland, if Roland is rich, believe it or not, she can hug his thigh and tell him to buy Mickey, buy Mickey, buy Mickey..."
When Ganetti imitated his daughter, shaking David's arm and repeating the same words over and over again, the childishness made David raise his hand and slap his forehead, but when he showed helplessness, a little Suddenly, his head popped out from the stairwell, looking at his parents with bright eyes, he asked doubtfully, "Dad? Mom? Who wants to buy Mickey for me?"
Boom boom boom...
The two short legs seemed to be pasted with wind talismans, and they rushed in front of them.
"No, no." Seeing that his daughter was about to bump into his arms, David squatted down, opened his arms, and hugged her, "I was talking to your mother about Roland's investment company. "
"No, your father thinks that Roland made an unwise decision." Ganetti corrected her husband's words.
Listening to what her parents said, Elizabeth was a little confused, and when the little guy broke the casserole and asked what happened to Roland, David's concluding words made her pouted, "Roland didn't Stupid!"
"He has discovered that framework long ago, but he thinks that framework has no investment value!"
Um?
Although there were some problems with her daughter's expression, David understood what she meant. While casting curious eyes, he also asked, "Why do you say that? No...how do you know about this?"
"Because I often go to his study, he just stares at the frame and plays with the computer, and he tells me what is the name of the navigator?"
How could Roland not know about Netscape?
This company that can push Microsoft to the point where the anti-monopoly bill must be investigated also has a huge investment value, but the problem is that the investment value is large, and it does not belong to Roland, or it does not belong to any angel investment company .
Hate VCs because of their founders.
The founder of Netscape, Mark Anderson, served for the American National Supercomputing Application Center during college. The founder of Silicon Graphics, which launched the world's first graphics terminals and graphics workstations.
Just listening to the name may sound unfamiliar, but although Silicon Graphics is not as famous as IBM and HP, it has an irreplaceable position in the field of graphics and high-performance computing. All special effects movies on the market are produced with them. "Jurassic Park" is, "Forrest Gump" is also, "James of the Brave" shot by the Olsen sisters is even more, and "Titanic" that the truck driver wants to shoot, No one's workstation can't make it at all!
Looking at it this way, wouldn't it be as simple as eating candy for Roland to invest in Netscape?
Just let the old man take him to meet people, wouldn't it be over?
But the question is, even if the old man introduces these two guys to him, what's the use?
Where is Roland's big horse, and tell them that I want to invest in Netscape, and 4 million will account for 20% of the shares?
He will definitely change his face, pick up the shotgun and stuff it into Roland's head, and explode his head directly!
Why?
Because the founder of Silicon Graphics, Jim Clark, was kicked out of the company by venture capital!
When he founded Silicon Graphics, after the angel round, the second round, his shares in the company were only a pitiful 5%.
Although this is not a small amount in the IPO, but for him, the capitalists who supported him to realize his dream at the beginning have completely occupied his company!
If you talk about Angel Wheel with this kind of person, they will just shout ‘Hallelujah! ’, and kick you out of your own company.
They don't need angel investment, they think angel investment is the devil who usurps other people's achievements.
And if a company like Netscape cannot enter the market in the angel round, then it is meaningless...
There are 40 million yuan, wouldn't it be good to use it to shoot "Seven Deadly Sins"?
How much can you cash out if you enter the market during the last round of financing before going public? In addition, once the shareholding exceeds 5%, it will be disclosed, and once the disclosure is made, what will Microsoft, which also works on browsers, think? Isn't the cooperative atmosphere of DreamWorks directly disturbed!
It’s okay if you don’t earn much, but give your allies a backstab?
You thought you were France in Civilization 6?
Since Roland still doesn't have the ability to make others stand in line, he, who has already chosen a side, doesn't want to mess around.
If there is money that cannot be earned, then don’t earn it. Besides, this is not a choice that can affect the future. If you lose it, you will lose it.
...
Of course, Roland wouldn't tell David about these things. Anyway, James was responsible, so he didn't have to think of other excuses at all.
After three weeks of continuous filming in New York, the crew finally returned to San Francisco. The fight scenes that followed were all filmed in the studio—everyone was on their own, so of course they used the studio of Industrial Light & Magic!
Since I can design special effects while filming and editing, there is no need to fly back and forth between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Since Xiao Lizi didn't get involved in fighting, after flying to San Francisco with the crew, he turned around and flew back to Los Angeles after all the scenes were finished. Before leaving, the guy who had been sour on Roland for more than two months He gently pulled Roland and told him that he was actually very free.
Isn't this telling him clearly that if there are any good projects, you can recommend them!
But Roland does not produce the project, he is just the porter of the project!
"Then... what about DreamWorks?" Xiao Lizi asked cautiously.
Well... this guy still wants to hook up with DreamWorks.
In the previous life, all kinds of news were flying all over the sky, saying that Xiao Li only wanted to win an Oscar, and didn't care about the commercial nature of the film.
This special code is simply bullshit!
People just don't want to act in a commercial film where the special effects completely overshadow the performance!
How could he refuse a plot stream commercial film that can really make money?
For Spielberg, there are too many drama films that can win awards and reflect business!
In this way, wouldn't it be reasonable for him to focus on Roland?
But Roland thought about it, and still expressed regret, "The reason why DreamWorks voted for my "Spider-Man" is because they don't need to manage the project themselves. Sony contributed 75, DreamWorks filled 25, and the other two production companies, One is mine, which is dedicated to publishing rights, and the other is Catherine, who is in charge of production and management. If you want to wait for the project prepared by DreamWorks itself, then..."
"DreamWorks has just been established, and there will be no new projects in the past two years."
"Oh, shit!" Xiao Lizi cursed.
Seeing the disappointment written on the other party's face, Roland added another sentence.
"However, if you have any notebook you like, you can bring it to us to make!"
"Huh?" Xiao Lizi cast a puzzled look.
"Be a producer yourself, come to us to attract investment!" Roland didn't think there was anything wrong with his words, "If an investor finds you, that's great, but if you have a project you like, you can't find an investor , I can see it too."
"After all, the current film market is actually a two-way choice. The main purpose of the producer's invitation to you is to make money, and the main purpose of you looking for the producer is to attract investment. But for me, That's not the case anymore."
"I started a company in 1991, but so far I haven't allowed those companies to actively make money. I have never touched money. I am not interested in money, but I am interested in spending money, especially spending money to help others accomplish dreams."
“I bought a game company, and I was very happy to see that the games they made were welcomed by the market.”
“I sponsored a website. Although they asked me for a million and didn’t count my shares, I was very happy whenever they told me excitedly how much the website traffic had increased and how many people they served.”
"I bought the movie "The Shawshank Redemption". Although it may never be released, but when Castle Rock Pictures happily threw this burden on me and helped others, I was very happy."
"And that David Fincher, I lost 30 million to him to make a movie, watched him smack his chest and told me that he would definitely make a good movie, and it was guaranteed to be released this year, so I was very happy."
"So, if you have an idea, you can also come to me..."
Although Roland spoke seriously, the corners of Xiao Lizi's mouth twitched.
I believe you ghost! You are a bad old man, you are very bad!
The company does not make money?
That's because your movie can kill half of the producer's life!
If I can take 18 points from the box office, I don't care if the projects I invest in make money or not!
Roland gave Roland a blank look, but Xiao Lizi's mind became active because of this.
yes! Anyway, there is a big guy here!
Since you can’t get on the line of DreamWorks for the time being, it’s the same to find Kaizi to invest in projects by yourself!
Little Li, who felt that this way was feasible, embarked on the flight home with great fighting spirit, and while watching the other party drift away, Roland also put his hands in his pockets and returned to Lucas' lair, Skywalker Manor.
Why did he suddenly mention investment?
Is it because you robbed Xiao Lizi of "Titanic" and wanted to compensate him?
Shit!
He is not the kind of person who robs you of your chance, and I just want to repay your Holy Mother. The reason why I mentioned the investment is because it is valuable.
Roland believes that even without "Titanic", Little Li can still succeed.
Why?
Because he was on set, called Robert De Niro 'Dad'!
In his previous life, when Roland was watching a movie, he felt that Xiao Li's performance was more and more similar to De Nirona's.
Now—
After getting along for more than two months, he finally understood why this happened.
Is Martin Scorsese teaching students only one trick?
No!
It’s not like father and son!
Not only that, he also understood why after Rui Fan Phoenix passed away, Xiao Li could take over all his projects!
Because of Robert De Niro!
Don't be too familiar with this "King of Show Kings" and Harrison Ford who pushed River Phoenix!
As a guy who can make others pay for their own money and act with him, even if they have not disclosed any relationship, the insiders are not deaf and blind!
Those who should be taken care of will be taken care of!
In this way, Roland, who gave the opponent the role of the second-generation Green Goblin and promised to watch over the investment, was actually taking care of his own people!
It doesn't matter whether it is profitable or not, this is an investment in people, not in movies!
Note: ① Netscape couldn’t enter the market in the early stage. The founders were chased away by venture capital. Let the seed fund investors take 20 to 30 shares and you will pay dearly for it. And because Bezos listened to his speech, at the beginning of creating Amazon, he only asked his family to raise money. Of course, Jim Clark also has the confidence to say this. Soon after Netscape went public, his net worth in the Internet ranked fourth, ahead of Jobs, Intel CEO Andy Grove, and Bill Gates. He is very good, or in other words, without his research, computer special effects may not appear until a few years later. The achievements of Industrial Light & Magic, Digital Domain, and Weta Digital are all based on his workstation. ②Little Lizi didn’t grow up poor and empty. How can the idol group change so easily after filming Da Chuan? It is true that he and De Niro have a good relationship. The most typical example is the 1995 movie "Fatal Happiness". Sony didn't want Xiao Li to act, but Sharon Stone paid Xiao Li's salary out of his own pocket, and this project As soon as it was finalized, Sharon Stone immediately received Scorsese, De Niro, and Joe Pesci's "Casino". You must know that Scorsese has already decided on Madonna for this project! Not only that, but she also received her first Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for the film. There is no such thing as good luck in Hollywood. If there is, it will only be that the boss has taken a fancy to you, and then you will be very lucky to appear in some big hit projects.
(end of this chapter)