Chapter 2619 No Solution

In Silicon Valley, Masayoshi Son and Chief Yang had breakfast in a cafe.

More than a decade later, both the investors and the investees are no longer the same as they were back then.

One is still an industry leader respected by everyone in the Internet field, and the other has become the most successful investment tycoon in the world in the Internet field.

Their achievements and status today all started with Yahoo.

Perhaps because they are both a little older, after the two met, they both recalled the days of passion and hope.

After that, they both became a little depressed.

There are always talented people in the world, and each has been leading the trend for several years. Today's Yahoo is no longer as glorious as it was yesterday, and is no longer the king of the Internet field.

As a result, the myths of the two of them have also faded a little.

Soon, what permeated between them was a strong sense of unwillingness.

"Social networking will definitely be a hot topic next time," said Masayoshi Son. "I have already contacted Twitter, and it seems that they are willing to be acquired."

"When everything is settled, I hope that Yahoo can work with Twitter to develop together in the social field and create great results together,"

Masayoshi Son knows very well how to play to his strengths.

Compared with Feng Yiping, his current advantage is that he has invested in more American companies, so he can provide assistance to newly acquired companies in various aspects.

Yahoo, which has been engaged in crazy acquisitions in recent years, naturally has a layout in the social field, but will it develop in collaboration with Twitter?

Chief Yang will not comment on this issue for the time being.

He can't forget that Google grew up on the shoulders of Yahoo.

And the main reason for providing assistance to Google at that time was the request of investors.

Although the original intention of KPCB and Sequoia was to provide a barrier for Yahoo, they did not expect to cultivate the most powerful competitor for Yahoo.

Chief Yang, who has been the CEO of the company he founded since the middle of last year, will never make a similar mistake again.

Moreover, he has an unprecedented amount of work to do now, the most important of which is to deal with the acquisition initiated by Microsoft in March.

Because he was not satisfied with Microsoft's offer, he did not reach a consensus on the merger and acquisition. The powerful Microsoft is said to be preparing to directly contact Yahoo's shareholders.

That is his top priority at present.

The purpose of his meeting with Masayoshi Son today is to hope that Masayoshi Son can stand on his side, not to cooperate with Twitter.

"Twitter? Aren't Dorsey and others in China talking to Feng about related issues at this time?" he said.

Masayoshi Son shook his head, a little proud, "Don't you know? They returned to Silicon Valley yesterday afternoon,"

"They left China almost as soon as they received my call,"

Masayoshi Son unceremoniously attributed the reason why Dorsey and others were driven back to Silicon Valley to his phone call.

"I believe we can reach an agreement soon," he continued to write a blank check.

As a partner and friend who has been in contact for many years, Chief Yang naturally has a certain understanding of Masayoshi Son and knows some of his habits, so he is also half-believing and half-doubting his words.

"We have counted that there are 113 products similar to Twitter in the world, and they have several powerful competitors in the United States," he said.

"Not to mention Feng and his social empires that have become the de facto world's number one,"

"Jerry," Masayoshi Son shook his head, "you are still too cautious as before,"

"You know, my consistent principle is to act immediately and resolutely when there is a 70% chance of winning,"

"If you have to wait until there is a 90% or 95% chance of winning before taking action, the result will most likely fail, because the opportunity you are optimistic about has already been taken by someone else,"

This is indeed the investment philosophy that Masayoshi Son has always adhered to. In short, that is, although in an ideal state, the higher the chance of winning, the higher the success rate, but in actual operation, those who act based on a 90% chance of winning will definitely be defeated by those who act based on a 70% chance of winning.

Chief Yang was very helpless when he heard such a theory again.

Yahoo used to be very willful, with money and willfulness, waving its checkbook and acquiring many startups, including the social and video websites that made Feng Yiping so successful. However, Yahoo now has no willful capital.

"Sun, you and I have been friends for many years, and Feng and I have dealt with each other many times,"

"Feng is a very gentle and outstanding young man with extraordinary vision, and we all know that Feng is now extraordinary,"

"Therefore, from the perspective of a friend, I very much hope that you two can get along peacefully,"

Chief Yang is really a kind person.

"I know, I know," Masayoshi Son nodded.

"Why did you withdraw from Alibaba so readily at the beginning, but now you have to do this?" Chief Yang asked, "I know Feng, he is not always gentle,"

"As far as I know, all the individuals and companies that have targeted him have finally found that no matter how much they valued him, they actually underestimated him,"

Chief Yang is euphemistically reminding Masayoshi Son to think about the consequences of targeting Feng Yiping.

"Of course I have confidence in you, but if this continues, there will definitely be a winner between you..."

"That's not the result I want to see,"

"Jerry, thank you for your concern and kindness," Masayoshi Son looked at the slightly deserted streets of Silicon Valley in the early morning.

"Recently, I classified the well-known figures in the high-tech field. All these well-known Internet leaders can be roughly divided into two categories,"

"One category is like you, like Bill Gates, who rely on technology to become the leaders of the high-tech field in the United States,"

"One category is like me, who successfully entered the IT and Internet fields through the tentacles of capital,"

Chief Yang nodded, "Your point of view is very innovative,"

"So Jerry, what category do you think Feng belongs to?" Masayoshi Son asked.

This really stumped Chief Yang.

Because Feng Yiping obviously does not belong to the former category. People in Silicon Valley know that Feng is a business student. He himself has repeatedly confessed that even the few professional knowledge of basic language that he had come into contact with at the beginning has long been returned to the teacher.

But it seems wrong to say that he has no technology at all. Don't forget that he also has titles such as the father of cloud computing and the father of big data.

These problems that professional computer practitioners are not aware of were discovered by him, and he also formed his own theory.

If we make an analogy, this is probably similar to the description of the famous martial arts writer Mr. Jin Yong, who does not know specific moves, but can always see the flaws in the opponent's moves at the first time and quickly give a response plan.

But he is still not an Internet tycoon who knows technology.

Similarly, he does not belong to the latter category.

Yes, his initial development in the United States did start with investment, whether it was deCarta and NAVTEQ related to electronic maps, or the successful investment in Google that made even the once Internet emperor Son, who was probably jealous.

But afterwards, whether it was NEXTDOOR, which he first founded, or several successful mergers and acquisitions, as well as Facebook and YouTube, which he founded, plus Tesla, which is becoming more and more popular, he has completely become the most successful and avant-garde entrepreneur in Silicon Valley.

But for the latter type of people like Son Zhengyi, let alone the successful companies founded by Feng Yiping, even during the Internet bubble, did they ever start a company with an uncertain future and unclear model... a .com company that could not solve any problems and could only be used to fool investors?

No, their encounters with the Internet and high-tech fields are all because of investment and money.

"It seems that you have also realized that Feng is an outlier," said Masayoshi Son, "Have you ever thought about the impact that an outlier like Feng might have on us in the future?"

"In particular, have you noticed his recent dynamics?"

"I have analyzed that maybe he will no longer start any company now, so his main task in the future, in addition to developing his own company, is to invest in those startups he likes,"

Masayoshi Son stood up, as if he regarded the restaurant they were in as his office, "He actually began to invest part of his energy in startups,"

"Compared to us simple investors, as an entrepreneur, he must have more in common with entrepreneurs,"

"And now who doesn't know his outstanding vision? Who doesn't know that it is because of the strategy he formulated that Google can Development is so smooth? "

"In addition, the companies he acquired have all developed better, and the heads of those companies have received excess returns,"

"And he seems to never lack funds," Son Masayoshi muttered, "I don't believe the rankings on Forbes at all. I am even sure that the funds that those who are ahead of him on the list have available for investment at any time will never be more than Feng..."

"So you think, in this case, if he and I are interested in a company at the same time, will those entrepreneurs choose me or him?"

Your entrepreneurial experience is not as good as Feng Yiping's, your vision is not as good as Feng Yiping's, your reputation is not as good as Feng Yiping's, your protection of the interests of the founders of the investment company is not as good as Feng Yiping's, and even your funds are not as good as Feng Yiping's...

This goes without saying, entrepreneurs will naturally prefer Feng Yiping.

"But, according to what you said, doesn't Twitter prefer you?" Chief Yang asked.

"This is just an example," Son Masayoshi said calmly.

In fact, he was not sure about this example.

"You know, more than ten years ago, I set a goal, that is, I only invest in high-tech companies related to the Internet. Silicon Valley is naturally my most important investment place,"

"And China will be another market worthy of my heavy investment,"

"But with a competitor like Feng, how many opportunities do you think I will have in Silicon Valley, let alone China?"

That may depend on how many opportunities Feng Yiping is prepared to give you.

And from the current situation, he may really not give you any opportunities.

"So Jerry, do you understand why I do this?"

"It's not that I want to target him for no reason, but I have to target him,"

"The later I target him, the fewer opportunities there are... So I have to do this,"

"Sun, I think there should be other solutions,"

"Haha," Masayoshi Son smiled and shook his head.

Where else can there be other solutions?