76 Negotiation with 361 (2/2)
Something was fishy! Xia Shiyu immediately realized the lie in Zhang Jianfeng’s words and turned to look at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen sneered and responded, ”Oh? Since your company already made some progress, then why are you guys here?”
Even without Xia Shiyu’s hints, Jiang Chen had already realized the fundamental problem.
[If you cracked the software, then why are you coming to me? You can just create an advanced Future 1.0. Do you need to ask my permission to copy it?]
”What you say is true, but we still hope your company will proactively provide the necessary information so that we can conduct a full safety analysis. Of course, we are also interested in some of the creative elements of your software. If Mr. Jiang doesn’t mind, we can discuss the price so that we can have a joint victory on both sides.”
”Please enlighten me on how we would win together with this logic?” Jiang Chen interrupted Zhang Jianfeng without the slightest consideration. It was considered rude behavior, but since Zhang Jianfeng had the audacity to say his spiel, Jiang Chen was thoroughly fed up with it.
Shocked, Zhang Jianfeng stared at Jiang Chen. He hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to effectively end the negotiations.
”Are you not interested in the price?” Zhang Jianfeng was a skilled negotiator, able to hide his anger. Instead, he smiled genially at Jiang Chen.
”Well, we can talk about it.”
”One billion.” Zhang Jianfeng calmly gave the conservative figure.
”As someone with a tech background, do you really believe that it’s worth only one billion?” Jiang Chen sipped his tea as he leaned back against the chair.
”Mr. Jiang, although the technology is a part of it, you and I are both in the business field. Don’t you think that we should talk about the business value? From my understanding, you don’t even have a channel of revenue from this free software. I would have to say that your financial statement for this month shouldn’t look too great.” Zhang Jianfeng couldn’t hold in his laughter.
”We have sufficient funds; you don’t have to worry about that. As for revenue generation? If you’re looking forward to it so much, it may come to exist tomorrow.” A smile full of hidden meanings appeared on Jiang Chen’s face.
Zhang Jianfeng took a moment to think. Based on what he knew, Jiang Chen’s company only had half a million of invested capital. Could a venture capital have already invested in them?
Zhang Jianfeng couldn’t be blamed for his lack of information. The registered capital was indeed half a million, but the following equity infusion was not released to the public. As a privately-held company, the information would not be disclosed, and therefore, they had no obligation to give information on their assets.
”Since Mr. Jiang is so confident, I don’t think there is much more we can talk about.” Zhang Jianfeng sighed as he stood up.
The negotiation fell through, though it was a result he had expected.
”What you say is correct. If your company genuinely wishes to form a partnership with us, please provide us with a reasonable proposal, and we will reciprocate with the same respect.” Xia Shiyu, who hadn’t spoken until now, nudged her glasses up as she slid a document forward. ”This outlines the potential area we would consider forming a partnership with. If Mr. Zhang is interested, you should take it with you.”
Zhang Jianfeng was caught off guard, but he soon regathered his thoughts.
[Is this how a small startup treats large corporations? Future Technology is this confident?]
He picked up the piece of paper.
[Virus database sharing? Phone security partnership? Hehe, arrogant.]
The next second, however, he felt something he had never felt before—it was a hint of fear. What if they did have the ability?
Artificial intelligence plus an antivirus?
There were countless possibilities.
What else could artificial intelligence do?
”Since the negotiation has fallen through, could I ask for your evaluation of Future 1.0? This way, I can go back and give my boss an answer,” Zhang Jianfeng casually asked as he placed the document into his briefcase.
”From a programmer’s perspective, what do you think a finished artificial intelligence would be worth?” Instead of answering, Jiang Chen half-jokingly threw the question back at him.
Zhang Jianfeng considered it for a moment before he smiled and said, ”One trillion?”
”Hahaha, around that range. Except, even for one trillion, I wouldn’t sell it.” Jiang Chen laughed as he walked beside Zhang Jianfeng. ”Do you want to work for me? I'll cover the cost of breaching your contract.”
Zhang Jianfeng laughed jovially.
”That's an interesting way of acquiring talent.”
[I haven't even asked if you’re interested in coming to 361, and you already ask me to come work for you?]
Zhang Jianfeng's mouth twitched on his way to the door.
For a brief second, he had been tempted.
Before he achieved his current position, he began as a programmer. Witnessing the impeccable technology behind the software, how could he not be tempted?
Except temptation didn’t necessarily translate into actions.
－
Upon returning to 361’s headquarters, Zhang Jianfeng reported the day’s events in its entirety to the president, Zhou Hongwei.
”One trillion? Haha, I wouldn't sell it for one trillion?”
”Looks like the president holds high regards for Future Technology?” he lightly asked Zhou Hongwei upon seeing that he did not criticize him for his inability to close the deal.
”High? High is an understatement.” Zhou Hongwei shook his head as he laughed. ”If any one of you could develop artificial intelligence, what if I gave him ten percent equity?”
10% equity! Zhang Jianfeng uncontrollably gulped.
361 was listed in the UA. With an average share price of 60 USD, the current market cap already reached an astounding ten billion USD! Ten percent was equal to one billion USD.
The assistant also gulped with wide eyes.
”Looks like it’s impossible to acquire them.” Zhou Hongwei shook his head sighing.
”How about we do something with our platform instead?” the assistant suggested.
Zhou Hongwei glanced at her before chuckling.
”If Future 1.0 can’t be downloaded from 361, won’t users just download it from the android market? And if the android market doesn’t work, why wouldn’t they just make an official site?”
The assistant was speechless.
”Why don't we wait first and see Microsoft's opinion?” Frowning, Zhang Jianfeng put forth his own suggestion.
Zhou Hongwei considered it for a moment, then nodded.
”That's what I had planned to do. It’s a much more conservative approach.”
It was no secret that Microsoft and 361 had an alliance. When 361 fought for market shares with Tencent, it was all under the orders of Microsoft from across the Pacific Ocean. If they didn’t have such a strong backer, there was no way Zhou Hongwei would have had the guts to fight the number one giant in the Han tech industry. Compared to Tencent, who possessed half of the tech field, 361 was too weak. On that day, the number of MSN installations increased to seven million, revealing the true instigator behind the scenes.
Zhou Hongwei could choose to blacklist Future 1.0 using 361’s antivirus and suppress its ability to thrive. Currently, 361 did possess high market shares on the mobile platform. Even if they were faced with a lawsuit, the settling amount would be negligible.
Three hundred thousand? That was nothing.
His real concern was whether this move would push Future Technology to other tech giants such as Tencent or Baidu.
Then it would become even more difficult for 361 to survive.
All tech giants shared the same concern.
Everyone understood the value of artificial intelligence; however, if they were too forceful in pushing it away, it would only hurt them in the end.
The best way was to balance power through a partnership. At least for now, Future 1.0 had yet to touch anyone else’s cake yet. It was because of this that Jiang Chen restrained himself from releasing all of Little White’s functions.
If Little White suddenly possessed all of the functions of QQ, Baidu, and 361 together, it would face the backlash of the entire internet industry as he would have just touched everyone’s cake.
(Translator note: Hello everyone, this is Min. I apologize for the unstable update for the past while. We were transitioning into a new system and finally completed the process. I'll be releasing 7 chapters in the next 24 hours as my apology. Please comment and let me know how I can improve the book!)