The Millennium Semiconductor Survival Guide

"Sorry because of NewPay, the use of electronic payment software that is only used on PDAs is too limited. We need to think about this investment again." Nokia's senior investment manager looked ashamed, and NewPay made his immediate boss decide to Kill this investment directly.

Of course, showing shame is acting, and even a contract signed on paper can be breached, let alone a verbal promise.

The reason for acting is because he is optimistic about Peter Thiel, and believes that although they cannot reach a cooperation on this project, there may be other opportunities for cooperation in the future.

Peter Thiel served as an executive of several Internet companies before founding Confinity, and also served as a law professor at Stanford University.

Anyone who has a little knowledge of American can have a vague idea of ​​the law professor at Stanford University, that is, this position is rich in social resources.

Even the head of the Nokia investment fund, Kleist Mahnivarti, didn't want to offend Peter Thiel, let alone a small investment manager.

"We will also expand to more fields. We will not be limited to PDA devices, we will also expand to computers. In our plan, we hope to take the same approach as NewPay."

"Peter, I understand that PDA is only your first step, and computers have a broader market.

But do you have products on the computer side now? Even a demo? "

"We are developing and we need manpower. We are already developing electronic payment products on the computer side, but it still takes time."

"Yes, you need time, but during this time, NewPay is expanding. I don't deny the potential of the electronic payment field. Newman entered this field and gained more than one million users in just one week, which has fully proved Potential in the field of electronic payments.

But unfortunately, NewPay is already ahead, and it is difficult for us to gain an advantage on this track. "

"Compared to NewPay, we have unique advantages in the security model. Even if we cannot obtain the advantages in the market, our advantages in the security field can attract NewPay to acquire us.

It's only $1.5 million, which is definitely not a bad investment for you guys! "

The senior investment manager was deep in thought, and then said: "I will conduct a deeper evaluation of the entire market and your products, and then report upwards. I will tell you as soon as possible whether I want to invest in the end."

Back in the office, Peter Thiel was lying on the sofa. Every time he dealt with people from financial institutions, he felt like he had finished a marathon, and he felt physically and mentally exhausted.

Max Levchin walked in: "How is it, brother? What does Nokia say?"

"Nokia and they need to go back and discuss it. Nokia is still very interested in our project. They think that although NewPay has a great advantage in the number of users.

But we also have our advantages.

It's just that because of Deutsche Bank's divestment, they need to think again. "

Yes, the Nokia investment fund is too important to the nascent Confiniti. Deutsche Bank just chatted with Peter Thiel yesterday and firmly stated that they would not invest in Confiniti.

Clayson, the head of Deutsche Bank's VC department, chatted with Peter Thiel himself.

Originally, Deutsche Bank and Nokia Investment Fund jointly invested US$3.5 million in Confinity, of which Deutsche Bank invested US$2 million and Nokia invested US$1.5 million.

Clausen, who personally led the investment, sees the potential of Confiniti's online payment system to change the way payments are made in the future.

But it is different now, and a more potential online payment system has emerged, which has changed the current payment method to a certain extent.

When the number of NewPay users successfully exceeded the million mark, major game developers came to express their hope to sell their games through Riot Games.

This change has led to NewPay firmly controlling the video game payment scene.

Anyone who is a little sensitive to the market will realize that NewPay already has users, and users have a stable demand for NewPay.

This kind of company in Silicon Valley means that half of the success is achieved, and the other half is going public.

"Well, I hope Nokia can invest in us. They have been very keen on investing in emerging technology companies for the past two years. If Nokia rejects us, it will be difficult to find other investment funds that are willing to invest in us." Marks said.

In 1999, not only Nokia was in full swing, but the Nokia investment fund was very popular in Silicon Valley. They not only invested in Confiniti, the predecessor of PayPal, but also invested in a series of start-up companies such as Redback Networks, NetScaler and Atrica.

At the same time, Nokia Investment Fund and several other venture capital firms jointly invested in a fund with a total value of 215 million US dollars, which focuses on investing in emerging Internet companies.

In addition to the Nokia Investment Fund, the $215 million investment fund also includes San Francisco's Alloy Ventures, Sweden's Investor AB, Deutsche's Techno Venture Management, Switzerland's Rothschild Group and Lion City's EDB Investments.

In other words, once rejected by Nokia, the above-mentioned investment institutions will close the door to Confiniti.

Peter nodded: "I know, I know, I will convince them.

If the other party refuses, I will personally persuade Kleist. "

Peter still has unfinished subtext, that is: even if it will cost a lot.

The next day he received an email from the Nokia investment manager, roughly saying: "Sorry, Nokia Investment Fund cannot invest in Confiniti."

Peter called immediately: "Why?

Didn't you say yesterday that you would conduct another round of in-depth investigations on us? It hasn't even passed 24 hours. Is your Nokia investment fund so efficient? "

Peter belongs in a bit of a hurry.

"Sorry, just now NewPay let the wind out, they will open the first round of financing in the near future, Confiniti has no chance."

Peter quickly caught the crux of the problem.

Newman is as famous for his reluctance to take outside financing as he is for product innovation.

From the beginning of the business, only received investment from Bill Gates, or investment in the form of share transfer.

Disdain for the current popular venture capital, the more so, the more investment institutions flock to Newman.

Peter heard about it from his friends in the financial circle. They contacted Newman through various methods and tried to invest in Riot Games.

NewPay announced that it will accept external financing. With the potential shown by NewPay, they are bound to be able to obtain investment, and the amount of investment they have obtained is by no means a few million dollars.

This will form a snowball effect, and the gap between Confiniti and NewPay will become wider and wider.

"Okay, I understand." Peter's voice was low and his face was depressed.

Lazy cancer has committed, and I have been unable to enter the state after waking up in the morning.