When it comes to writing code, although Lin Yi doesn't dare to say how advanced he is, he can at least get started with some gestures.
He can't help with building cars.
Good management means professional people do professional things and perform their duties. After sending Shao Yu away, Lin Yi went to do another thing.
Jiaocheng is located in the northeastern part of southern Fujian Province. In 2016, its total GDP ranked second to last in the province. It was originally an unknown third-tier city.
In a few years, there will be a company named after this city, giving it a strong sense of presence in front of people across the country.
At least in front of shareholders.
When Lin Yi came here, he felt it was quite strange, because in China, you rarely see a large and important company willing to stay in a small city.
Of course, it doesn't seem to be that conspicuous now.
"Boss Lin, people on the Internet say that you are the richest man born in the 1990s. You are handsome, elegant, and suave. When I saw you today, you certainly lived up to your reputation."
"Boss Zeng is making fun of me. Just call me Lin Yi."
The boss Lin Yi met was already quite old. Strictly speaking, he was starting a business, but this was not his first career.
He has been deeply involved in the lithium battery industry for many years. He used to mainly make mobile phone batteries and broke into Apple's supply chain. Now he has started a new business in power batteries and is a leader in the country with BYD, which is self-produced and sold.
The power battery is the most important component of an electric vehicle and accounts for a large portion of the vehicle cost.
The reason why Lin Yi came to see him was because this industry leader was currently seeking a round of equity financing, which was a rare opportunity.
The two parties got to know each other, and Boss Zeng asked with a smile: "I wonder why Lin Yi came to our small place this time?"
Lin got straight to the point: "Wanli Travel has decided to enter the new energy vehicle industry. Boss Zeng must have heard about this?"
The other party nodded in agreement: "Of course, you, Wanli Travel, are now the leader of the new three giants, and every move attracts attention. Recently, it has been rumored that you have been very successful in poaching people from automakers, and the industry praises you for your great courage."
Traveling thousands of miles is very efficient, so the large-scale poaching of people cannot be hidden, and they have no intention of doing it secretly, so they just make a big show of it.
So it is now well known that they want to build a car, and Lin Yi specifically appeased some investors who raised questions about it.
Everything is said outside, but it doesn't affect them from following the steps.
Lin Yi is still self-aware: "What is so courageous? I'm afraid it means that I am young and don't know how high the sky is and how high it is, right?"
Boss Zeng smiled and said nothing.
The bosses in the industry have a somewhat complicated mentality towards Lin Yi and others who are engaged in the Internet. They envy them for making money easily, but also despise their lack of technical content.
Lin Yi finally revealed his purpose: "It is precisely because of this that we choose the best partners, especially industry leaders like Boss Zeng."
"To tell you the truth, I'm here today because Wanli Travel is very interested in your company's latest round of financing. I believe Boss Zeng has seen my sincerity."
You don't have to come to them to discuss financing. Lin Yi personally visits them to show his sincerity.
Boss Zeng really felt that Lin Yi was a young layman who could build a car on a whim.
However, Wanli Travel is currently in the limelight, so having it join its shareholder meeting can at least increase its visibility, which doesn’t seem to be a bad thing.
"I wonder how you plan to cooperate?"
"I know you plan to seek 8 billion yuan in financing at a valuation of 80 billion in this round, and we want half of it."
Of course Lin Yi coming to the door in person was no small matter, but he had to speak half the time. Not only was his tone not small, but he also had a big appetite.
Boss Zeng was noncommittal for the time being, and then asked: "There must be some other conditions?"
Lin Yiyi nodded and said: "The reason why we want to form a close alliance with your company by taking shares is that we hope to get your undivided help in business."
"We hope that when it comes to building cars, we can ensure that we get your most advanced technology, the highest priority production capacity guarantee and the best price."
Lin Yi's words were half true and half false. He really wanted to negotiate some exchange conditions for the investment, but even if he succeeded in building a car, it was uncertain how much of the other party's production capacity he could use. This was a boast.
Boss Zeng was not surprised by Lin Yi’s appeal. He thought about it briefly and gave this reply:
"Lin Yi, first of all, I am very grateful for your optimism and support for the company. As a power battery supplier, I am also happy to see you join the wave of new energy vehicles."
"I would like to say on my behalf that I welcome you on behalf of the entire industry."
"I'm afraid I can't fully agree with the plan you just proposed, because the company's financing amount in this round is only 8 billion, which is not high."
"Before you, I have already agreed to several partners who have had good cooperation experience before, and even discussed with them to ask for a smaller quota in order to introduce more new friends."
"If your family only takes half of the 8 billion, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to explain to other old and new friends."
Lin Yi had already expected this.
The valuation level of the other party in this round of financing is actually not low, reaching 80 billion after the investment. You must know that their valuation was only 23 billion a few months ago. Even so, Lin Yi had no intention of bargaining.
Although the other party is not the famous King Ning yet, before investors discovered that it was killing everyone in A-shares, capital with a keen sense of smell had already harvested it for several rounds.
Its shares are highly sought after.
The friends that Boss Zeng mentioned who had reserved shares were not ordinary people. For example, among them was Jack Ma's fund, which had promised to sponsor Lin Yi.
If Lin Yi came today not as a representative of the "head of the new three giants", but as a passerby, he might not be able to get a precious share even if he came with billions in cash.
"Understood, just tell us how much you can give us?"
"Since I saw you today, I planned to make you Lin Yi as my friend, and you happened to be so forthcoming, so I'll tell you straight away."
Boss Zeng held out two fingers and said, "I can find a way to even out the 2 billion quota for you, and there won't be any more."
2 billion, only 300 million US dollars, hate less!
Lin Yi knew in his heart that there was only so much left this time, but he still had to complain a few words. Boss Zeng smiled and promised that he would be given priority in the next financing round.
Relying on this verbal promise, Lin Yi increased his holdings twice in a row, and by the time of Ningwang's IPO, his shareholding exceeded the 5% threshold.
That's a story for another day.
They then discussed for a while the other conditions that Lin Yi had just put forward, but they were basically intentional, because the car building had not yet happened, and they could not place an order with the other party now.
Lin Yi is still satisfied with the harvest of this trip.
At the end of 2016, there are not many opportunities left for Lin Yi to play the role of "prophet".
With this investment as a foundation, even if Wanli Travel's car-making journey does not go smoothly, at least it will not lose everything just based on the appreciation of the stock price.