Chapter two hundred and ninety fifth confusing short video
The first person in an industry to eat crabs is often just a pioneer, just like "Pangu opened the sky", creating an industry prototype for many latecomers.
And often the vast majority of "the first person to eat crabs" are not the ones who can earn the greatest benefits. After all, just knowing how to "eat" will definitely not make money.
And those who follow the path pioneered by their predecessors, innovate and outperform others are often the ones who eventually become industry leaders.
This principle has been effectively verified in the historical process of most industries.
Short video platforms are no exception. Zhou Dongsheng naturally knows who will dominate the short video platform in the future.
But right now, this future overlord has not even set foot on the stage of history. Before that, there were still many pioneers in the short video industry who were pioneering and expanding their territory.
Even Internet giants like Tenda started their strategic layout as early as 2013. Unfortunately, due to a strange combination of circumstances, Tenda only woke up early and arrived late.
At that time, Tenda had already established a Weishi team to enter the short video industry in 2013. Unfortunately, the premature strategy was like a hero born at the wrong time. Even a giant like Tenda was helpless.
The Weishi team only lasted until the first half of 2015, when the team was already facing disbandment and became an outcast in Tenda's strategy.
Unable to make short videos on its own, Tenda set its sights on Kuaishou, the leading software in the short video track.
This is also the most commonly used strategic method after Tenda became an Internet giant. Just like the prestige of social software that once threatened Tenda's foundation, if you can't beat it, just buy it. I have plenty of money anyway.
And when the future overlord has not yet been born, what Zhou Dongsheng saw cannot be the news that ByteDance is seeking financing.
After all, the reason why Toutiao Group has been able to grow to a level comparable to Internet giants in just a few years is because its capital background is not weak at all.
It’s not that Zhou Dongsheng has never thought about picking peaches, but as early as last year, ByteDance’s financing round had already reached the C round, selling 20% of the shares for US$100 million. The valuation at that time was already as high as 5
Billions of dollars!
At that time, Zhou Dongsheng was still eagerly waiting for the World Cup to earn his first pot of gold, so he naturally had no chance to invest in such a future overlord.
In today's Byte, the next round of D round of financing is bound to be an astronomical figure, both in terms of valuation and amount, and may be directly valued in tens of billions of dollars.
For an investment of this size, unless Zhou Dongsheng chooses to earn a fortune, there is no chance of getting into the car.
Otherwise, the capital on the car may not necessarily give outsiders this opportunity. As for integrating the connections and resources in hand to pull the banner...
Whether it is Duan Yongping, Mr. Duan, or the big boss Ding Sanshi, they obviously have the face and strength, but it is unknown whether Zhou Dongsheng has the face.
But... there is a better way, and it doesn't necessarily have to be so hard and shameless to take the risk.
Whether it's the pursuit of wealth or the effort of pulling the tiger's skin to win the banner, it is not the best choice for Zhou Dongsheng.
This message from Lu Sifang seeking financing is a good opportunity to try. After all, next year will be the first year of short video!
Starting next year, 4G infrastructure and the mobile Internet soil fertilized by smartphones for a long time will be extremely fertile. Whether it is live broadcast or short video, there will be a wave of crazy growth.
That is to say, in the second half of next year, short videos that have been incubated within ByteDance for a long time will enter the short video track to test the waters. Before that, there are already many pioneers in this track.
The news in Zhou Dongsheng's hand was a short video platform that was well-known overseas, but a short video software that most domestic users had never heard of.
What surprised Zhou Dongsheng was that this short video software was developed by a domestic team, not an overseas team, and this team is in Shanghai!
This made Zhou Dongsheng's mind suddenly become more active. Maybe he could add some trouble to Byte? For example, he could steal the name first or something like that.
Thinking of this, Zhou Dongsheng couldn't help but smile brightly and sent a message back to Lu Sifang.
"We can talk about this project. Bring someone over to Magic City. I happen to be there."
Compared with investing in ByteDance, the future overlord, it is undoubtedly much simpler to invest in this short video platform that is still in its infancy.
Especially with Zhou Dongsheng's current capital, it can be said that he has a certain advantage and right to speak when talking to a company of this size, and he does not have to work as hard as before.
After all, having accumulated so many connections and resources is not just for free.
After sending the message, Zhou Dongsheng put away his phone and continued chatting with these young men with a smile on his face.
"Just relax in the playoffs. It doesn't matter even if you are eliminated in the first round. We will fight again next year." Zhou Dongsheng raised the cup without any pressure.
As a boss, this "kindness and tolerance" is a bit too much, but a group of young men are like chicken blood.
"Don't worry, boss! We will definitely work hard!"
"Okay, then I'll wait and see."
Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
…
After obtaining the consent of his boss, Zhou Dongsheng, Lu Sifang immediately organized a research team to catch a direct flight to the Magic City as early as the early morning of the next day.
Of course, if they are traveling by themselves, they still don’t dare to choose the group business class treatment.
After all...since the establishment of Dongsheng Investment, the contribution made by their professional team is really limited.
Strictly speaking, this short video platform project was discovered by their team and approved by Zhou Dongsheng.
Before that, the three major investments were basically made by Zhou Dongsheng, which also made Lu Sifang a little embarrassed.
However, for this project, Lu Sifang has done enough homework and is very confident that he can win this investment.
While Zhou Dongsheng was still sleeping, Lu Sifang led his team to the Magic City and headed to the hotel where Zhou Dongsheng was staying, preparing to report the information he had to his boss as soon as he woke up.
This time, Lu Sifang worked hard and wanted to truly achieve the "work of dogs and horses".
When the first ray of sunlight in the morning shone into the bed through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, Zhou Dongsheng opened his eyes.
He took his arms away from his body, stretched out, and immediately became energetic.
This is a 20-year-old young man who is full of energy and has endless energy in his body.
Coupled with Zhou Dongsheng's fitness habits, the soul of "returning to the age of twenty" feels unprecedentedly satisfied with this body.
"Boss, do you want to go to the gym so early?" Li Jiana woke up and asked.
"If you're tired, just sleep a little longer and I'll go for a run by myself." Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
"It's okay, boss, I'll accompany you. You have to persevere in fitness." Li Jiana smiled lazily, revealing two deep dimples.
After washing up, Li Jiana habitually checked whether her phone was working, and then she said, "Boss, Lu Sifang and his team are already waiting in the hotel lobby."
"So early? Let him wait first and run two laps before talking." Zhou Dongsheng changed into sportswear and said casually.