Volume 2: Storm Rising 2015 Chapter 295: Confusing Short Video
The first person to try something new in an industry is often just a pioneer, just like "Pangu creating the world" , creating a prototype for the industry for many latecomers.
However, most of the "first people to try something new" are not the ones who can earn the biggest profit. After all, you can't make money just by "eating".
The one who follows the path pioneered by his predecessors, innovates and surpasses his predecessors is often the one who eventually becomes the industry leader.
This truth has been effectively verified in the historical process of most industries.
Short video platforms are naturally no exception. Zhou Dongsheng naturally knows who will be the overlord of short video platforms in the future.
However, at the moment, this future overlord has not even stepped onto the stage of history. Before that, there were still many pioneers who were pioneering and expanding the short video industry.
Even an Internet giant like Tenda had started its strategic layout as early as 2013. Unfortunately, due to a series of mistakes, Tenda got up early but arrived late.
At that time, in 2013, Tenda had already established the Weishi team to enter the short video industry. Unfortunately, the premature strategy was like a hero born at the wrong time, and even a giant like Tenda could do nothing about it.
The Weishi team only lasted until the first half of 2015, when it was facing disbandment and became a discarded pawn in Tenda's strategy.
Since it couldn’t make short videos on its own, Tenda set its sights on Kuaishou, the leading software in the short video market at the time.
This is also the most commonly used strategic means by Tencent after it became an Internet giant. If you can't beat it, just buy it. Anyway, I have plenty of money.
And at a time when the future overlord has not yet been born, it is naturally impossible for Zhou Dongsheng to see the news that ByteDance is seeking financing.
After all, the reason why Toutiao has been able to grow to a level that can stand shoulder to shoulder with Internet giants in just a few years is that its capital background is not weak at all.
It’s not like Zhou Dongsheng hadn’t thought about taking the opportunity to reap the benefits. However, as early as last year, ByteDance’s financing round had reached the C round, and it sold 20% of its shares for US$100 million. At that time, its valuation was as high as US$500 million!
At that time, Zhou Dongsheng was still eagerly waiting for the World Cup to make his first pot of gold, so naturally he had no chance to invest in such a future overlord.
Today, ByteDance's next round of D financing will inevitably be an astronomical figure, both in terms of valuation and amount. It may even be valued in the tens of billions of US dollars.
For an investment of this magnitude, Zhou Dongsheng would have only a chance of getting on board unless he chose to go all in with his entire fortune.
Otherwise, the capital on the train may not give outsiders this opportunity. As for integrating the connections and resources in their hands to use the tiger's skin to pull the banner...
Whether it is Mr. Duan Yongping or the big boss Ding Sanshi, they obviously have the face and strength, but it is not known whether Zhou Dongsheng has this face.
But... there are better ways to go, and you don't have to be so hard and take the risk.
Whether it is gamble all your wealth or go to great lengths to pull off a big banner, it is not the best option for Zhou Dongsheng.
The message sent by Lu Sifang seeking financing is actually a good opportunity to try. After all, next year is the first year of short videos!
Starting next year, the mobile Internet soil, which has been fertilized for a long time by 4G infrastructure and smartphones, will be particularly fertile. Both live streaming and short videos will usher in a wave of crazy growth.
That is to say, in the second half of next year, the short videos that have been incubated for a long time within ByteDance will enter the short video track to test the waters. Before that, there are already many pioneers in this track.
The information Zhou Dongsheng had was about a short video platform that was relatively well-known overseas, a short video software that most domestic users had never even heard of.
What surprised Zhou Dongsheng was that this short video software was actually developed by a domestic team, not an overseas team, and this team is right in Shanghai!
This made Zhou Dongsheng's mind active all of a sudden. Maybe he could make things difficult for ByteDance? For example, he could grab 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 discuss this project. Bring your people to Shanghai. I happen to be there."
Compared to investing in ByteDance, the future overlord, investing in this short video platform that is still in its infancy is undoubtedly much simpler.
Especially with Zhou Dongsheng's current capital, he can be said to have a certain advantage and voice in dialogue with , and he doesn't have to work as hard as before.
After all, accumulating so many connections and resources is not just for fun.
After sending the message, Zhou Dongsheng put away his phone and continued chatting with the group of young men with a smile on his face.
"Just relax in the playoffs. It doesn't matter even if we are eliminated in the first round. We will fight again next year." Zhou Dongsheng raised his glass without any pressure.
As a boss, this "kindness and tolerance" was a bit too much, but the bunch of young men were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
"Don't worry, boss! We will 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 and caught the earliest flight in the early morning of the next day to fly directly to Shanghai.
Of course, if they were traveling on their own, they would not dare to choose the collective business class treatment.
After all...since the establishment of Dongsheng Investment, the contribution made by their professional team is indeed limited.
Strictly speaking, this short video platform project was discovered by their team and recognized by Zhou Dongsheng.
Before this, the three major investments were basically made by Zhou Dongsheng, which made Lu Sifang a little ashamed.
However, for this project, Lu Sifang has done enough homework and is very confident that he can get the investment.
While Zhou Dongsheng was still asleep, Lu Sifang brought his team to the Magic City and went to the hotel where Zhou Dongsheng was staying, ready to report the information he had to his boss as soon as he woke up.
This time, Lu Sifang was determined to do his best and truly serve the country like a dog or a horse.
When the first ray of sunlight in the morning shone into the bed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel, Zhou Dongsheng opened his eyes.
He took his arms off his body, stretched himself, and immediately felt refreshed.
This is a 20-year-old young man, full of energy and full of vitality.
Coupled with Zhou Dongsheng's fitness habits, his "return to 20 years old" soul feels unprecedentedly satisfied with this body.
"Boss, are you going to the gym so early?" Li Jiana woke up slowly and asked.
"If you are tired, just sleep for a while. I'll go for a run by myself." Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
"It's okay, boss. I'll accompany you. Fitness requires perseverance." Li Jiana smiled lazily, revealing two deep dimples.
After washing up, Li Jiana habitually checked her phone to see if there was any work going on. Then she said, "Boss, Lu Sifang and his team are already waiting in the hotel lobby."
"So early? Let him wait and run two laps first." Zhou Dongsheng said casually after changing into sportswear.
