Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 284 Devouring the Four Seas
Investing requires absolute rationality, which is determined by the very nature of the matter.

Once you incorporate your personal likes and dislikes, you might end up investing in good projects, or you might miss out on good ones.

Zhu Xiaohu, who invested in Ele.me, Didi, and other internet companies, regrets most about missing out on ByteDance. His reason is that he felt Zhang, the founder of ByteDance, lacked the wolf-like spirit he expected.

Zhu Xiaohu felt that ByteDance's business model was good, its development was promising, and its future prospects were bright, but he missed out on ByteDance because of his feelings about people.

Even today, when he is interviewed and talks about this incident, he still regrets it so much that he slaps his thigh.

Similarly, the reason why investment institutions were so eager to invest in commercial spaceflight back then was because SpaceX succeeded. As a result, everyone underestimated the difficulty of reusable rockets and thought it was a simple matter that could be accomplished.

I think it's just a matter of money.

In 2014, Yanjing issued the "Guiding Opinions on Innovating Investment and Financing Mechanisms in Key Areas and Encouraging Social Investment," which for the first time explicitly proposed encouraging private capital to participate in commercial aerospace.

Thus, 2015 became the first year of commercial spaceflight, with a total of 10 investment and financing deals in the commercial spaceflight sector that year, raising a total of 6000 million yuan.

Let me elaborate a bit here. The reason why there were guidelines before the first year arrived is because you need a license and permit to launch a spacecraft. Without a license, there's nowhere to launch a rocket.

In addition, from testing to launch to manufacturing, all of these require cooperation with China's aerospace industry and support at the national level.

In addition, the government's support is not just about policies. At the end of 2014, China built a commercial space launch site in Hainan, filling the gap in commercial spaceflight.

Therefore, starting in 2015, with favorable policies, America's success story, and a market that sounded truly attractive, the commercial space industry began to develop rapidly.

In the same year, Yanjing released the "National Civil Space Infrastructure Medium and Long-Term Development Plan (2015-2025)," which once again proposed encouraging social capital to enter the aerospace field.

But it is clear that all organizations have greatly underestimated the difficulty of this matter.

In recent years, venture capital has gradually withdrawn, while government funds and local industrial capital have entered the market, because people have realized that this is not something that can be done with a few million or tens of millions of dollars, nor is it a project that can generate profits in a short period of time.

In addition to geopolitical risks, the space industry is far more likely to encounter geopolitical risks than the internet.

As a result, venture capital gradually withdrew, and at the same time, the amount of investment increased from millions or tens of millions to tens of millions or even hundreds of millions.

(Development Trends of Commercial Aerospace Investment and Financing in China, 2015-2023)
Simply put, now that there are super players like Apollo Technology, state-owned capital wants to withdraw because they feel they can't continue playing the game. The other party has already mastered reusable rockets and has shown its intention to take over the entire launch market. Everyone is unable to resist.

In recent years, government funds and industrial capital, which are state-owned capital, have been the main players in the commercial aerospace sector, dominating market investment. If the company were to go bankrupt like this, it would face huge losses on paper. Therefore, everyone hopes that someone will step in to bail it out.

Apollo Technology is the best backup plan.

This could even turn a bad thing into a good thing, converting shares of commercial space agencies that are clearly unable to continue raising funds into shares of Apollo Technologies, making a fortune.

As you can see, Apollo Technology reaped 40 billion yuan from Huawei in one year, which is almost equal to the total financing amount of the entire commercial aerospace sector last year.

They also siphoned off more than a billion yuan from Bilibili and Tencent, a cash flow that most companies couldn't catch up to even after years of development.

Since everyone involved is state-owned, Shenhai can't just stand by and watch us suffer!
However, a share swap is just a pipe dream; a cash acquisition is still worth discussing.

This led to Song Nanping's ordeal.

"Nanping, unified acquisition?" Lin Ran asked.

Song Nanping nodded: "Of course, what they hope for most is that we can exchange shares."

However, this is unnecessary for us. Their shares are worthless, and this share swap is detrimental to our interests.

Here, "we" refers to Linran and Shenhai State-owned Assets.

"Therefore, Shenhai State-owned Assets is thinking of cash acquisition, to complete the acquisition of private aerospace institutions related to rocket launches in a unified manner, and to use their number of employees, technical content and organizational strength as the standard for price negotiation."

Professor, here's how we see it: our current expansion of recruitment is mainly through campus recruitment, which is still too slow.

If we directly acquire all the engineers from these companies, they can play a role in rapid expansion.

After all, unlike Apollo Technology, they don't hire inexperienced fresh graduates; the engineers they gather are all highly experienced.

The addition of these individuals will quickly enrich our workforce structure, restoring a suitable balance between newly recruited campus employees and experienced external hires.

Song Nanping explained in detail.

Lin Ran seemed to be thinking about this, because it was indeed a good idea.

As for poaching directly, you need to increase the salary first, while in the case of acquisition, the salary structure can be based on the other party's salary in the existing company, and then you can give them a similar salary.

Secondly, if there is a non-compete agreement, it will be very difficult to poach them.

Finally, if you're looking for a candidate, without feedback from the original company, it's difficult to determine if the person is truly suitable.

After all, Lin Ran doesn't have the energy to interview every engineer individually.

"If the price is right, I think it's a good idea," Lin Ran said.

A cunning smile appeared on Song Nanping's withered face, which bore a resemblance to the old farmer: "Then we'll definitely rip them off without hesitation, we'll definitely cut the price to the bone."

As mentioned earlier, state-owned assets are the main force, and among the main forces of state-owned assets, those in Shenzhen are the main force, including institutions like Shenzhen Capital Group, which have shone brightly in state-owned asset investment in the past.

It would be strange if Shen Hai didn't deliver a severe blow to Pengcheng.

You raised 100 million yuan back then. Now, after deducting the cash on hand, say 20 million yuan, it means you actually burned through 80 million yuan in cash.

Shenhai's plan was to offer a discount of up to 90%, aiming for eight million, and even that was only because they considered everyone was on good terms with them, so they were holding back.

"Would they agree?" Lin Ran asked. "Including the founders, would they be willing to admit defeat and be forced out?"

"Like America's side, with SpaceX's Falcon leading the way, aren't institutions like Blue Origin and Rocket Lab also struggling?"

Song Nanping explained, "Professor, they might have wanted to try again."

The tests of Burning-1 Modified have gone from suborbital to orbital testing without a single mistake. They have lost all confidence in competing with us.

You see, they can't compete with us in terms of funding, R&D efficiency, or brand recognition.

What will they use to compete?

The local authorities in Shanghai couldn't be more smug; they had essentially snatched the commercial aerospace industry from Shenzhen out of thin air.

Originally, Shenzhen was the city that shouted the loudest and invested the most.

In the end, it was Shenhai who reaped the benefits. "Okay, go talk to them. I agree," Lin Ran said finally.

The negotiations progressed very quickly, and in the end, it cost a total of over 200 million yuan to acquire all the commercial aerospace organizations that make rockets.

These companies are mainly located in Beijing and Shenzhen. Their employees felt that the acquisition of their company and their subsequent job transfer to Apollo Technology was like a windfall.

"Honey, I have some great news for you!" Qiu Jinyu, a senior engineer at LandSpace, said excitedly when he got home that evening.

His wife, sitting on the sofa watching TV, asked without looking up, "What's wrong? Is your company going bankrupt and settling accounts, and then giving you a lump sum of N+x severance pay?"

Although his wife was a family member, she knew that everyone was having a hard time because of the emergence of Apollo technology.

LandSpace was one of the earliest commercial aerospace organizations established in China, and they raised a total of 18 billion yuan in 2019-2020.

In short, money is no object.

But now, under the pressure of Burning No. 1 Modification, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as one of widespread panic.

"What are you thinking? Our company has been acquired by Apollo Technology!" Qiu Jinyu said. "That means I'll be working in Shenhai soon."

"Did your salary go up?" His wife still didn't look up.

"It's not clear yet, the boss only informed us today," Qiu Jinyu murmured.

His wife complained, "The good news is that you got a raise. Being acquired is good news for your boss, but it's nothing to you!"
"How can you, a mere employee, be sympathizing with your boss? He's out of trouble, and he's selling you all to Apollo Technology as assets."

Qiu Jinyu said with a wry smile, "No, going to Apollo Technology is like being a civil servant in Zhili before, and now being transferred to Yanjing to be a civil servant."

Although we're both civil servants, there's a world of difference between us. Remember when Apollo Technology landed on the moon? We watched the live stream together at home, didn't we? That's the company, you forgot?

Working at Apollo Technology? Wow, that's the mecca of space exploration! Right now, it's the only organization in the world that can send astronauts to the moon!

Qiu Jinyu was initially a little down, but as she talked, she became excited, and just thinking about it made her feel happy.

I thought the company was going to dissolve and I would have to find a job again since I'm already over thirty. But now I can seamlessly transition to Apollo Technology and enjoy top-notch benefits.

After the settlement and handover were completed, the administrative, human resources, and finance departments were all laid off, leaving only engineers, workers, and R&D personnel to go to Apollo Technology.

Blue Arrow has workers; they have a rocket manufacturing and assembly plant in Huzhou.

I forgot to mention that Blue Arrow has its own self-developed engine, the Tianque liquid oxygen methane engine, with a vacuum thrust of 80 tons, which is even larger than the YF-102 engine used by Burning One.

Therefore, Blue Arrow was the company that spent the most money in this round of acquisitions by Apollo Technology, with the integration of Blue Arrow alone costing more than 100 million yuan.

His wife sneered, "People going to the moon is one thing, but you going to work is another."

When we graduated from university, you were also very enthusiastic about going to the aerospace institute. But what kind of work did you end up doing? You did all the work, while the honors and awards went to your superiors, their superiors, and the institute's leaders. Could you even get a signature?

Otherwise, why would you give up a job at a state-owned enterprise and go to Blue Arrow?
"Since you went from Blue Arrow to Apollo, you're no longer part of their core force. You're part of the defeated army that was incorporated into their ranks. What good jobs could they possibly give you? You're getting ahead of yourself."

His wife and he had been through thick and thin together since college, which made Qiu Jinyu feel a little heartbroken.

“No, no, no, Apollo Technology is different from the Aerospace Institute. I believe that Burning God is not like that.” Qiu Jinyu said helplessly, “Compared with the Aerospace Institute, Apollo Technology is at least a private institution, plus Burning God is there.”

His wife rolled her eyes: "Burning God, Burning God, is Burning God personally directing you? Apollo Technology has a two-tier management structure, and he directly leads you?"

You're not even a junior manager above him; you're at least four levels above him, right? Let's assume he's a decent leader—after all, he's young and hasn't been through the harsh realities of life, having had a smooth ride all his life, so he probably has a naive, idealistic outlook. The problem is, you're not dealing with him.

Qiu Jinyu said seriously, "Wife, you're right, but if a company is a business that gets things done, and has a lot of things to do, then it's impossible for it to engage in backstabbing and office politics."

For companies like Apollo Technologies, if their goal is to build a lunar base and then use it as a springboard to Mars, they have a lot of work to do.

Coupled with the pragmatic and efficient management style at the top, this provides an excellent environment for engineers.

"Let's talk about it when you get there. Are you going to Shenhai?" his wife asked.

Qiu Jinyu said cautiously, "That's right, I came here to discuss this with you."

His wife got up, and he asked, "Where are you going?"

“Get the computer, revise my resume, and see what job opportunities Shenhai has for me!” his wife replied.

More than 80% of the engineers and employees at these commercial space agencies chose to accept Apollo Technologies' offer.

For those like Qiu Jinyu, who are married but have no children, the whole family moves away.

If there are children, or if the other half has a stable job in Yanjing, they will choose to live apart temporarily.

In short, Apollo Technology has enough appeal.

However, a new piece of news soon swept across the entire country of China.

Pony Ma steps down as CEO of Tencent, and Martin Lau will temporarily serve as chairman of the board.

Since joining Tencent, Martin Lau has been the CEO of Tencent Holdings and Chairman of the Investment Committee.

The old man took up a new post.

Pony's movements have sparked speculation throughout China.

Unlike Jack Ma, who was attacked by the crowd after making a bombshell statement and then disappeared from the public eye.

Pony hasn't done anything yet, but he's recently gained a great reputation in the investment world by investing in Apollo Technology, a unicorn among unicorns.

The general public felt that Pony's departure was too sudden.

Just then, the official Apollo Technology account on Bilibili released an interview video titled "Burning: Internet Veteran, Aviation Newcomer."

　Did the first two chapters criticize Xiaomi and Lei Jun? Yes, and I won't deny it.

　　Did Ya have any malicious intent? Actually, no. She just wanted to make a joke. In my previous books, Lei Zong was always a positive character, and he was even criticized by readers for being a fan of Xiaomi.

　　Besides, Ya himself is a graduate of Wuhan University, so how could he possibly have any ill intentions towards Lei?

　　However, this has indeed led to this result, and I apologize for it. I will stop writing about this kind of comparison and denigration in the future, and when it comes to cooperation with Huawei, I will only write about Huawei and will not engage in any more comparison and denigration.

　　I apologize again to readers who had a negative experience with the first two chapters! I'm sorry.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)