Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 31 The future is uncertain

Lu Chuanwei stared wide-eyed at Chen Xiu opposite him.

If we were to categorize company secrets, the quote for the next round of financing would definitely be the highest level of secrecy, requiring a gag order within the company.

Now, Chen Xiu, the founder and chief strategist of Didi, a competitor, actually asked this question directly.

Why do you think we can discuss this topic?

"Didi has almost used up the money from its last round of financing, and I believe Kuaidi is in the same situation. With the help of Ali and Tencent, the merger of our two companies is no longer a secret."

After explaining the prerequisites, Chen Xiu changed the subject.

"In that case, this next round of financing is our last chance to maximize our market value before the merger. While our individual bids aren't that different, wouldn't it be more effective to join forces and drive up the price?"

"Raising prices?"

As Lü Chuanwei muttered those two words, his expression became unpredictable.

His financing negotiations with Ali have stalled because his offer was too high and Ali's expectations were too low.

In the process of seeking common ground, it's simply a matter of each side taking a step back.

But if Kuaidi and Didi really collude to raise prices, then Ali and Tencent will have no choice but to accept it.

The reason is simple: the combined market share of the two companies exceeds 80% of the total market, and Didi and Kuaidi are also related to the hidden market of mobile payment.

Mobile payment is extremely important for both Tencent and Ali.

Especially Tencent; if it hadn't integrated WeChat Pay into Didi, it probably wouldn't be a significant player today.

For two internet giants, investing tens of millions of dollars more in this hidden market is nothing.

Moreover, the higher the financing amount, the more the stock options held by Chen Xiu and Lü Chuanwei will appreciate, and everyone will benefit.

The key to achieving this is that Didi and Kuaidi, as the main players, need to be in sync.

Having figured out the logical chain of the whole matter, Lü Chuanwei, who already valued Chen Xiu enough, began to re-examine the young man sitting opposite him.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll deliberately quote a low price?"

"Ha, that's pointless! We both see each other clearly. Ali and Tencent are also communicating behind the scenes. Didi's market share has always been higher than Kuaidi's. Our financing offer is low, do you want it to be higher?"

Chen Xiu shrugged and said that she didn't think this situation would cause any trouble at all.

The scheme he set up today was to use his own advantages to give Lü Chuanwei a choice. No matter which option he chose, or even if he chose nothing, he would still have cards to play.

Having grasped this point, Lü Chuanwei pursed his lips in slight helplessness.

At the start of their businesses, Kuaidi and Didi were on the same starting line. Kuaidi had secured funding from Ali earlier, giving it a first-mover advantage.

When Lü Chuanwei learned through his informant within Didi that Chen Xiushi was in charge of securing investment for Didi, he mocked him mercilessly in his office, thinking that Chen was just a college dropout and that the advantage was in his hands!

Subsequent events made him realize that this doll was not simple.

Every time he made a development plan, Chen Xiu would implement it one step ahead, which is why Didi's market share has always been higher than Kuaidi's.

What impressed Lü Chuanwei the most was the fierce competition between the two companies at the beginning of the year. He poached Didi's program architect, and Chen Xiu rushed to Shenzhen overnight, obtained Tencent's full support, and brought back a team of programmers and servers. They worked overtime for seven days and seven nights to rewrite the architecture...

After that, he never treated Chen Xiu like a child again, but it was all too late.

"Kuaidi's funding offer is $6 million..."

Lu Chuanwei said in a low voice, and then immediately looked at Chen Xiu, waiting for him to give a price quote.

Hearing this very generous figure, Chen Xiu didn't try to hide her own offer.

"That's about right. The company's offer was around $6.5 million, but my target price was $7 million. Now that I've heard your offer, I think we can both add another $5 million."

"Will they agree if we're in sync?"

Having revealed all his cards, Lü Chuanwei simply voiced all his concerns.

"Of course, it's not just about keeping in step."

Chen Xiu readily admitted this before revealing the real reason for the price increase: "Uber just completed a $12 billion funding round in June, and its current valuation is $20 billion."

"According to my sources, Uber will have another round of financing at the end of the year, with a similar scale to this one, and its market value is estimated to double again. The growth rate of the domestic market in the past two years has been quite fast."

This news surprised Lü Chuanwei just as much as Chen Xiu's question had just asked.

How do you know Uber has funding plans for the end of the year?

"Hehe, that's a trade secret."

Chen Xiu chuckled, his choice of words not particularly clever in concealing his misunderstanding.

He would know because he followed Uber news when he was taking advantage of ride-hailing platforms in his previous life, but could he tell Lü Chuanwei about this?

After staring at Chen Xiu for a long time, Lü Chuanwei could only nod reluctantly, not bothering to investigate the source of the information.

"Then let's wish each other good luck in our negotiations."

Chen Xiu stood up and extended her hand to Lü Chuanwei.

Although the two have reached a temporary alliance, it involves hundreds of millions of dollars in financing and multiple investors, and even if the negotiations go smoothly, it will still take several months.

Lu Chuanwei stood up from his seat and took Chen Xiu's hand.

"Sometimes, I envy your work style where everyone has their own responsibilities. Unlike me, I have to do important things myself. I really don't trust others to do them."

"Mr. Lü, are you trying to sow discord?"

Chen Xiu squinted and said with a forced smile.

Stared at like that, Lü Chuanwei's smile froze, and his expression became awkward.

"I'm just curious, how do you guys manage to work together so well? It's not uncommon for founders to fight amongst themselves and losers to be kicked out of the company. Look at Facebook's CFO, he was fired, wasn't he?"

"Our internal division of labor is also a trade secret."

Chen Xiu withdrew her hand, not wanting to discuss this topic any further.

Having lived two lifetimes, how could he not understand what Lü Chuanwei knew?

For founders to avoid being kicked out of the company, they simply need to create their own indispensability and seize every opportunity to exert their influence at all levels of the company.

How could Chen Xiu not participate in the process of starting a business, which involves building a company's operating system, selecting talent, and determining production relations? After all, he only stopped working in the office in the second half of last year.

The intricacies of this matter are best left unsaid to outsiders…

"Mr. Lü, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute! I'm sure I've eliminated your moles planted in Kuaidi. How did you find out my itinerary?"

"Is this important?"

"Correct."

Looking at his stubborn opponent, Chen Xiu shook his head.

“I didn’t plant any spies. I just told them: Didi and Kuaidi will merge sooner or later. The future is uncertain. Don’t push yourselves to the brink.”

Lu Chuanwei gave Chen Xiu a deep look, but no longer cared about asking who they were.

"Ha, I didn't lose unjustly!"

"I came in a hurry and didn't bring much with me. This book is newly bought. If you don't mind, Mr. Lü, I'll give it to you."

"you are too polite."

Lu Chuanwei smacked his lips, quite surprised by the gift he had suddenly received.

After Chen Xiu dismissed everyone, he picked up the book on the table. The cover prominently displayed the words "Detective Chinatown" in Song typeface, author: Chen Xiu...

(End of this chapter)