My Age of Investment

After signing the agreement, Value Equity Partners Capital organized a due diligence on Tesla's Series B financing.

Xia Jingxing himself is a major shareholder of the company, and he is very familiar with Tesla's various situations. In fact, there is no need to spend a lot of time.

However, as the lead investor, it was still routine, and he sent Andrew to participate in the due diligence work.

He personally returned to his main business and put his main focus on Facebook and YouTube.

A few days later, he received a call from Eberhard, who said angrily on the phone:

"Daren, you really said that, Nikolai hit us on the head."

Xia Jingxing frowned, Musk is not very particular about this.

He didn't panic too much, but calmly asked what happened.

"Musk offered the co-founder, CTO position, plus a 5% stake, to poach Straubel.

Offered the position of director of battery research and development, plus a 3% stake, ready to poach Gene. David also offered a 2% stake..."

On the phone, Eberhard reported six or seven names, all of whom are Tesla's core technical backbone.

"This Musk has done a lot of research on us. As soon as he makes a move, he is ready to take our technical backbone in one pot."

Xia Jingxing said lightly, and then asked, "These employees have signed the non-compete agreement, right?"

"It's signed, but it's not long, just a year."

Eberhard said with some annoyance, "This is mainly my fault, I should have signed with them for a longer time."

Xia Jingxing pondered for a moment and asked, "How did these people react? Does anyone want to leave?"

"Most people turned down Nikolai's invitation, and there were even people who came forward to tell me about it.

Because everyone knows that the company is about to complete the B round of financing, and the next step is mass production.

At the same time, I also conveyed the news of option incentives. "

Eberhard changed the subject and said with some regret: "But there are still people who want to leave, and I can't persuade them."

"Straubel?"

"Hey, Darren, how do you know?"

Xia Jingxing had heard about the basic friendship between Straubel and Musk in his previous life, so he first thought of this person.

Moreover, Musk has indeed offered a high price, with a 5% stake and the title of co-founder. Even if the two are not familiar with it, they may be tempted.

"Straubel, what kind of work is currently in charge of the company? Is it replaceable?"

Eberhard started talking.

This person is indeed amazing. He only joined Tesla two months ago, but he has the demeanor of the first person in technology, and he has a gentle personality and works steadfastly.

Eberhard also valued this person very much, and some were reluctant to let this person go.

"Okay, I see, I'll be right over here."

Xia Jingxing hung up the phone and drove to Tesla.

As soon as he arrived at the door of the company, Eberhard waved to him.

"Where are the people?" Xia Jingxing asked.

"In the office, Tarpenning is still persuading him."

Xia Jingxing nodded and followed Eberhard into the office.

Opening the door, Xia Jingxing saw that Tarpenning was persuading painstakingly: "What's good about Nikolai, Musk will give you 5% equity instead of giving you 50% equity. If the car cannot be mass-produced, It is also destined to be a pile of waste paper..."

"Daren~"

The two stopped talking when they saw Xia Jingxu coming in.

"Tapening, you go out first and let me talk to Straubel."

Tarpenning nodded, went out, and carefully closed the door.

Xia Jingxing sat down opposite Strabell, looked at the other party, and asked with a smile, "Do you really want to leave?"

Straubel said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Darren."

"Are you dissatisfied with your current position or options?"

Straubel shook his head, "No, Musk and I have known each other last year.

At that time, I wanted to build an electric plane. I searched for entrepreneurs in Stanford and Silicon Valley. I made crazy calls, wrote letters, and sent emails. Only Musk was willing to invest in me. "

"That's it?"

Xia Jingxing shook his head and laughed, "That's because you didn't find me."

Straubel was stunned, and then smiled: "I forgot. Besides, I didn't expect you to be so rich."

"Electric aircraft, that sounds pretty good."

Xia Jingxing turned on the mode of talking nonsense with his eyes open, "Actually, I like innovative things very much.

Otherwise, I wouldn't invest in Tesla, start Facebook, start YouTube, invest in Skype and LinkedIn. "

"You also invested in Skype, the Internet phone?"

This matter is relatively secretive, mainly because the Skype team is relatively low-key, and Straubel really doesn't know it yet.

"Of course, I also invested in two rounds in a row, and I still hold 8% of their shares."

Straubel looked amazed: "Daren, your investment vision is really good. I dare to say that this company will definitely make you a lot of money."

"Hahaha~ Thank you, I think so too."

Xia Jingxing and Straubel chatted, like friends, with a casual attitude.

"Your electric Porsche is well-modified. I drive it to work every day these days."

Xia Jingxing actually drove once, and spent the rest of the time lying in the garage eating ashes. But that didn't stop him from using condoms.

"Haha, your Tzero is also very good to drive. I think Tesla will be able to surpass it after it is produced."

Xia Jingxing said with a smile: "Speaking of Tesla, I have high hopes for this company. If you are interested, please listen to my thoughts."

"my pleasure."

Xia Jingxing said with a smile: "At present, in everyone's eyes, Tesla is targeting the high-end sports car field."

Straubel nodded, "This is because of the manufacturing cost, and it can only be this way."

"But in the future, I hope to let Tesla enter thousands of households and ordinary people can afford it."

Straubel shook his head and laughed. "Daren, I feel that your idea is...a little...far away."

Taking into account Xia Jingxing's face, he did not say the words "unrealistic".

Xia Jingxing said with a serious face: "I'm not joking with you, this is my real thought.

Only in this way, Tesla is not a toy for the rich, but a new energy and environmental protection enterprise that saves energy and reduces emissions. "

Straubel spread his hands, "Daren, I admire your idea, but in my opinion, it's very difficult."

"Yes, it's really difficult."

Xia Jingxing said with a smile: "So Tesla decided to start with high-end cars, and when the technology is mature and costs are reduced, it will cut into the mid-end segment.

Then, by expanding sales, reducing costs through marginal effects, and slowly infiltrating into the low-end and low-end fields..."

Straubel nodded, "It sounds crazy, and it's very difficult, and it requires a lot of breakthroughs in technology."

"Yes, I'm going to keep investing in Tesla in the future, maybe five years, maybe 10 years, and I won't ask for a cent in return from Tesla."

Xia Jingxing continued: "In order to cooperate with Tesla's entry into thousands of households, we will also build a charging network and establish charging piles around the world..."

After listening, Straubel was deeply shocked by Xia Jingxing's grand plan and kept asking questions.

Xia Jingxing answered with a smile, and every point he expounded made Straubel feel refreshing and eye-opening.

"Have you heard of artificial intelligence?"

Straubel nodded, "This is a concept proposed in the 1950s, but in terms of technology, there has not been much breakthrough yet."

"What kind of sparks do you think the combination of cars and artificial intelligence will collide with?"

Straubel thought for a while, then smiled and said, "It won't be a driverless car, will it?

This thing, the US Department of Defense was working on it in the 1980s, but it was too slow and had a high failure rate. "

Xia Jingxing nodded, "In the future Tesla, I hope to fully realize this function, and will also invest a lot of research and development funds in this direction.

For Tesla to become a great company, it must develop in the most cutting-edge and technological direction.

We are not a traditional company, but a technology company located in Silicon Valley.

If you set yourself limits, it will always be a mediocre company.

I don't want people to hear Tesla, and this is the reaction: oh, the company that makes sports cars, hear that it accelerates faster than Porsche.

It's not cool at all, and it doesn't make sense.

I hope that when the public hears Tesla, it should be this response: wow! A car that can drive itself, you can drive it to travel around the world, because wherever you go, there is its charging station. "

Straubel smiled. "It sounds like a sci-fi movie, but it's exciting to think about it if it can be achieved."

Xia Jingxing observed his words and expressions and estimated that the heat was almost over, so he stopped talking about ideals and started talking about some practical things.

"In the future, Tesla may have to do sedans, urban off-roading, and build its own factory.

Stay and you'll find that Tesla's work is far more exciting than you might think.

As long as you make achievements, not only options, equity, and even the position of CEO, I can let you do it. "

Xia Jingxing shrugged, "You go to Musk, never want to be CEO, he likes to be in the limelight.

I am different. I am willing to delegate power to the management and give the management more authority and possibilities. "

Straubel was silent, staring at the table in a daze.

Xia Jingxing didn't bother the other party's thinking, and just waited quietly for a reply.

The reason why he valued this dude so much was that in addition to the fact that the other party was very skilled, his work was also really down-to-earth.

In the previous life, the founders and key employees of Tesla chose to leave because they couldn't stand Musk's temper and insults.

How did Musk do it?

Said that he would cut an employee's balls, spit coffee on the conference table, swear words, and had a physical conflict with the departing executive.

It can be understood as a true temperament, but it is too uncomfortable for people with strong self-esteem.

Only this one persisted until 2019, worked conscientiously at Tesla, and did not steal the limelight from Musk. He also invented more than 30 inventions for Tesla, including Tesla's core battery management technology, core factories and automobiles. control system, etc.

At the same time, even if this person left, he joined a battery recycling start-up company. The job content is to recycle the waste of Tesla's super battery factory and use it for the production of new batteries.

This one can be called Musk's chief minister.

Naturally, Xia Jingxing had to do everything possible to keep this kind of talent and cultivate him to become the core character of Tesla. At the same time, he would cut off Musk's arm and let Iron Man build a small rocket with peace of mind.

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