Vol 3 Chapter 326: Head-on collision

While Peppa suppressed his anger, briefly introduced the reason for the meeting of the board of directors tomorrow, and sought Feng Yiping's support by the way, when he heard the beep from time to time on his mobile phone, he asked, "Whose call?"

Follow the question and answer, "Oh, it must be his,"

Yes, it was Schmidt who called.

Page had been talking for nearly half an hour. Feng Yiping saw that there were a total of six missed calls from Schmidt on his mobile phone. It seemed that this usually calm and elegant person was also very excited now.

"Feng, Page must explain to you what happened. Whether it is from a work perspective or personally, I am unwilling to make such a decision, but," Schmidt paused, as if drinking. With a sip of water, "Why can't Page understand my difficulties?"

"Since this year, I personally have been silently under the pressure of kpcb to refinance, as well as the pressure they expect the company to market as soon as possible. I only hope that the four of us can understand each other and keep in step to develop the company well and make the performance more beautiful. Let VCs have nothing to say.

In order to achieve this goal, in addition to further optimizing our existing products, we also prepare more other products. Sales are also a very important part. Why can't we support me once in establishing a sales team? "

The matter is simple to say. Page once again rejected Schmidt's proposal to strengthen the sales team. The old Schmidt, who has always been gentle, became angry this time and used his CEO's authority to suspend the funding of a project.

This is the first confrontation between Schmidt and the two founders of Google since he took office last year.

How could Peppa bear this! In the company I founded, I can't use the funds I found and earned? This is a shame! He immediately thought of Jobs's expulsion.

As a result, the frustration that had to retreat from the CEO's seat before, and all other things, in short, the anger that had been suppressed for nearly a year, broke out completely.

Schmidt is the same. Going to Google, following a group of young people, he swallowed his anger for almost a year, still being frustrated in everything and everywhere, and the venture capital company behind him again put pressure on him. There are no people on either side, and he no longer wants to bear it.

From the state of the two of them when they called, Feng Yiping couldn't guess the intensity of the conflict. It is impossible to argue about the facts. It is estimated that many things will be ripped out. Maybe it is not just the matter.

One is Silicon Valley's veteran experts and executives, and the other is the idols and tycoons of many young people in Silicon Valley. The conflict between the two parties is definitely fierce and fierce.

What Schmidt would say that Feng Yiping probably has a score, and what will Peppa in annoyed say. Feng Yiping really has no score. Anyway, he usually speaks and doesn't pay much attention to the feelings of others, not to mention this time.

This is a mess!

Sure enough, there is nothing new under the sun.

The nature of this conflict between Schmidt, Page and Brin is just one of the conflicts between the founders of many companies and venture capital, and it cannot be more ordinary.

Venture capital, from the day it appeared, there have been two faces. They are friends of entrepreneurs, but sometimes they are also enemies of entrepreneurs.

There are many such things in China. For example, the dispute between Wahhaha and Danone, and the dispute between South Beauty and CDH in a certain master's house, and the expulsion of the founder of NVC, which made many people alert, etc., many, many.

"Don't get excited about Schmidt, I want to know, what are the reasons for kpcb and Sequoia to propose a new round of financing?" Feng Yiping asked.

He did not ask the two venture capitalists why they want to conduct a new round of financing. This is the consistent practice of venture capital.

For most startups, when you need capital, venture capital will give you a sum of money to make the business run. After that, you may embark on a path of no return. Before ipo, he will continue The reason for asking you to carry out the next round of financing is very simple. He hopes to dilute investment risks as much as possible, increase the chances of investment returns, and provide stronger guarantees for his exit.

"Because the company is developing too many projects at the same time, the funds are not too abundant," Schmidt said.

"Such a problem, you don't have to bear the pressure alone, you can let us talk about it,"

Sequoia and kpcb jointly invested US$25 million in 1999 and jointly owns 20% of Google’s shares. Last year, Feng Yiping invested US$150 million, which was only 15% of Google’s shares. That is their investment. In four years, there has been an 8 times return.

In the face of such a return, as the founders, in front of the two venture capitalists, Page and the others can of course stand up and talk, and there is no need to compromise like a young wife.

"Feng, you have to understand my difficulties, I was hired by kpcb and Sequoia," Schmidt sighed.

"Oh, sorry," Feng Yiping forgot about it.

For Schmidt, since the two venture capital companies can hire him, they can naturally fire him.

If Moretz and Dole think that Schmidt is too weak in the company, or has no control over the company, then firing him is also a good option.

Judging from Schmidt's radical move this time, I am afraid that this matter is already brewing.

For Schmidt, such a result is obviously unacceptable. During his previous tenures at Sun and Novell, he was repeatedly defeated by Microsoft. The two companies he worked for have always been on the verge of bankruptcy.

Fortunately, Sequoia and kpcb have a strange view on employment. They believe that the CEO who can support under such pressure is strong enough.

But if he is fired again this time, Schmidt's career will definitely be marked as a loser.

"Then let's change from another angle, Schmidt, you must clearly point out to Moretz and Dole that Google is not another company they invest in. When you joined Google, Page and Brin owned the majority of the company. , And the two of them together, but only own 20% of the equity. Anyone who knows a little about the operation of the board of directors should know who is in charge."

From this point of view, Feng Yiping admires Peppa and Brin's shrewdness and foresight very much.

In 1999, they were in dire need of funds at the time, and they also needed investors who had a wealth of contacts in Silicon Valley and could bring many additional conveniences to the company.

They first let out the news, hoping to get investment from Sequoia. After being introduced, Michael Moritz took the time to meet these two young people. Moved by their passion, they agreed to their offer and decided to invest 25 million US dollars. Occupy one-fifth of Google's shares.

But in Moritz's view, the two guys who are just like middle school students already have precautions and follow-ups. They need Sequoia Capital, the best venture capital in Silicon Valley, to bring them capital and other support.

However, not to mention what happened in Komodo, Apple, Compaq and other companies earlier, when venture capital drove out the founder and found a new helmsman. Sequoia invested in Cisco before and then drove out the founder and supported Chambers. The high-level affairs are still vivid, and Peppa and the others don't want to follow in the footsteps of these predecessors.

Therefore, after successfully aroused the interest of Sequoia Capital, which was originally very reserved, the two of them immediately stepped on two boats and played the trick of one daughter and two marriages. Sequoia agreed to invest as a background, and invested in another company. Guy, also Sequoia's old rival, kpcb enthusiastically sent out an invitation.

With Sequoia's endorsement, John Dole quickly met with the two of them and was also impressed by them and gave Sequoia the same conditions.

As a result, Page and Brin, who had previously asked for help, took the initiative—only sold 20% of the company's equity and let those two compete.

At this time, Sequoia and kpcb both hope to reach an agreement with Google, and both want to take the 20% of the equity separately to pave the way for the future to control Google. Because of Google’s persistence, these two venture capital leaders opened up After a fierce tug of war, the stalemate lasted more than a month.

At this time, the two companies could not stop teasing the two companies, the pants were taken off, and Google was ready to spoil the new sweet and delicious target of Google. Page, through the middleman, sent them an ultimatum, "Within two to three days, if They still don’t agree to our terms, so cooperation with them will not be considered,"

At this time, Google, due to the fierce see-saw of the two major venture capital companies, has become a sweet pastry in the eyes of other investment companies on Dune Road. An investment company has taken the initiative to approach Google and raise its valuation from 125 million to With 150 million, Sequoia and kpcb had no choice but to invest together to divide the fifth.

As a result, these two guys received the strong support of the two originally incompatible venture capitals in Silicon Valley. At the same time, they also firmly grasp the control of the company, so that the company will not be affected by capital for a long time. Interference.

Coupled with Feng Yiping's capital injection last year and the increase in Google's revenue, how can it be necessary to continue financing in the short term?

"As for the listing, of course it can be considered now, but such a major matter naturally needs the approval of the board of directors.

The meaning of this statement is also very clear. Again, on the board of directors, the shares held by the two venture capitalists are only a few.

Page and Brin’s shares add up to more than half, plus their own 15%, and 60% is close to 70%. Those two still don’t count.

"Schmidt, although I don’t know much about the specific process, I think that everyone has done something extreme. I also do Page as a job. For the good of the company, it’s best for everyone to be considerate and support each other. Don't have to be so violent, okay?"

"I have one sentence that may not be heard, but I think if you think Google is a company worthy of your contribution, then you should get Page's support more than those two venture capitalists."

This is also very clear. The person in the company is always Page's side. If Sequoia wants to replace Schmidt, but Page does not support it, it may not be possible to replace it.

"Feng, I understand this naturally, I believe you and my efforts, you know, but, in the end, you also know," Schmidt sighed, "I don't think I can get his support,"

Later, Feng Yiping, of course, did not understand Google’s internal affairs, but from the external results, the troika of Schmidt, Page, and Brin successfully allowed Google to grow into a world-class company. This combination, although it is impossible to have no internal conflicts, should still have merits. From this point of view, it should not be as stalemate as it is now.

"I will try my best to do my work, you wait for my news,"

How to proceed, he actually only has a general idea now, anyway, just one, such a matter, it is better not to discuss it on the board of directors, the board of directors is the most solemn occasion for the company ~ www.wuxiaspot.com ~ discussed on the board , There will be records, and there is no room for concession.

How to do this, he thought he could ask someone's opinion.

I didn't care about eating right now. I put aside the paella that had been completely cooled. I didn't care that it would be past four o'clock in the evening, and I called Mayer.

The first time, no one answered, the second time, after a long time, I was finally picked up by someone, "Hey," he looked sleepy, I didn't even see who was calling.

"It's me, sorry,"

"It's you," he seemed to wake up a little bit, followed by habitual molesting, "Why do you miss me so?"

Feng Yiping is a little hard to resist the molestation of such a sturdy beauty.

He has about two or three seconds to think about Meyer's current dress and state. From a man's point of view, it's really tempting, but business matters, "What's going on today, do you know?"

"You mean, Page vetoed Schmidt's recruitment of those business students to join the company? This is nothing unusual. You know Page's attitude towards those business students. Of course, you are a special case."

It seems that these few people are also aware of the influence of control, and Schmidt's suspension of funding has not yet spread.

"So, do you think it is necessary for the company to strengthen the sales team?" Feng Yiping asked.

He himself actually supports it. No matter how good the product is, he must have a strong sales force.

"It is necessary," Meyer said affirmatively.

"I usually rarely involve specific management. In this regard, do you have any good opinions that will allow Schmidt to get what he wants, but also allow Page not to object?" Since this little girl can become a Yahoo! Ceo, there must be a few brushes on these issues.