Chapter 156 Twitter
East Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley.
In the old office with red roof and yellow walls, Kasim scratched his smooth forehead with a sad look on his face.
Across the way, Laura with brown hair asked: "Is selling the website really the only option we have?"
Qasim said: "There is also the option of going bankrupt. " He looked outside, and the three subordinates were still busy: "How long have the five of us been without income? We can't do things based on enthusiasm. Now we still have money to eat, but we can't afford to eat or pay the rent. What to do when ”
Laura gritted her teeth: "Bennett, this bastard, transferred the equity and ran away, leaving us two people who only know technology but not management, how to maintain it."
"He has no choice, he has no money. "Kasim did not complain about Bennett. Before the other party withdrew, he also transferred all the shares to him and Lola.
At the beginning of last year, the three of them saw that blogging was booming and many blogging companies had received investment. They used all their savings to create the "Window" blogging website and joined this craze.
Nearly a year has passed, and the reality is quite cruel. There are too many homogeneous companies. It is too difficult to carve out a way out of them. It requires funds, resources, and operations.
As for the three of them, Bennett, who actually only knows technology and a little bit about operations, is still running away.
The phone rang at this time. Kasim picked up the answer and said a few words. After hanging up, he said to Laura: "They are coming."
Lola knew that this was the only way to keep the website alive and said: " I hope they are sincere and not crazy for a moment."
The two of them left the office and came to the stairs under the expectant eyes of the other three.
Not long after, two men and one woman went up the stairs together.
The three of them were all wearing valuable business suits, especially the woman, who was wearing either Hermès or Chanel.
Kasim stepped forward and stretched out his right hand: "Are you Mr. Hawke Osmond?"
Hoke shook his hand: "Hello."
Two The person made a brief introduction, and Kasim led the way: "This way please."
Hoke followed the two to an office. A nameplate hung on the side of the door, which read "Window company".
The office is not big, with two rooms inside and one outside. Apart from computers and servers, the outside can barely accommodate three people.
The interior is also very crowded and the office conditions are average.
Hoke said directly: "Are you planning to sell the window website?"
The transfer notice was posted on the blog website. Kasim admitted: "The company is in trouble, and Laura and I are good at technology. , not good at management, website... Yes, we only have one request: not to close the website after the transfer."
Lola said, "This is our hard work for a year."
Hoke looked at the two people carefully. Wearing glasses, greasy hair, slovenly appearance, and ordinary clothes.
Much like a tech nerd.
He said: "When I acquire a website, I will naturally let it develop."
Qasim scratched his greasy hair and seemed embarrassed, but when the matter came to a head, he could only He forced himself to speak: "How much do you plan to pay?" Money to buy? "
Hoke has many choices, of course he won't pay a high price: "100,000 US dollars" "How much?" Laura couldn't believe her ears: "This amount of money. Even our investment..."
Caroline held up Hermès, raised her chin like a loyal lamb leg, took a step forward, and took over the words: "You seem to have forgotten, let me remind you, the window is a website that is about to close down!"
She smiled quickly, showing two small fangs , began to tear apart the prey: "There are hundreds of blog sites like Window in the United States, and they close down every day. You are close to each other, so we gave priority to coming over to take a look."
Kasim and Laura are not He is good at words, but for a moment he doesn’t know what to say.
Carolyn has enough knowledge about the companies and websites she picked out personally: "The Window Blog website has been online for less than 11 months, with 23,300 registered users. Since November last year, the average daily active users 1,140 people. By last month, the average daily active users had dropped to 556.”
Lola looked at the background data and lowered her head.
How can this be described as miserable?
Caroline's sharp horns have been sharpened and she directly pushed into the opponent's vital parts: "You have not been paid for more than 7 weeks. If this continues, will you still have money to eat?"
Qasim was speechless, the reality was too cruel.
As the boss’s number one sheep, Caroline was very aware that she was the sheep on Satan’s mark. She looked at Hawke: “Boss, $100,000 is too high, $50,000 is too high. That’s enough.”
Hoke waved his hand: “I said $100,000.”
The two did not discuss it beforehand, but they cooperated very well.
Facing the wolf and the sheep, the two technical geeks are no match at all.
Qasim sighed secretly, having no other choice, and said: "For $100,000, we will handle the transfer procedures."
After a brief contact, Hawke could basically see clearly. The two of them are relatively simple, just the kind of technicians.
He asked: "What are you going to do after transferring the website? Leave this industry?"
Laura said: "I haven't thought about it yet."
Hoke winked at Caroline and shook hands with Cassim and Laura: "That's it, Caroline will talk to you about the details. I have something else to do, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Qasim glanced at the arrogant and a bit mean woman and wanted to talk to Hawke directly, but he couldn’t stop Hawke from leaving.
Hoke and Edward left the window company and went directly downstairs.
Edward saw it: "Boss, don't you want to recruit them?" "This is not suitable for me to say." Hawke simply said: "If the people Miss Me recruits are not suitable, I will step in. Just open it.”
Edward suddenly realized: "I understand, boss, Miss Me can take the blame."
Hoke nodded casually, remembering his original promise to Xiaoshuai Hei.
Hei Xiaoshuai's ability is indeed average, but he is trustworthy and can provide emotional value.
Sometimes, ability is not the first priority. Hawke said directly: "You prepare a sum of money and invest in the company's website, and it will be your share."
Edward has received a lot of bonuses in the past six months, but he also spent a lot: "I should be able to scrape together 50,000 US dollars."
Hoke said: "Okay."
With this Meanwhile, upstairs in the office.
“If your website is acquired, you will lose your job. Maybe you will have to leave the industry you love.” Miss Me got on the pirate ship and took the blame obediently. She became a black goat. He said to Kasim and Laura: "How about this, you come to my company together and continue to do your previous work. The salary... where is your salary schedule?"
Lola took it out.
Caroline took a look and said: "In this way, we will increase it by 15% on the current basis."
Kasim asked: "Or do you do program development and website architecture?"
Caroline nodded: "That's right."
Kasim thought of his failed business and confused future, and said: "Give us some time to discuss."
< br>"Okay." Caroline turned to discuss specific acquisition matters with them.
An agreement of intent was signed that day.
Two of these people, Qasim, believed that there was no future in this industry and were ready to switch careers after receiving their arrears of salary.
The enthusiasm has been almost exhausted in the past year.
Qasim, Lola and one other person, having no better choice, are ready to enter a new company.
Hoke temporarily put aside other things and concentrated on the establishment of the new company.
The new company was registered in Delaware.
Hoke rented a four-story building as the company's office in the area at the junction of Santa Monica and Venice, which is also the newly developed Silicon Beach in Los Angeles.
If a company is established here, it can receive preferential benefits such as rental subsidies and a high proportion of investment tax credits.
Hoke hired a young man named Harland from the Island Blog Company with a high salary to temporarily serve as the technical director of the new company.
As for the name of the new company and new website, Hochto simply called it Twitter and controlled it through a West Coast studio and a company registered in the Cayman Islands.
Hawke personally serves as CEO and director of operations, with Caroline acting as his assistant and handling internal administrative and personnel matters.
The company also opens external recruitment.
The new version of the website and program updates are the top priority.
Hoke held several meetings with Haaland, Kasim and others. He only had some ideas but did not understand the technology. He had to rely on these technicians to turn his ideas into reality.
“Last year, camera phones were not very common, now camera phones have become popular.”
In the conference room, Hawke stood at the front of the conference table and said loudly: "When you take pictures of novel content, or go to a tourist attraction to take a photo, do you want to let the people around you know about it?"
He looked Miss Xiang Me: "You bought a new luxury item, will you take pictures? Let others see it."
"Of course!" Caroline straightened her neck, stretched her left hand forward, and exposed New Cartier women’s watches: "The greatest meaning of luxury goods is to be different and to be the envy of others."
Hoke said: "As for the website, it must be more interactive than the blog. If the person you follow updates Twitter, it will Receive prompts in an easy-to-see position! ”
The tall but fierce-looking Haaland understands what Hawke means: “Pay more attention to interactivity and sharing”
Hawke said: "Yes, interaction and sharing are important purposes of human social interaction. It allows people who want to show off to show off, and people who want to share their experiences to share. In addition to interactive messages, you can also chat with people privately, like MSN. Establish a group.”
As for video sharing and mobile terminals, we will wait until the network develops.
The road must be walked step by step.
Hoke continued: "On the right side of the webpage, a special news section should be reserved to publish popular news and establish a hot news search list. Our early goal is to focus on entertainment news and sports news. Lord, I prefer gossip.”
Qasim is a Hollywood lover and said: “Gossip and scandal are more attractive.”
Laura whispered: "That's just what you like."
Kasim said softly: "You also see those selfie posts."
For these technical geeks, gossip and scandals are a big deal One of the few joys.
Hoke added: "Our users can forward news anytime, anywhere within Twitter, including individuals and groups."
This meeting lasted until after get off work.
What Hawke transmitted were all ideas from his previous life.
(End of this chapter)