Chapter 144: <Competition>

Julia visited Woosung early in the morning.

Jeans and a white t-shirt.

She looked young and fresh like a college student.

“Did you quit JP Morgan?”

“Haha not yet. I told them I could win Coconut as a customer for JP and they said I am free from my regular duties for now. So technically, I am working right now.”

Woosung nodded.

Julia waved a USB at him. “I’ve got something for you!”

***

Julia’s plan was simple. The numbers on the financial report could not be changed, but why not visit the investors and do a presentation for them?

They needed to make a point.

“Great needs increase the company value.”

Woosung didn’t look satisfied.

“What do you think, boss?”

“Julia, I don’t like to beg.”

“There are times when you have to give up your pride.”

“That is why I need to do a presentation for the institutional investors?”

“Yes.”

“I have a different opinion. You can’t earn the scarcity value by begging.”

Julia frowned.

Woosung continued, “You need to attract the investors so they choose to come to you without you begging.”

Julia sighed. “I have considered that method, but does Coconut really have that kind of influence? As of now, I don’t think so. Investors are conservative. 80 billion dollars is fair, if not an overestimation. There are many who believed that Coconut is just a bubble that will burst soon.” Julia continued quickly. “And there is a common mistake most young businessmen make. Do you know what it is?”

“Pride, conceit, arrogance, and so on?”

Julia nodded. “You know it very well.”

“But that is only if you aren’t good at your job.”

Julia raised her eyebrows. “Do you think you know everything just because of your success with LetChat and smartphone? If I thought you are such an arrogant person, I wouldn’t have said yes to your offer.”

“You missed KND Investment, DNK Group, League of Legend, and Battle Round.”

Julia looked surprised. She has heard of these companies before.

Woosung asked, “You wanted to know what happened a few nights ago, right?”

Julia nodded.

Woosung continued, “Alex and I were talking about our most recent investment result. We just made about a billion dollars, so we were celebrating.” Woosung stared at Julia and asked, “Do you still think I’m being arrogant for no reason? I am telling you, Coconut will be bigger than Facebook because…”

Woosung paused. Julia bit her lips. He looked so attractive as he talked with natural confidence.

Alpha male.

He was a capable man.

Woosung continued, “Because I will make it happen. So bring me a solution to this problem. Come up with a plan that will make the investors beg me to get involved. For example, wouldn’t it be great if Rick Warren invested in our company?”

Rick Warren.

He was one of the most successful investors in the world.

Julia replied, “He is famous for not investing in tech companies.”

“Do you not know that he bought a lot of Apple stocks?”

“But that…”

“Rick Warren was just an example, but if you can accomplish it then that would be amazing.”

Julia bit her lips again. This was becoming more complicated than she anticipated.

***

5 million dollars.

Woosung paid 5 million dollars to have lunch with Rick Warren. They were to meet at the Smith and Wollensky in New York.

Woosung prepared a few questions to ask Rick Warren.

He waited at the table. Rick Warren arrived 5 minutes before the meeting time.

He was a white-haired gentleman.

When Rick saw Woosung, he greeted, “I have done some research on you, but I still can’t believe how young you are. I was never that successful when I was your age.”

Woosung replied sincerely, “Haha, I have just been very lucky.”

“Well, I am curious what kind of questions you have for me.”

They sat down and looked at the menu.

Woosung asked, “I am planning to list my company, Coconut. It has been assessed to be worth 80 billion dollars, but I think that that is an underestimation. Facebook is worth 100 billion dollars and I don’t think my company should be assessed less than that. So what could I do to have its value increased?”

Rick Warren took a sip of water and replied, “Even with such a big number as 80 billion dollars, you are still not satisfied.”

Woosung nodded. “My ambition is much bigger than that.”

“If I invested in your company, it will become worth over 100 billion dollars, and that is probably why you paid 5 million dollars to have lunch with me.”

“That’s right. If I can make 20 billion dollars with only 5 million dollars, it’s a no brainer.”

“Hahaha, I have always been interested in KND. I do believe that it is comparable to Apple.”

“Coconut will become bigger than Facebook, Google, and Amazon. I know you usually aren’t interested in software companies, but wouldn’t you be interested in, perhaps, holding it for a short term?”

“How short of a term are you talking about?”

“10 years.”

Rick Warren took another sip of water and looked at Woosung with interest.

“I have never heard anyone answer 10 years before.”

“You must have only met amateur investors then.”

“Hahahaha.”

Rick Warren laughed and continued to eat his salad.

“What will you do if I refuse your offer?”

“It doesn’t matter. If I release the news about another project Coconut is planning, the stock price will jump anyway.”

Woosung was referring to the AI project.

“Then why are you asking me to do this?”

“Because I believe that certain people should make money while others shouldn’t.”

“Pardon?”

“There are people who deserve lots of money and people who shouldn’t have money. I don’t like my money going to the wrong hands.”

Rick Warren stopped chewing and looked at Woosung. This conversation was becoming very strange,

“So you’re saying I deserve to have big money?”

“That’s right. Someone like you should have it.”

In his previous life, Woosung read that Rick Warren donated 90% of his wealth and lived modestly.

Woosung took out his Blue S2 and showed it to Rick.

“Have a look at this.”

Woosung showed him the improved version of the AI. The new system was able to carry a conversation.

“What should I have for dinner?”

“Steak, rice, or sandwich.”

“I don’t want steak.”

“Then what about a sandwich?”

“But I’m on a diet.”

“How about a Subway?”

“How many calories does it have?”

“580k.”

“Oh, that’s not bad.”

“Should I order then?”

“Would you believe me if I said this was a conversation between a person and a computer?”

Rick Warren’s eyes sharpened. If this was true, Coconut’s worth would rise exponentially.

Woosung continued, “This is our newest technology. Google and Facebook don’t have it yet.”

“It sounds like there should be plenty of people who would want to invest in your company.”

“As I explained, I believe that only certain people should earn big money.”

Rick Warren continued to eat and looked at Woosung.

After a few days, a news report was announced that Rick Warren’s Buffalo Hathaway invested in Coconut. As soon as she heard the news, Julia came to Woosung.

“My 10 million dollars…”

“If you had come up with the idea of having lunch with Rick Warren, that would have been great.”

“But…”

“Make sure to think more creatively next time.”

Julia frowned while Alex grinned.