The winter of 2003 was fast approaching.

The onset of winter has put pressure on health and well-being. Because the day he agreed with his parents to bring his girlfriend home is approaching day by day. Ankang was completely unprepared for this.

He has been close to each other countless times, but it has not brought any exciting results to Ankang. Either he is dissatisfied with others, or others are dissatisfied with him. I finally met both parties who were satisfied, but one was because my parents disagreed, and the other was because my aunt disagreed.

Who is this aunt sacred? Ankang was puzzled.

Seeing that the day of returning to my hometown to report to my parents during the Spring Festival is getting closer and closer, the pressure on health is also increasing day by day. However, just as he was about to ask Zheng Lichen to book tickets a few days earlier to go home, he encountered a sudden situation, and the process of an investment target made Ankang feel very puzzled. And about this originally smooth project, things have been unfavorable recently, and it has repeatedly hit a wall.

Ankang really didn't know what the problem was. He also presented the problem at the investment project analysis meeting. The colleagues at the meeting had different opinions, and they were not the same. The results of the discussion were all dissatisfied with Ankang.

In the end, Ankang decided to consult his mentor Zhou Mingfeng. After listening to Ankang's description, Zhou Mingfeng asked Ankang a few simple questions: "Do the managers of the other company have a strong willingness to raise funds?" ”

An Kang nodded.

"Then there is no problem with the other party's business situation and financial situation, right?"

An Kang nodded.

"Did the other party encounter any problems that were difficult to solve in terms of R&D? Have you come across any evenly matched competitors in the market? ”

An Kang shook his head.

When Zhou Mingfeng tapped his fingers on the armrest of the sofa, An Kang said: "It stands to reason that although this company is a start-up company, several founders have rich entrepreneurial experience. They had also started another company together before. Therefore, I am still familiar with equity financing. ”

Zhou Mingfeng thought for a while and said, "You should have met a competitor." ”

"Competitors? Which aspect? ”

"Of course it's another investor."

Ankang said: "I don't feel the existence of other investors at all. ”

"You mentioned that some of the founders of this company are serial entrepreneurs, and I understand their routine. Do you know what kind of principles these serial entrepreneurs adhere to? ”

An Kang shook his head.

"Cast a wide net, focus on training, and select the best."

"You mean to say ......"

"Until the moment you put the investment money on their company's account, everything is uncertain. The financial industry is very deep. Since they are familiar with the gameplay of rights investment, they must have hit all kinds of southern walls in the process of starting a business in the past. There are many uncertainties in this industry, and there are many scammers. In addition to investment companies, there are also a large number of brokers, that is, intermediaries. Many people have a good impression of intermediaries, saying that they eliminate information asymmetry and promote liquidity. I have reservations about that. Those brokers are nothing more than parasites that live on project companies and investment companies. ”

"But they have connections."

"Connections?" Zhou Mingfeng smiled, "What is a connection?" It's not that you know a lot of people and you have a lot of connections. The vegetable vendors in the market know a lot more people than we do, so do you think they have connections? The real connection lies in two things, one is value and the other is scarcity. You can't be connected without value, just like a greengrocer. It is not scarce and it cannot be called connections, because everyone can get it. ”

"I see."

"Those brokers don't look at their suits and leather shoes, they just pass information around, just like telemarketing. They are only accountable to themselves, neither to the project nor to the funding. It's like a real estate agent. They have a bunch of listings and a bunch of clients in their hands. But they're not responsible for either the listing or the customer. They just cast a wide net to get more opportunities. The same thing. Oh, and the real estate agent may be more disciplined than a broker in the financial industry. ”

Ankang disagreed with Zhou Mingfeng's rhetoric, but he really couldn't cite a counterexample. Because what Zhou Mingfeng said about these things is indeed widespread in reality and universal.

"Come back to your project," Zhou continued, "so I think the founder of this company is probably in talks with other investment firms." Maybe there are more than two or three companies in contact, and maybe even twenty or thirty. So it's imperative that you make a decision. If you really want to invest, show them your resolute attitude, take the initiative to throw out your sincerity, speed up the process, sign a contract as soon as possible, and make payments as soon as possible, so that they can feel safe. If you're not sure, you can wait and see. ”

"I see."

"There's one more trick. If you're not sure about the investment, it's a good idea to make a small investment. ”

"Occupy the pit?"

"Well, whether you are sure that you want to invest or are hesitating, you can sign an agreement as soon as possible and make a payment as soon as possible. For example, if your total investment is 50 million, then you can first sign an agreement to invest seven or eight million to ask for directions. Stabilize the project party. If the project is at risk, the loss of seven or eight million is also within a manageable range. If the project has potential, you can invest more in the future. Of course, it is necessary to include a clause on preferential transfer of equity in the investment agreement, so as to gain a head start and initiative in the face of other competitors. This is called pit occupation. ”

Zhou Mingfeng waited for the assistant who came into the office to find him to sign and left, and then continued: "Do you have a performance commitment in the investment conditions you negotiated with them? ”

"Yes. It was agreed for three years. ”

"You can review this with your lawyer. Let's see if the relevant terms are too harsh for the project party and make them have some concerns. On the one hand, there is the content of the commitment itself, and on the other hand, the time requirements for its fulfillment. You can think again. ”

Ankang thought it was a blessing to know Zhou Mingfeng. He has been in the financial circle of Lujiazui for so many years from scratch, and he knows all the ways and the wild ways in this industry. Every time Ankang asked him a question, he said everything. Ankang greatly admired Zhou Mingfeng's knowledge, ability, character and even his thorough understanding of life.

Ankang often has the feeling that a good teacher is enough!

Ankang was taking out the terms of performance commitments to consult Zhou Mingfeng when his mobile phone rang.

Ankang picked up his phone and saw that it was an unfamiliar number.

"Ankang, it's me." The voice on the other side of the phone was both familiar and unfamiliar, and it was impossible to tell who it was.

"Who are you?"

"Liu Xinran."