American History 1988
Chapter 152 - 146: Influence

Chapter 152: Chapter 146: Influence

It was the same "San Francisco Chronicle," but Mather, vacationing in Honolulu, Hawaii, saw the report too.

Removing his glasses and dressed in beach shorts, Mather sat up from the lounge chair.

"Miranda, I remember you once said the young man who created Price’s List was your student?"

"Yeah~" Miranda, playing beach volleyball with her mother on the sand, tucked her wind-blown, messy blond hair behind her ear, "But he’s no longer in Cleveland, he’s across from us."

Miranda pointed toward the vast ocean to the east, where the West Coast of America lay, facing California directly across from them.

"What’s his name?" Mather looked down at the newspaper again.

"Dean Price," said Miranda with a bright smile in her breezy swimsuit. They had just spent a wonderful night together last month.

"No Roman numerals or hyphens?" There were too many people with the same name in America, and Mather thought perhaps he had made a mistake.

After all, it was those young people with pedigrees who were more likely to succeed.

"NO~" Miranda shrugged with a curious expression, "He’s from a typical worker’s family in Ohio, the first in his family to go to college."

"If I remember correctly," Mather spoke thoughtfully, "you said he transferred to Stanford?"

"Mmm~" Miranda was somewhat puzzled as to why her father was suddenly interested in all this today.

Ah, a match. Mather folded the newspaper nonchalantly, fifty million dollars, unexpectedly impressive~

"Miranda, I’ve decided to stay in Hawaii a few more days. Maybe you could head over to San Francisco or Los Angeles to relax a bit?"

"Really?" Miranda looked at her father Mather with surprise, "But... is that really okay?"

"Yeah~" Mather shrugged nonchalantly, "That’s your freedom."

"Great~!" Miranda ran over excitedly and kissed Mather on the cheek, "Oh~ I need to pick out a few outfits."

Miranda didn’t know why her father had suddenly become so "enlightened." She had mentioned Dean’s existence intentionally or otherwise, but her parents, especially Mather, were unimpressed by him.

The sudden change today came as a pleasant surprise to Miranda, perhaps they thought she could make her own choices about her future life.

"But just so we’re clear~" Just as Miranda turned to dash toward the hotel, Mather tapped her with the rolled-up newspaper, "Remember to take care of yourself."

"Got It!" Miranda raised her hand in promise.

Wondering whether it’s hot in California or if stockings would be appropriate, Miranda was contemplating another minor dilemma in her mind.

...

"Valentine, I didn’t expect you to come so quickly."

"I’ve made up my mind, Dean~ sixty million dollars! That’s my new offer!"

Valentine, dressed purposely with a tie, stepped out of his Mercedes-Benz, and the first thing he did was head straight for Dean’s office.

In his hurry, he completely disregarded that his somewhat nerdy business partner was still sitting at his seat and also disregarded the security personnel of Byte Software’s attempts to stop him.

Fortunately, Anna already knew him, or else Valentine would have been thrown out the door by Byte Software’s tall African American security before seeing Dean.

"We just met yesterday, Valentine." Dean was somewhat helpless with this partner from Sequoia Capital; his initiative was perhaps a bit too strong.

"Sixty million valuation, twenty percent equity," Valentine pulled out the contract from his assistant’s hands, "Dean, just say the word, and the check is yours on the spot."

Damn it! This morning, Silicon Valley was already abuzz with the legal dispute between Byte Software and Bell Company.

Of course, what also spread was the tens of millions of dollars in sales of Team’s software and the fifty million-dollar valuation.

After seeing the report and the photo of that invoice, Valentine rushed over immediately.

He had consulted with Sequoia Capital’s lawyers, and the odds were in favor of Byte Software; at least there was no need to worry about compensation issues.

Moreover, the excellent nickname "Bell Octopus" made Valentine realize that the AT&T side wasn’t without weaknesses.

Sometimes, public opinion could influence a judge’s decision-making, and the jury cared even more about public feedback.

That settled, Valentine thought it was time for him to make his move again.

However, to secure Byte Software completely, this time he purposely raised the offer a bit higher, at least more than what was reported in the Chronicle.

In just three short months, the valuation had tripled since the first round.

Valentine believed his offer was sincere enough, and he also believed that Byte Software now needed the money.

"Valentine~" To be honest, Dean was almost tempted.

Mother F*cker, round after round of valuation was a stronger stimulus for a founder than the last.

"My advice is..."

Knock, knock~

Before Dean could finish speaking, Anna knocked on the door with an apologetic look in her eyes.

"I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a gentleman outside who insists on coming in~"

"Valentine, I know you’re in there," said a lean figure who followed Anna in.

Wrinkled khakis, an ordinary button-up shirt, and a messy, striped tie.

Yes, Duerr had seen that Mercedes-Benz at the door.

After abandoning his own van, Duerr hurried without a moment’s delay.

"John, is that you?" Valentine was surprised and turned his gaze to Dean.

Dean shrugged and then stepped forward, "Hello sir, I’m Dean Price."

"John Duerr," the short man extended his wrinkled palm.

"Valentine, no one said financing had to be done by only one investment firm." After greeting Dean, Duerr glared with his red eyes, not giving an inch.

The small-framed man seemed to erupt with powerful strength, and in terms of presence, he was on par with the rugged Valentine.

"Alright, gentlemen~" As the host, Dean had to mediate, "So, what are we here to do again?"

Valentine and Duerr exchanged glances, both turning toward the door to Anna and said in unison, "Get me a coffee, please~"

"Great~" Dean held back a smile and gestured Anna to get busy, the two guys had quite the understanding.

"Dean, consider my offer carefully," Valentine said.

"Wait!" Duerr interrupted Valentine’s speech, "How much is Sequoia Capital valuing you guys at?"

The latter half, of course, was directed at Dean. As an unconventional investor, Duerr always played by his own rules.

Before Valentine could intervene, Dean quickly spread his hands and said, "Sixty million US Dollars, releasing 20% equity."

"Seventy million, same terms—that’s KeyPoint Ventures’ offer."

"John!" Valentine’s roar instantly filled the entire office.

"It’s just business, Valentine; anyone can make an offer," Duerr replied nonchalantly.

"Dean, you promised me!" Valentine stared intently at Dean, who was sitting in the middle.

Well, after Valentine, Duerr became another venture capitalist who left a strong impression on him.

His spontaneous way of making offers was even harder to predict than Valentine’s.

However, just as Valentine had said, Dean had promised him that Sequoia Capital would be involved in the second round of financing.

But if KeyPoint Ventures’ offer was higher...

"Gentlemen, at least let Byte Software discuss it internally first," Dean explained earnestly. "You know, we have other shareholders, and the second round of financing requires the consent of the board."

Valentine and Duerr paused, then they realized they were being too hasty.

All they saw was Byte Software’s tens of millions of US Dollars in sales in half a year, and the stimulation of the newspapers, that they couldn’t wait to pay a visit.

Well, neither Morgan Tailer nor Mayfield were taken into consideration by them.

They were eyeing the major shareholder position, not just a minority investment.

But now...

"Dean, remember our agreement," Valentine said meaningfully as he glanced at Dean before leaving the office.

The tense atmosphere in the office finally relaxed, and it was then that Duerr looked at Dean with an admiring gaze.

"Teams is a great invention, Byte Software will open up a completely new market.

North America, Europe, East Asia, the entire globe will see its presence, of course, with the help of KeyPoint Ventures."

Though Duerr hadn’t slept all night, he was brimming with energy, excited by the innovation of Teams.

He didn’t care about Byte Software’s lawsuit with Bell Company, even with the substantial compensation of 7.96 million US Dollars.

For Duerr, the future market scale of Teams was expected to be exponentially larger than the settlement amount.

So this loss wouldn’t deter him; on the contrary, he was ready to place an even bigger bet.

That was Duerr, a venture capitalist with the emotional commitment of a pastor and the energy of a racehorse.

Sometimes the visions he put forward are even more enthusiastic than those of the entrepreneurs themselves.

Silicon Valley, indeed, never disappoints.

After seeing off the two investors who had arrived, David Morgentaler, who was fashionably late, was just stepping into Dean’s office.

"Dean, have we found our second-round financing party?"

Dean smiled, "It went incredibly smoothly, I think we won’t have to worry about the legal fees and operational costs anymore."

"What?" David Morgentaler only knew that someone from Sequoia Capital had come, but he had no idea what had exactly happened.

Dean then recounted to David Morgentaler what had just happened in his office.

Upon hearing that Duerr from KeyPoint Ventures had also arrived, David showed an incredulous expression.

"Valentine is a Republican Party supporter, Duerr is a Democratic Party supporter; I’m not surprised by anything that happens when these two come together."

"Wow~" Dean dropped his coffee in surprise, he really didn’t know that. "So they’re opponents?"

"Dean, in business, there’s nothing that can’t be cooperated on," David Morgentaler hinted meaningfully.

"Right, did you agree to their offers?" That was a more pressing concern for everyone.

"I plan to wait a bit," Dean shrugged, "Teams 2.0 is about to launch."

Yes, time had entered May. To coincide with this public relations event, Byte Software had more big moves planned.