If everyone is reborn, who will work for capital?

Chapter 70 Dawn

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Building 46, West Campus.

The dormitory room 526 of the Graduate School of the School of Mechanical Engineering and Power Engineering was filled with various printed materials, making it look a bit messy.

Zhang Xuhao had just returned to his dorm after meeting with an investor. Without even taking off his coat, he went straight to Kang Jia, who was frowning at his computer, and asked:

"Kang, have you compiled the business data from Fudan University yet?"

Kang Jia, without taking his eyes off the Excel spreadsheet, quickly replied, "Brother Hao, just finished. We've secured partnerships with 24 restaurants at Fudan University, and yesterday's daily orders... just over 120."

"Fudan University 120, our Jiaotong University main campus 340..." Zhang Xuhao quickly calculated in his mind, his brows furrowed. "That's only 460 orders in total. We're still more than halfway to reach the line set by Director Zhu."

The "General Manager Zhu" he mentioned was naturally investor Zhu Xiaohu.

Since their initial meeting at the startup competition roadshow, Zhang Xuhao and Zhu Xiaohu have maintained intermittent contact.

The other party had clearly expressed interest in the "food delivery" model and had Zhang Xuhao report business data regularly, but they kept their investment a closely guarded secret.

In their final conversation, Zhu Xiaohu gave a clear target: wait until "Fanjisong" naturally grows to 1000 orders per day before talking to him again.

"Brother Hao, I really don't understand," Kang Jia turned around, looking puzzled, "Why does President Zhu insist on limiting this 1000 orders?"

"Mr. Zhu didn't say it explicitly, but I think," Zhang Xuhao pulled up a chair and sat down, his voice sounding a little tired, "he wants to see if we can make the online ordering and offline delivery loop work without forcing promotion. To put it bluntly, he wants to reduce his investment risk."

"That makes sense," Kang Jia sighed, "but we only have these few guns, and we still have to attend classes. With the meager commissions we have now, it's not even enough to pay for hiring delivery people. At this rate of burning through cash, I'm afraid we won't last until the New Year before we run out of ammunition and food again."

Seeing Zhang Xuhao remain silent, Kang Jia knew that the financing he had discussed today had failed again. She wisely refrained from pressing him further, and simply walked over and patted him hard on the shoulder.

In the past two weeks, Zhang Xuhao has visited almost every small investment institution and angel investor he could in Shanghai, making countless promises and drinking countless cups of coffee, but most of the results were just "let's see" or "not bad, keep in touch".

"Hello boss, I'd like an order of shrimp and pork wontons and a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), delivered to Building 30 in the East District..."

The dormitory door was pushed open, and Wang Yuan, who had returned from get out of class early, squeezed in while taking orders on his phone as a human customer service representative.

He hung up the phone and saw Zhang Xuhao return, so he quickly asked, "Brother Hao, you're back? How did that investor you met today go?"

Zhang Xuhao shook his head, his tone somewhat absurd: "There is a play, and they agreed to invest 20."

"20?!" Wang Yuan's eyes lit up. "That's great, Brother Hao! 20 is enough..."

"But I refused their offer of a 20% stake," Zhang Xuhao added.

The dormitory fell silent instantly.

"Holy crap..." Wang Yuan blurted out, "20 for 20%? That means our company is only worth 100 million? This... this is outrageous!"

He paused, then cautiously glanced at his two companions' expressions, and weakly added, "But... Brother Hao, Brother Jia, aren't we short of money right now? How about... we take this to tide us over? And wait until the data is better..."

Seeing that Zhang Xuhao and Kang Jia didn't respond, Wang Yuan continued, "I don't mean anything by it, I just feel that if we take the money first, we can get through the current difficulties and then find new investors later."

Kang Jia glanced at Zhang Xuhao, and seeing that he didn't speak, he said, "Wang Yuan, the valuation is 100 million, which means that all the hard work we've done these past few months is being given away for free by the company."

"I'm in a real hurry!" Wang Yuan said anxiously. "Orders are piling up, and we're almost going crazy just answering calls and taking orders. We definitely need to hire more people. But hiring means paying salaries, and where will that money come from? Our meager living expenses are almost gone!"

"That's why I said we must start developing that automated order-taking system as soon as possible, improve efficiency, and reduce costs..." Zhang Xuhao's words were abruptly cut off by the ringing of his cell phone in his pocket.

Seeing that it was a landline number with the Jiaotong University campus number prefix, he quickly made a "shh" gesture to Kang Jia and Wang Yuan before answering the phone.

[Jin Zhilong]: "Is this Xiao Zhang? I'm Teacher Jin from the Science and Technology Innovation Park."

[Zhang Xuhao]: "Hello, Teacher Jin, I'm Zhang Xuhao!"

[Jin Zhilong]: "Your 'food delivery' business is doing quite well, right? Have you started looking for external venture capital funding?"

[Zhang Xuhao]: "Thank you for your concern, Professor Jin. The 'Fan Delivery' business is still growing. We are also looking for financing, but... we haven't found a suitable one yet."

[Jin Zhilong]: "Oh, I see! Professor Jin has found you an international fund in Hong Kong called Arctic Capital. They have a pretty good background. I briefly mentioned your project to them, and they seemed quite interested. Would you be willing to discuss it further with them?"

Zhang Xuhao was very excited when he heard that it was an international venture capital firm and that Professor Jin had helped to introduce them.

[Zhang Xuhao]: "Teacher Jin, thank you! We...we very much hope to continue our exchanges."

Seeing Zhang Xuhao's excitement, Kang Jia and Wang Yuan, who were standing nearby, instantly understood what they were talking about on the phone and also became excited.

[Jin Zhilong]: "Okay, Xiao Zhang, I'll send a formal work email later, and I'll also copy one of the investment managers at Arctic Capital. You two can communicate directly from now on, okay?"

[Zhang Xuhao]: "Okay, okay! Teacher Jin, thank you so much! Thank you so much!"

[Jin Zhilong]: "You're welcome. Supporting student entrepreneurship is our park's responsibility. Oh, I'll send the email to the address you left in your last presentation materials, is that alright?"

[Zhang Xuhao]: "No problem! Absolutely no problem! Thank you, Teacher Jin!"

The phone hangs up.

Zhang Xuhao held his phone, stunned for a full two seconds, then suddenly swung his right fist and let out a suppressed growl from his throat: Yeah!

Although it's still far from actual investment, the presence of reputable international capital, coupled with the official endorsement from the science and technology park's professors, makes this opportunity far more reliable than him trying to find his way around on his own!

"Brother Hao, is that Teacher Jin from the startup park? Did he introduce us to an investment firm?" Kang Jia eagerly came over.

"Yes! Arctic Capital in Hong Kong! Professor Jin said he'd send me an email with an introduction later." Zhang Xuhao nodded emphatically, his face beaming with a long-lost radiance.

"Arctic Capital? Let me check!" Kang Jia was very excited. He rushed back to his computer, opened his browser, and started searching.

Wang Yuan then squeezed next to Zhang Xuhao, staring intently at his computer screen, and every now and then muttered, "Refresh, Brother Hao, refresh your email!"

Two minutes later.

"It's here!" Zhang Xuhao exclaimed in a low voice, quickly clicking the newly popped-up email with his mouse.

Recommended Investment Institutions for Jiaotong University Science and Technology Innovation Park - Arctic Capital

"Brother Hao, hurry up and open the content, hurry up and open it!" Wang Yuan urged Zhang Xuhao.

Zhang Xuhao clicked the email with his mouse. The sender was Jin Zhilong, and the CC was Eric from Arctic Capital. The content contained only four sentences:

"A Hong Kong-based fund focused on early-stage internet investments—Arctic Capital—has established contact with our park and expressed strong interest in innovative projects with a Jiao Tong University background."

We would like to recommend Mr. Eric, Investment Manager at Arctic Capital, to your team. A brief introduction of the firm is attached for your reference.

@Eric, this is @ZhangXuhao, the founder of the "Fanjisong" (Fan Delivery) project. The project performed outstandingly in the recent campus entrepreneurship competition and has good development potential.

The park office only serves as an information exchange and bridging agency. Any subsequent specific arrangements should be negotiated directly between your parties. Best wishes for a smooth communication.

Jin Zhilong's email was impeccably written: it both promoted the project and cleverly avoided his own responsibility, demonstrating a neutral stance.

If the investment deal goes through in the future, the science and technology park will naturally play a crucial role; if the deal falls through or something goes wrong, it will have nothing to do with him.

Zhang Xuhao read the email over and over again, carefully analyzing every single word.

Then, he looked up, his eyes burning: "Kang, Wang Yuan, stop investigating! Come here, we need to think carefully about how to write this first email contacting Arctic Capital!"

Twenty minutes later.

An email, carefully crafted and repeatedly revised by three people to find the best balance between humility and confidence, was sent to Eric's email address at Arctic Capital.

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