After roughly handling the accumulated affairs of Daenerys Entertainment during this period, Simon set off for San Francisco on Wednesday, May 8, to handle an employee interview with the FusionTimes team and other work here in the Bay Area.
After several months of continuous screening, the frameworks of FusionTimes, SolarCity and SpaceX have been basically completed.
Two of them, FusionTimes and SolarCity, are located in Silicon Valley, and SpaceX is located in Los Angeles.
SpaceX, which is making the fastest progress, has begun designing its first rocket.
FusionTimes is the most difficult task. The team will be based at the Ygritte Park in Mountain View in a short period of time. They will mainly engage in theoretical research in the early stage. The actual construction of the nuclear fusion reactor will not be carried out until the construction of the FusionTimes headquarters is completed.
As for SolarCity, among the three companies, this company that focuses on solar power generation seems to have the lowest technical content, and Simon attaches great importance to it. Because this company is the most promising project among the three companies to achieve sustainable commercial operations in a short period of time.
Speaking of which, SolarCity in the past timeline was actually a photovoltaic product distribution company established by Musk's cousin. Because one-time installation of photovoltaic power generation systems was too expensive, SolarCity developed a new business model of leasing and selling. First, a solar power generation system is installed for the user, and then fees are charged in the form of electricity rental. Moreover, the user's power generation system can also sell excess electricity through the Internet.
In fact, the electricity cost of this business model is not lower than that of the general power grid. It just has the gimmick of clean energy, and it can indeed solve the electricity problems of residents in some remote areas. Therefore, it has been successful and has attracted a large number of followers. field.
Simon plans to follow this business model, but his ambitions go far beyond that.
Eagletree Park, Mountain View.
In a conference room at the SolarCity headquarters, Simon completed the interview with FusionTimes in the morning. After lunch, Simon came here and was discussing with SolarCity's five-person core scientific research team the specific plans of the newly established company.
The core scientific research group deals with the chief scientist system of many enterprises or scientific research institutions.
Simon initially considered adopting a chief scientist system for all three companies, but gave up after repeated considerations.
One person is short of the other.
Moreover, although Simon is an elitist, he still believes more in the power of teamwork. Therefore, the three companies have adopted the structure strategy of core scientific research groups. Currently, the core scientific research groups of the three companies all have five people, and not all of them Top scientific researchers, including management-oriented personnel such as Emmanuel Brandt of FusionTimes.
Because the core of the positioning of the three companies are commercial companies, pursuing profits, this is also the basis for Simon to determine that such companies can develop rapidly and long-term after thinking for a long time. Since it is a commercial company, it must pay attention to cost control and corporate management. Simon will not let a group of scientists squander their property crazily. Everything must be controllable.
Therefore, after Emmanuel Brandt offered to join FusionTimes, Simon quickly agreed and directly appointed the girl as the president of FusionTimes and a member of the core scientific research team. Compared to Simon, who can still be considered a layman even after trying his best to read a lot of information, Emmanuel, who has a PhD in particle physics, is much more professional than him.
Moreover, what Simon values more is Emmanuel’s business thinking.
Someone who understands both professional technology and business management is the perfect person to take charge of such a project.
At SpaceX, the person Simon trained according to this type of talent was naturally Elon Musk. However, before that, Simon could not wait for Musk to grow up, so he recruited Gwen Shotwell, the president of SpaceX in the original time and space, based on his memory.
Still a woman.
Although she is a woman, Gwen Shotwell, like Emmanuel Brandt, has a high IQ and high education. The 33-year-old Gwen Shotwell has a degree in mechanical engineering and application from Northwestern University in the United States. He has a double master's degree in mathematics, and has joined an aerospace company affiliated with NASA for eight years since 1988. He has an excellent work resume.
Historically, Gwen Shotwell joined SpaceX in 2002 and became Musk's right-hand man, mainly responsible for the daily operations of SpaceX. If Musk’s thinking and philosophy guide SpaceX’s corporate culture, then it is Gwen Shotwell who truly transforms this thinking and philosophy into reality.
Although it was six years ahead of schedule, the 33-year-old Shotwell seemed to Simon to be in a person's golden age.
Therefore, the appointment of Gwen Shotwell is similar to that of Emmanuel Brandt, SpaceX president and core scientific research team member.
Since this is the case for both companies, SolarCity will simply seek perfection.
The person in charge is also a woman named Daniela Greenwater. She is 31 years old. Not only does she have a PhD in materials science and engineering from MIT, but according to the other person, she also took the time to study for an MBA from Harvard University. Before being recruited by Simon to SolarCity, this bespectacled girl with short brown hair and a capable temperament was planning to leave the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and plan to start a business in Silicon Valley. She also planned to establish a photovoltaic product research and development company.
Faced with the opportunity given by Simon, Daniela Greenwalt gave up working alone and chose to join SolarCity. However, she did not expect to be appointed as the president of SolarCity, so she boldly tested whether a certain guy had other intentions for her. A big beauty, but Daniela's appearance and figure are still more than 70 points.
Simon said yes.
Daniela immediately felt relieved, and she had to listen to the man's words in reverse.
All right.
"First of all, the first question is, does anyone know when the earliest history of photovoltaics can be traced back?"
In the conference room, Daniela Greenwalt and others did not expect Simon to mention this issue.
Many people are quite disgusted with the fact that many professional textbooks often start with similar chapters that talk about the history of the development of relevant technologies. However, several people did not disappoint Simon in the end. One of them said: "In 1839, the 19-year-old French scientist Emond Becquerel first discovered the photovoltaic effect of silver chloride liquid and used it to make the first A photovoltaic cell.”
"Very good." Simon stood in front of a writing board in the conference room and wrote the number '1839' with a pen, and then the number '1996': "From the discovery of the photovoltaic effect in 1839 to now, In 1996, 157 years have passed, how do you feel?"
Several people looked at each other, and after a moment, Daniela Greenwater finally said: "157 years have been wasted."
Simon tapped lightly on the writing board with a pen, nodded, and glanced at the other people: "So Dani is the president, and you are not."
The other three men and one woman couldn't help but roll their eyes slightly.
In fact, employees of the three companies don't have much objection to the three women being responsible persons.
Because, except for a few non-staff scientists who serve as consultants, all the other formal employees of the three companies are under 35 years old and are all young people. Therefore, there is no seniority ranking phenomenon in the R&D departments of many large companies or government laboratories. Moreover, Simon also promised everyone that if the three of them did not do well, they would be removed soon. Likewise, others who perform well will be personally promoted by him.
Simon ignored the eye rolls of several people and continued: "In 157, alternating current, semiconductors, fossil energy, etc. have all been widely used in our lives, but photovoltaic technology has been limited to a few fields. In my opinion, this is actually a waste. The energy of human society basically comes from the sun. We have been ignoring this most direct and abundant energy application, and instead continue to consume fossils accumulated and transformed by the earth over hundreds of millions of years. Energy, this is a very serious misunderstanding. I founded SolarCity in the hope that our application of energy can get back on track."
After listening to Simon's words, several people around the conference table nodded slightly.
If they did not recognize this concept, they would not join this industry.
Simon paused for a moment and continued: "So, let's get to the point. With 157 years of accumulation, the mainstream photovoltaic materials that have been discovered have actually been discovered, as have related peripheral technologies. Therefore, my requirements for everyone are definitely not Start all over again. Just like Isaac Newton's phrase 'standing on the shoulders of giants', I hope you can stand on the technical basis accumulated by predecessors for hundreds of years, first conduct a comprehensive sorting and integration, and The sorting and integration of photovoltaic applications and surrounding technologies on a global scale. I know what you are thinking. This matter is certainly not easy for others, but it is not a problem for me because I have enough capital to support you. This integration.”
Everyone smiled, but they also understood that this was a fact.
The so-called integration, to put it bluntly, is technology integration.
Since it is technology, it must involve various patent issues. Whether it is direct acquisition or licensing, it requires a lot of financial support. At this stage, some people may have such financial strength, but considering the investment risks involved, few will do so.
This matter is not a problem for Simon.
Even if he has to spend billions of dollars in vain, a super-rich person will not break his muscles.
In front of the writing board, Simon continued: "Of course, the integration I am talking about is not just the integration of simple photovoltaic products. I hope you can build a complete industrial closed loop from photovoltaic material production to final waste disposal. Photovoltaic products, for many people Generally speaking, the biggest selling point is clean energy, which can reduce the pollution caused by fossil fuels. However, everyone actually understands that this statement is a scam, because photovoltaic materials not only consume a lot of energy from the beginning of production, but also Beginning to cause all kinds of pollution, and photovoltaic waste, as well as battery product waste used to store energy, cause more serious pollution. Since we want to promote photovoltaic products in the name of environmental protection, then, I hope we can really do it to the greatest extent To be worthy of the name and not just a gimmick. At least, we must achieve the ultimate harmless treatment of photovoltaic waste and scrap batteries."
As Simon spoke, he wrote down various keywords on the writing board: "After completing the first step of technical sorting and integration, I ask you to conduct deeper research and development based on the existing technology while integrating A set of photovoltaic product operation plans that can be used for actual commercial operations. Remember, what I need is an optimized plan between cost and efficiency. This is also the direction of your future efforts. If someone compares the price of satellites to gold, When it comes to photovoltaic materials, I will fire you directly. Of course, this plan also involves the complete industrial chain from material production to waste disposal. I have discussed SolarCity’s lease-to-sell strategy with you before, which is a very A business model that is easily imitated. However, as long as you can optimize costs to the extreme and form a complete industrial chain, it will be difficult for other followers to pose a threat to SolarCity in the future."
Starting at 2 p.m., Simon stayed at the SolarCity headquarters for two hours, discussing various issues with several core members of the company, and did not leave until 4 p.m.
Then we rushed to a small town called Morgan Hills in the south of San Jose.
FusionTimes has purchased 50 hectares of land here, and has just reached an agreement with surrounding residents a few days ago to build FusionTimes' headquarters here.
In fact, it was originally proposed to set up FusionTimes' headquarters in Livermore, in the eastern Bay Area, near the Livermore National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy.
After all, if you want to research controllable nuclear fusion technology, even a private company needs permission and supervision from government departments. In this regard, the Westeros system has been authorized by the federal government and has reached some technical cooperation agreements. If FusionTimes is headquartered in Livermore, it will be more convenient to communicate with the Livermore National Laboratory team that is also conducting research on controlled nuclear fusion.
Simon simply refused.
Because Simon hopes to build a company with the spirit of Silicon Valley, whether it is FusionTimes and SolarCity in the Bay Area, or SpaceX in Los Angeles, Simon hopes that the teams of the three companies can be as enterprising and innovative as Silicon Valley companies.
In comparison, it is almost like the Livermore National Laboratory of the government department. Simon certainly does not deny the technical foundation of these national laboratories. However, the rigid system and idle style within these laboratories also make it difficult for them to continue to work. Achieved great technological breakthroughs.
In my memory, there are always people who compare the scientific research institutions of China and the West, and then lament the loss of top domestic scientific researchers.
In fact, they are all the same.
Otherwise, the United States’ new moon landing plan would not rely on private companies like SpaceX.
But relatively speaking, there are various large private companies or commercial research institutions in the West that accept top scientific researchers from all over the world, giving them enough room to perform, just like SpaceX. And even twenty years later, China has never formed such a soil because of its shallow foundation.
All in all, Simon didn't want the FusionTimes team to fall into the government-sector habits of Livermore National Laboratory.
Of course stay far away.
The land Simon purchased near Morgan Hill is only more than 20 kilometers away from downtown San Jose, basically within the scope of Silicon Valley. In fact, Simon also wanted to be more core, but the fields involved in FusionTimes are sensitive after all, and he wanted to It is not an easy task to purchase 50 hectares of land at one time in the core area of Silicon Valley.
Located between the valleys of south San Jose, Morgan Hills is a perfect compromise.
After reviewing FusionTimes' site selection and communicating with the architectural design team, Simon stayed in the Bay Area for one night at the end of the day's work, and set off again the next day, flying to New York.