Andy Rubin came to Makino Technology with an excited but anxious heart, and explained his intention to the front desk of the lobby. Li Ziwei immediately came out to greet him and took him to Li Mu's office.
This was the first time that Li Mu met Andy Rubin. At this time, Andy Rubin was already forty years old. He was wearing an ordinary black T-shirt and a pair of washed-out worn jeans. He looks like a middle-aged man wearing silk clothes.
Li Mu also feels that Andy Rubin looks a bit like Steve Jobs, which may have a lot to do with the fact that both of them are losers and wear glasses.
Andy Rubin also met Li Mu for the first time. Although Li Mu was much younger than him, he still respected Li Mu very much. He bowed slightly and shook hands with both hands. Then his hands obviously felt that they had nowhere to put them, and he showed a sense of being at a loss. of restraint.
Li Mu invited Andy Rubin to sit down and said enthusiastically: "Mr. Rubin, I heard Larry say that you have a project recently and you are looking for investment?"
Andy Rubin nodded and said hurriedly: "I really didn't expect Mr. Li to take time to see me. If you are interested, I can give you an overview of the project. If you are pressed for time, I can also follow up. Chat with someone from your company’s investment department.”
Li Mu smiled and said, "If it's convenient, just introduce it to me. I'm quite interested."
Andy Rubin nodded happily and said: "Then I will tell you in detail. It may be a bit lengthy. If Mr. Li thinks which part is more nonsense, you can tell me directly and I will adjust it at any time."
Li Mu smiled slightly: "You don't have to be so restrained. Just say whatever you think."
"Ok." Andy Rubin sorted out his words and said: "Let me talk about the background of the project first. I want to do this project. It actually comes from my personal view of the future mobile phone market. I think mobile phones will be the key to the future. It will definitely become more and more popular and gradually become an indispensable device in people's lives. Coupled with the unparalleled portability of mobile phones, it is foreseeable that in the future, people will spend more time using mobile phones every day than computers."
Li Mu held his chin, nodded seriously, and said: "I completely agree with this point, and I not only believe that people will use mobile phones longer than computers, I also believe that mobile phones will replace computers more and more, and will gradually be able to Do more things that you could only do with a computer before."
As soon as Li Mu said this, Andy Rubin immediately said excitedly: "Mr. Li is right! I have the same opinion as you! I think there are two things that people will be unable to live without in the future. One is the Internet , the other is mobile phones. If the Internet and mobile phones cannot be integrated, then computers will be equal to the Internet. But if one day, we allow mobile phones to connect to the Internet and realize a considerable number of functions that are only available on computers, then computers will play an important role in people's lives. The proportion will become smaller and smaller, and it is very likely that one day in the future, in addition to large-scale computing and professional software, we will also need computers, and we can use mobile phones to solve other things on the Internet."
"I agree with you on this point." Li Mu agreed: "With the development of hardware, the performance of microprocessors will become stronger and stronger, and the possibility of condensing a computer into a mobile phone will also increase." Higher and higher."
Andy Rubin said excitedly: "I didn't expect Mr. Li to think so! Then my next project will be easier to explain to you."
Having said that, Andy Rubin swept away his previous embarrassment and said with great enthusiasm: "Generally speaking, my project is to make mobile phones more Internet-based. Under this premise, the first thing to solve is the software and hardware. I won’t go into details about innovation and core hardware. This is not an area that my project will cover. However, companies like Qualcomm, ARM and Texas Instruments are working hard. I believe that we don’t need to worry about the hardware. of."
At this point, Andy Rubin changed the topic and said: "However, compared to hardware, I think the bigger problem now is software, especially the operating system. If you want to make mobile phones Internet-enabled, the biggest core element is to empower The mobile phone has an advanced mobile operating system, a truly intelligent system."
Li Mu smiled and looked at him and asked, "Then your entrepreneurial project is to develop a mobile operating system based on mobile devices?"
"Yes!" Andy Rubin nodded seriously and said: "Currently, the existing mobile operating systems are relatively useless. The biggest problem with PalmOS and Symbian is that they cannot be equipped with high-performance hardware. It is like a five-year-old Just like children cannot handle high school math problems, this kind of operating system will definitely be eliminated in the future, and Microsoft... Their biggest enemy is actually their own arrogance. Secondly, they always want to move Windows to mobile devices as much as possible. , but it ignores that what mobile device users really need is not an operating system that has been translated from desktop computers, but an operating system that truly meets the needs of mobile users and is tailored for mobile. So I feel that at this time It’s a very good opportunity to get involved.”
Li Mu nodded slightly.
Andy Rubin's series of remarks are in line with the true development history of mobile devices and the mobile Internet. It can be seen that this person does have a very unique vision and forward-looking attitude towards the mobile Internet. Moreover, if you analyze the time carefully, this guy is in the second half of this year. When creating Android, I probably never found investors in my previous life, so I ended up paying some money myself to do it first.
By comparison, Andy Rubin started the Android project in the second half of 2003, while Apple started the project in the second half of 2005. On the timeline, Apple is two full years slower than Android.
Unfortunately, Andy Rubin's Android project did not receive sufficient funding and overall support at the beginning. Instead, it developed as a small entrepreneurial team until 2005, when Steve Jobs launched IOS development and iPhone. During research and development, Google acquired Android, which gave Android the opportunity to develop rapidly.
From this point of view, Android has actually lost its most precious two-year vacuum period. If it had the opportunity to develop at full strength from the beginning, I dare not say that it would completely crush Apple, but it would at least have a huge impact and influence on the future of Apple's iPhone.
Now, he has the opportunity to bring Andy Rubin under the command of Makino Technology, or become an angel investor in Android from the very beginning. This is an excellent entry point for Li Mu, and he has taken ten thousand steps back. He said that even if his acquisition of Apple fails in the end, the Android project launched first can lock Apple's future development to a great extent.
So, Li Mu asked Andy Rubin with great interest: "Andy, with all due respect, you are a very visionary and powerful professional and a very potential project leader, but as a friend I’m asking you a question.”
Andy Rubin sat up quickly and listened.
Li Mu paused for a moment before asking him: "Do you think you can be a good CEO?"
Andy Rubin was a little stunned by Li Mu's question.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Li Mu said, "You know Andy, I am currently cooperating with Hollywood to make a movie, so I have been exposed to some things in the film and television industry. I found that although the Internet industry and the film and television industry seem to be very different, They are thousands of miles apart, but they actually have a lot in common.”
Andy Rubin asked very curiously: "Mr. Li, I wonder what the similarities between these two industries are?"
Li Mu said with a smile: "In our industry, some people are excellent technicians. They are like excellent actors in Hollywood. They are proficient in acting. If you put them in any role, they can create a satisfying character." ;
Some people are excellent product managers and project leaders. They can clearly see the market demand, design a complete set of product logic, and make every effort to ensure the implementation of the project. They are like big-name Hollywood screenwriters, with a strong sense of the overall situation and logic. Being able to plan everything from the overall situation to the details. In the Internet industry, such roles are mostly the person in charge of products or projects;”
When he said this, Li Mu paused deliberately, and then said solemnly: "There are still some people who may not understand technology or products, but they understand management and know how to put the best people in place." He is in the position that is most suitable for him and allows him to maximize his effectiveness. At the same time, he knows how to plan long-term strategies and tactics for the company so that the company can continue to grow and develop. Such people are excellent CEOs, just like the top directors in Hollywood. Many A top director can't act or even write a script, but he can just bring a bunch of people together and make the project come to fruition to the greatest extent possible."
"A successful company may not have excellent technical personnel or excellent project leaders, but it must have a strong CEO, because a strong CEO will ensure that all problems can be solved, but Andy, you are a You are qualified to be a product leader, but you are definitely not qualified to be a CEO. Generally speaking, your startup will not be separated from the following results:
First, the team leaves you and the project goes bankrupt;
Second, the project is acquired in the early to mid-stage, and then you are kicked out;
Third, in order for the project to continue, you are forced to hand over the CEO position;
If you continue to start a business, no matter who invests in it, it will be difficult to truly succeed unless you personally do not serve as CEO. "
Andy Rubin was so directly criticized by Li Mu, who was nearly twenty years younger than him, that his whole face felt hot, but he had to admit that what Li Mu said on this issue was very reasonable. A technical expert is a geek, but not a good CEO. Now he raises money everywhere without success. It may also be related to investors' distrust of his ability to be a CEO.
At this time, Li Mu said again: "I have seen many technical talents come out to start businesses. When they meet with investors, they talk about projects and technology, but there are very few technical talents who can talk to them about the company. Management, as well as long-term and comprehensive strategic planning for the future, you have to know that investors are never focused on the longest piece in the barrel, but the shortest piece, because that piece determines how well the money he invests can Whether you make a lot of money or lose everything, in my eyes, your personal professional ability is impeccable, but I have great doubts about your management ability. I heard that you worked with the entrepreneurial team on your last entrepreneurial project. And the investors had conflicts?"
Andy Rubin nodded awkwardly and said, "I haven't been able to realize the reason before. After talking with Mr. Li today, I finally understand where I went wrong."
Li Mu smiled slightly and said: "Andy, in my opinion, you can consider joining Makino Technology. If you are willing to join, I will fully support the technical direction you choose. The development of super products like operating systems is a bottomless pit. You can do it yourself." If you take money out of your pocket, you will never be able to fill this hole. You may even fall into it one day. Join Makino Technology and I will fill this bottomless hole for you. If you want money, I will give it to you. If you want people, I will give them to you, and at the same time, I will implement some of the option issues for you. Makino Technology will IPO in the second half of the year, and you will definitely make a lot of money by then."
After that, Li Mu stared at Andy Rubin and said seriously: "Such a good opportunity is really rare in Silicon Valley!"
(End of chapter)