The Wolf of Los Angeles.

After determining that his next target was LinkedIn, Hawke immediately retrieved a large amount of relevant information.

Twitter has a professional team that has been keeping an eye on the situation of potential competitors.

LinkedIn was founded a few months earlier than Twitter, but its development focus has always been on the business field.

Especially after Reid Hoffman rejected LinkedIn's invitation to invest and Twitter became the industry leader, the function of LinkedIn's online social platform focused on contacts that users know and trust in business dealings, also known as connections.

Users can invite people they know to become members of their “relationship” circle.

Unlike Twitter, which faces all users around the world, LinkedIn focuses on the niche track of business connections.

In this respect alone, LinkedIn surpasses Twitter.

Hawke called his assistant Lucat and asked him to pass a copy of the latest information to Reid Hoffman.

In this day and age, Silicon Valley's innovation and vitality can be said to be a model for global technological innovation and business development.

Hawke has successfully changed Zuckerberg's track and made him the sugar daddy of all sugar babies in the United States.

But Silicon Valley still needs to be vigilant.

Especially intelligent R&D procedures.

In Hawke's memory, many Silicon Valley companies later cooperated with the military industry to provide intelligent programs for missiles and military aircraft.

We need to think of some solutions in this regard.

Hawke called Edward, and the two of them walked out of the Coast Building and came to the parking lot of Venice Beach.

A luxury RV was parked near the beach, surrounded by fences covering an area of ​​more than 100 square meters.

This place has been leased for a long term by the AI ​​Manhattan Project, under the name of AI observation and analysis of homeless people, and is exclusively for Frank's use.

Hawke didn't find Frank, so he called him and found out that the old guy was playing with a beautiful woman on the beach.

It was just after the New Year and there were not many people on Venice Beach. Hawke found a slightly higher place to look out and soon spotted the tight red uniforms of the Baywatch team.

Under the bright sunshine of Southern California, Frank, wearing a floral shirt and a cowboy hat, was walking towards this side quickly with a beauty in each of his hands.

Hawke knew both women. The blonde was called Aurora, and the black-haired woman was of Indian descent, named Marika.

A few people greeted each other and got into the luxury RV together.

Frank took some water from the refrigerator and said, "So you two still remember me."

Hawke took a bottle and sat on the sofa: "Of course I remember, because you are one year older."

Being called old in front of two beautiful young women, Frank’s face darkened: “I am much younger in mentality than you two bastards.”

Edward snorted coldly and said, "Look at your gray hair and wrinkled face. Don't fool yourself."

Frank subconsciously touched his face, then glared angrily: "Where do I have wrinkles?"

Hawke stopped the two from arguing and said, "I suddenly want to eat the barbecue you made. Stop talking nonsense here and prepare it quickly."

"You're a billionaire, and you want to eat an old homeless man like me?" Frank said this, but his hands were quick. He opened the refrigerator and took out the skewers of meat, and asked Edward for help to put up the parasol.

Aurora and Marika opened the storage room, moved out the barbecue grill together, and placed it in the open space in front of the car.

Hawke's eyes quickly swept over them, somewhat curious. What were these two women trying to achieve by following Frank?
Are you attracted by his gray hair and wrinkles? By the fact that he doesn't take showers? Or is it because he is really good at martial arts?

While waiting for Frank to grill the meat, Hawke and Edward chat with Aurora and Marika.

Under Hawke's deliberate guidance, the topic quickly turned to what he wanted to ask.

Hawke looked at the Indian woman, Marika: "I remember you wanted to apply for a job in a technology company and were planning to go to Silicon Valley."

Marika did have plans in this regard, but plans are not as fast as changes. The Sisters' Parade did not have any requirements, so she could leave whenever she wanted.

The saint ordered that Frank needed to be monitored.

And the most recent order received was to find a way to infiltrate Twitter through Frank.

Marika smiled and said, "I like Los Angeles, not San Francisco. The sea here is so beautiful that I don't want to leave."

Hawke nodded and said, "Twitter has several investors from Silicon Valley. They told me that the number of Indian talents in Silicon Valley is increasing, and they are now in key positions in many technology companies."

Speaking of her compatriots, Marika is somewhat proud: "We Indians are relatively united in the United States. As long as one of our compatriots can achieve a management position, more outstanding Indian employees will be recruited during the recruitment process, and Indian employees will also repay the company with their excellent abilities and skills."

Hawke did not comment on this, but said: "I have also heard about the solidarity of Indians. Have you established a mutual aid organization?"

Mallika smiled and nodded. “They formed an association of Indian entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley to help each other and set up a group on Twitter.”

She glanced at Hawke and thought about asking Twitter, but held back considering her own mission.

The mission of the saint is more important than her compatriots.

Mallika's Twitter account is also in the group of the Indian Entrepreneurs Association, where there is a professional who wants to seek the position of CEO, which seems to be a good fit for Twitter.

But she had no right to say such things.

After eating barbecue at Frank's place, Hawke returned to the company and quickly locked onto the group of Indian entrepreneurs through supercomputing.

Not only Indian entrepreneurs, but also Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sikh groups were searched out.

In the eyes of Americans, all of these are classified as Indian.

Hawke knew very well that the conflicts among the Indians, Pattans, Bangladeshis and Sikhs were no less serious than those between the Koreans and the Japanese in the United States.

The latter three are also found in large numbers in Silicon Valley.

Hawke called the investment foundation and asked Pierce Madden, chairman of the charity foundation, to come over.

Pierce had just returned from Africa and reported: "Africa is already on the right track. Only a small portion of the charity funds we transferred were used for greening and tree planting, and most of them were used to strengthen the strength of Hurricane Company."

He also handed Hawke a written report: "I have completed the preliminary report and brought it here."

Hawke received one side and would watch it carefully later, and asked, "Is the situation in Ethiopia normal?"

"Andre has increased security." Pierce quickly replied: "When I came, I didn't find anything unusual."

Hawke returned to today's matter: "The overseas foundation is promoting something."

Pierce's ears immediately pricked up.

Hawke said: "Promote Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sikhs, that is, Indians in a broad sense in the United States, to come to the United States and enter Silicon Valley... No, not only Silicon Valley, but also major technology companies in the United States."

Pierce asked curiously, "Do they have special abilities?"

Hawke nodded slightly: "America's technological development cannot be separated from these people."

Among these Indians, there are indeed a few elites, but most of them are best at making promises, and those are curry-flavored and E. coli-containing promises.

Indians have a natural confidence. Even if they know nothing, they can still brag about themselves.

An Indian high-tech talent in his previous life, nicknamed PPT genius.

As the name suggests, it goes particularly well with America.

Then there are some things about Indians that you have to admire.

As long as there is an Indian who becomes a senior executive in a company, within three months, his managers and core team members will most likely be replaced by Indians.

Hawke said in an unusually serious tone: "The Foundation has set up a special department called the Hindustan Promotion Association to fully promote Indians in a broad sense to enter major companies across the United States, especially high-tech companies. This work will be implemented immediately, and the start-up funds will be allocated from overseas."

Although Pierce didn't quite understand, he had a strong executive ability and said, "I will immediately arrange for capable personnel to start work in this area."

He asked cautiously, "Which type of company is preferred?"

Hawke thought for a moment and said, "Chips, smart development, electronic equipment, airplanes and cars, shipbuilding, military and aerospace, etc., all of these are possible." Pierce replied, "Yes."

Hawke gave him a document and said, "Hurry up and do it."

Pierce left the office, got off the elevator and got into the car. He called his assistant in the car and convened a meeting of the foundation's executives.

The Hindustan Promotion Department was established that evening. Several capable personnel obtained a list of Indian associations and set out from Los Angeles to travel to various places, making contacts through some channels to promote the development of Indians in various technology and manufacturing industries in the United States.

In Hawke's previous life, the US technology industry went from its peak to the frequent problems that followed, and the rise and management style of Indian executives was definitely an unavoidable topic.

He had some impression that after Musk acquired Twitter in his previous life, the first thing he cut was Twitter's management team which was mainly composed of Indians.

It is said that one of the executives formed an Indian censorship force at Twitter, doing the caste system thing...

Hawke hopes that the Silicon Valley of the future can become the PPT kingdom of Indians.

…………

Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale.

Reid Hoffman drove down the main road and turned to look at the AMD headquarters on the side of the road.

Further ahead is the Yahoo headquarters.

Compared to these two giant companies, LinkedIn is just a small company.

The car stopped in front of LinkedIn's office building, and the current LinkedIn CEO Constant was already waiting at the door.

Constant is from Stanford and is an old acquaintance of Reid Hoffman.

The two shook hands, went upstairs together and entered the reception room.

Constant smiled and said, "I saw in the newspaper a few days ago that you were in Los Angeles attending Twitter's board meeting. Are you back so soon?"

Hoffman sat back on the sofa and said, "Twitter is developing very fast and has already gotten on the right track. I just need to understand the specific situation of the company without getting involved in the actual operation."

"Red, if you and Peter had worked with LinkedIn, things would have been different." Constant is confident in his LinkedIn: "I can't say LinkedIn can become the Twitter of today, but at least it can compete with Twitter in the online media market."

Hoffman shook his head. "That's impossible. Without Peter and me, Hawke Osment would not be able to attract investment for Twitter from other places. Besides, LinkedIn is far inferior to Twitter in attracting users. Hawke created those entertainment news that became popular all over the United States and the world. Can LinkedIn do that?"

Putting aside its ability to do things in this regard, just from a geographical point of view, it would be extremely difficult for LinkedIn to do the same thing.

Hoffman added: “Of course, there is a great opportunity now for LinkedIn.”

Constant understood: "You are not here on behalf of Twitter, are you?"

"Yes, I am here today as a member of Twitter's board of directors." Hoffman directly stated his purpose: "Twitter plans to acquire LinkedIn."

Constant was not surprised. In the past year, many large companies have been eyeing LinkedIn.

If LinkedIn wants to develop further, it is inevitable to accept external investment.

He said slowly: "LinkedIn and Twitter are in the same field. Once LinkedIn is acquired by Twitter, will LinkedIn still exist independently? Will it be split off by Twitter and become part of the Twitter platform?"

Hoffman and Constant are old friends, but Twitter is his core interest.

Friendships and the like take a back seat in front of Twitter, Hoffman said: "We can talk about that."

Constant did not refuse. Twitter's acquisition intention would also increase LinkedIn's weight among other businesses.

Similarly, he also used other businesses to elevate LinkedIn's importance to Twitter: "There are many companies and groups that want to cooperate with LinkedIn and want to invest in LinkedIn. Sequoia Capital has strongly expressed its interest in LinkedIn. Pacific Electric wants to enter new industries, and LinkedIn is its first choice."

Hoffman asked, "Sequoia and PG&E?"

"Yes." Constant briefly explained to make it more convincing: "Sequoia Capital plans to invest... $30 billion, and Pacific Electric has offered a stock exchange plan."

Hoffman smiled and shook his head: "Are you sure you want to exchange the shares of traditional energy companies? We knew what those old companies were like when we were at Stanford. There are too many pitfalls in the equity exchange. The old energy companies never think that we, the newly rich, can sit at the same table with them."

Constant, of course, knew this and said, “So, I just made initial contact.”

Hoffman could see that Constant had no intention of clinging to LinkedIn.

The other party is not a tech geek, but a businessman who seeks nothing but profit.

Hoffman continued: "Twitter's platform is more suitable for LinkedIn's development. The two companies are on the same track. Twitter's promotional resources can also be used on LinkedIn. In addition, Sequoia Capital and Pacific Electric cannot compare with Twitter in terms of cash abundance."

Constant frowned: "How is this possible."

"I am a director of Twitter and I understand the company's situation." Hoffman certainly wouldn't tell him that Twitter has tens of billions of dollars in cash flow and is still sucking blood from the entire United States: "There is no need for me to brag about this kind of thing."

The two have known each other for many years, and Constant knows Hoffman well: "LinkedIn is the company I founded..."

Hoffman continued: "Twitter has prepared a complete plan. Once the acquisition is completed, it will drive LinkedIn's rapid development and expand its scale several times or even dozens of times."

Constant asked, "May I know what the plan is?"

Hoffman smiled but said nothing.

Constant thought for a moment and said, "I founded LinkedIn for my dream and to make money. I will not refuse external funding, nor will I refuse to cooperate with others. But let's talk about the specific situation another day?"

"Okay." Hoffman's main purpose of coming here this time was to test Constant's attitude.

As long as the other party is willing to sell and negotiate, everything will be easy.

Constant invited: "Are you interested in visiting LinkedIn?"

Hoffman responded: "It's my pleasure."

The two men left the reception room, and under the guidance of Constant, Hoffman visited several departments of LinkedIn.

More than an hour later, Hoffman walked out of LinkedIn's office building.

He waved goodbye to Constant, returned to his office, and immediately called Hawke's office.

When the call was connected, Hoffman immediately said, "Constant, my old friend who owns the controlling stake in LinkedIn, is not opposed to selling LinkedIn, but based on my observation, the price will not be low."

In the office at the Coast Building, Hawke asked, "Are there any competitors?"

"Yes." Hoffman said truthfully: "According to the information disclosed by Constant, Sequoia Capital wants to invest in LinkedIn, and Pacific Electric wants to acquire LinkedIn through equity exchange."

Putting Sequoia aside for the moment, Hawke first considered Pacific Electric, saying, "Politically, Pacific Electric is on the opposite side of us."

Hoffman said: "It always feels like an energy company wants to enter the Internet industry for some purpose."

Hawke thought about what happened in San Francisco. The Occupy San Francisco movement had lasted for nearly a year. The California election was approaching, and Bryan's approval rating in the polls exceeded 65%. There was no suspense in the gubernatorial election at all.

Pacific Electric Company is the largest economic backend of the San Francisco Donkey Gang and has close ties with the Niu Sen family.

Are there other factors behind this acquisition?

Hawke had no idea for the time being, and said, "I will quickly form a negotiation team and an evaluation team, invite a third-party evaluation agency to intervene, and rush to San Francisco this week to assist you in negotiating the acquisition of LinkedIn."

Hoffman said without hesitation: "In the next few months, I will temporarily give up other work and concentrate on completing this acquisition."

Again, Twitter is now his core interest.

One glory and one glory.

He specifically reminded Hawke: "PG&E is an old energy company. This kind of traditional company has a wild style of doing things. You should pay attention to this aspect."

Hawke was not afraid of the other party's wild behavior and said, "I will also send a professional security team over. You stay in San Francisco all year round and pay more attention to the news of Pacific Electric."

"I understand." Hoffman understood.

After the two sides hung up the phone, Hawke immediately mobilized personnel and organized a professional team to rush to San Francisco tomorrow to assist Hoffman.

In addition, he called Campos and asked Butterfly to send someone to fly to San Francisco on the same plane. (End of this chapter)