Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 578: I Invested in This Project _1

Chapter 578: Chapter 578: I Invested in This Project _1

Finished speaking, Sergei seemed insatiable.

With a sigh, he said, "Alas, it’s a shame I don’t have the funds. I can handle the programming myself, but when it comes to the website UI design and other stuff, I can’t afford it, so the website looks quite rudimentary. Moreover, I also don’t have money for marketing, I plan to begin advertising it around our university and gradually expand to other universities in Moscow."

Building a website isn’t simple.

It’s not enough to have the technology alone. Without sufficient funding, things will be quite slow at the starting stage.

Unable to hire employees, rent servers, nor afford to promote.

Relying only on word-of-mouth publicity is nonsensical because the ideas in the internet industry aren’t protected.

Once a big company finds your website’s idea quite good, they can directly "copy" it. Coupled with their abundant funds and technical reserves, it would overshadow the original creation.

In such cases, who do you go to for justice?

Wang Ye calmly said, "Why don’t you try contacting venture capital firms? Maybe someone would be interested in your project and fund you, wouldn’t that solve your funding issue?"

Sergei shook his head in succession, helplessly said, "If this was the United States, perhaps I would try, but in Moscow, no one would be interested in this personal website of mine and there aren’t that many venture capital firms. And I have no idea if there are such firms in Moscow."

"Then for this project to kick start, taking into account recruiting staff, website promotion, server rental, how much money do you need?" Wang Ye continued to inquire.

Sergei frowned and after pondering for a moment, held up a hand.

"At least 50,000 US dollars!

This is already considering saving wherever possible. Employees can be part-time students from related majors I’m familiar with, so that’s covered.

As for the servers, we can discreetly use our university’s servers in the initial stage, after all, I’m managing them.

But promotion can’t be saved on. Having ads on portals like MAIL.RU for a month, even if in not so good positions, would also need 20,000 to 30,000 US dollars.

These 50,000 US dollars, spent cautiously, can sustain for around three months.

But after three months, the website should have picked up. Whether it’s getting funding or considering profit models, it would be the next stage."

Wang Ye nodded, Sergei didn’t aim high, only dared to ask for 50,000 US dollars.

In truth, this amount of money invested would be considered minor play.

In the past two years, when the internet industry was booming, many websites started by throwing in millions or even tens of millions of US dollars.

The term "burning money" emerged from the internet industry!

...

"So how much do you think this website... or your idea is worth? In other words, the valuation of your website." Wang Ye inquired with apparent interest.

Sergei decisively said, "At least 50,000 US dollars! If a company invests 50,000 US dollars in me, I would give them 50 percent of my shares. Any more would be unacceptable."

After speaking, he seemed to realize something, leaned in to look at Wang Ye, and suspiciously asked, "Why does your face seem familiar to me, like I’ve seen you somewhere?"

Wang Ye smiled, "We’re roommates, how could you have not seen me before?"

Sergei hurriedly shook his head: "Not that, I feel like I’ve seen you on... TV or newspapers...or somewhere else. You wouldn’t happen to be a superstar, would you? Looking at your temperament, appearance, and dressing style, it wouldn’t surprise me if you said you were a star. But I rarely pay attention to the entertainment circle."

With that, he chuckled.

Makes sense. Although Wang Ye came to university, he wasn’t dressed very formally.

But the clothes on him surely belonged to a top luxury brand and the watch worth tens of thousands on his hand shone brightly with value.

So, while saying that Sergei was a superstar was far from accurate, it wasn’t very different either.

Isn’t Wang Ye the brightest star in the Moscow political arena?

Wang Ye shook his head, neither admitting nor denying. He merely took out a slim wallet from his pocket and drew a thin piece of paper from it.

He handed it to Sergei saying, "I’m investing in your project!"

Sergei was astounded, not knowing what Wang Ye was talking about.

What project, what investment...

He glanced at the paper in Wang Ye’s hand, not even knowing what it is.

Clearly seeing that Sergei didn’t understand, Wang Ye explained, "It’s a cash cheque. You can cash it at any bank. This money is the capital I personally invest in your project. Of course, I want shares. Also, $50,000 is too little. Since we’re doing it, then go big. This is one million!"

Sergei felt his scalp numb and his hairs stand up.

One million...US dollars...

This couldn’t be a joke, right?

Who exactly is my roommate, and why can he casually pull out a one million US dollar cheque like it’s nothing?

He swallowed hard, then forced a smile, "You... You’re not joking, right?"

Wang Ye calmly said, "Do you think I’m joking? Or, do you truly not know who I am?"

Sergei subconsciously countered, "Aren’t you just a student? What did you say your name was? I didn’t catch it just now..."

Wang Ye had no choice but to say, "Just open our university’s official website."

While operating the computer, Sergei still asked in confusion, "Open the official website for what? Are you a school leader and there’s an introduction of you on it? Impossible! Our school doesn’t have someone as young as you..."

Before he could finish, he saw the large photo on the homepage of the school’s official website, and instantly swallowed his next words.

After staring at the computer screen for a while, he suddenly turned his head to look at Wang Ye, scrutinizing him a few times then turned back to the computer screen.

After a couple of times back and forth, he asked incredulously, "Your name is...Mikhail!"

Wang Ye nodded with a smile, "Guaranteed genuine."

Sergei suddenly wailed, clutching his head while swaying in his chair, mumbling, "Damn! My roommate is a big shot, and I only found out about it now! Sergei, what on earth have you been doing every day..."

What he regretted was finding out about Wang Ye’s identity only now. If he had known earlier, his project would’ve taken off already!

Maybe if he had found Mikhail to invest a few months earlier, his website would’ve been a rising star in the Russian internet scene by now!

Wang Ye reminded him, "So, are you accepting my investment? But, I want more than half of the shares..."