Woosung was interested in buying a company named Tel-Tech.
It was a mid-sized Korean company that manufactured cell phones. In 2007, it applied for a corporate workout and currently in the process of corporate recovery. To put it bluntly, it wasn’t doing very well.
At one time, it released a popular cell phone named Racer, but it only had a brief success.
“Tel-Tech. It’s a medium-sized cell phone company. Currently, it’s in the process of a workout so M&A shouldn’t be difficult.”
Jang Gwangchul knew this company. “It will cost us at least 500 million dollars.”
“If we sell over 1,000,000 phones per year, then our profit will be a billion dollars. This means we can afford a 500-million-dollar company.”
“It’s too risky.”
While they argued, Logan offered his opinion. “I agree with Woosung.” He continued confidently. “Our technology is the best in the world. The only problem we have right now is mass manufacturing. If Tel-Tech can fix this problem for us, 500 million dollars will be worth it. If we try to do it from scratch, it will take a very long time to find and purchase factories, not to mention, we need to hire and educate new workers. This will take months, and by that time, people could lose interest in Blue S.”
Jang Gwangchul replied. “Well…we are assuming that our phone’s popularity will continue.”
“It will. If I wasn’t confident of it, I wouldn’t have been part of this team.”
Jang Gwangchul sighed, perhaps for a millionth time this month. There seemed to be no end to Woosung’s ambition and planning.
He continued. “You know why Tel-Tech is going through the corporate workout, right? It purchased a mobility company LK for 300 million dollars, which was the wrong decision. They tried to grow too fast and they failed. There is a really good chance that we might end up in the same situation.”
Woosung replied. “It was because Tel-Tech was being attacked by Daeyang, just like us. We are different. With KND’s brand power and technology, we will grow fast.”
Jang Gwangchul had no choice but to agree at this point. “Well, if you insist…Alright.”
“Then please return to Korea ASAP and take care of it. I will finish up here and join you soon.”
“There are so much to do now. M&A, then prepping for the mobile carrier business.”
At Jang Gwangchul’s complaint, Woosung laughed. “Haha, you wanted to become a businessman, so here you are!”
“I didn’t realize it would be this much work.”
“And there will be even more in the future. I have a lot of business ideas.”
Jang Gwangchul groaned.
Presentation at Google I/O was done by Logan, who was the chief of the development team. Woosung sat in the audience, watching his every move. As Logan explained about Blue S, the developers in the audience talked among themselves.
“What you see on the screen is the GitHub address where you can download the Blue S’s PCB layout. We also uploaded relevant codes, so feel free to download them.”
The audience exclaimed.
“They are releasing the layout to the public?”
“That’s crazy. It’s a trade secret!”
“And they are also giving away the codes.”
“I can’t believe it!”
Logan continued calmly. “As you know, it is very difficult to optimize Android OS to different hardware. We were successful and we are happy to reveal how we did it. Of course, the information is only for individual developers. Other companies cannot use it for their business.”
“Oh!”
“Knowing just the codes would be useless, and that is why we are disclosing the hardware blueprint and the layout as well.”
Many in the audience raised their hands. One of them asked, “Then will you continue to reveal your information in the future?”
“Yes. However, the phones will be made from the premium version of the codes and the layout, while the uploaded information will be of an older prototype version. Anybody is welcome to use our information to customize it. If you upload your ideas and we like them, we may even purchase them from you. Now, I will introduce you to our CEO.”
Woosung stood up and walked up to the stage.
“We will evaluate your ideas objectively and we will pay up to 10 million dollars.”
The developers exclaimed.
This was Woosung’s plan. This way, he could reach every talented developer in the world.
After the presentation, Woosung, Amelia, and Logan left the conference room.
“I have someone to meet, so I’ll see you guys later.”
Logan walked away, leaving Amelia and Woosung.
Suddenly, Go Sangjun approached them, waving his hand. “Oh, hello! You’re that little girl from the MVP summit.”
“Hi.”
“You’re all grown up now. You looked like a student then.”
Amelia laughed shyly.
Go Sangjun lowered his voice and whispered. “I hope I’m not interrupting your date.”
“Haha, it’s not like that.”
Woosung laughed, Amelia blushed and stammered. “I…it’s not like that at all.”
“Haha, then let’s go for lunch. I have a lot to talk about.”
When they entered the restaurant, a familiar face walked towards them. Woosung flinched.
“What a nice surprise,” Woosung asked curiously. “What are you doing here, Advisor Shin?”
“I’m in a tech business so of course I should attend things like this.”
“Oh…”
“Would you mind introducing your friends?” Shin Semi’s voice sounded cold.
“This is Amelia, one of my employees, and this is Go Sangjun from Daeyang System.”
Shin Semi greet them in perfect English. “Nice to meet you. I am Shin Semi and I am the chief of pin tech business department at Nuri Enterprise.”
Go Sangjun recognized her immediately, but Amelia had no idea who Shin Semi was.
Shin Semi asked after shaking their hands. “Would you mind if I join you guys?”
Woosung glanced at his group. Shin Semi noticed and narrowed her eyes.
Go Sangjun looked at Woosung and replied, “Haha, I’m fine.”
Amelia answered as well, “That would be fine with me.”
Woosung shrugged his shoulders and replied, “I guess that would be great. Let’s go.”
Go Sangjun sat down at the table and asked, “I was surprised to hear you are releasing your information to the public. So you weren’t lying.”
“Haha, of course, I meant what I said!”
“I thought you were lying to me.”
“Our CEO is not like that.”
Suddenly, Go Sangjun’s eyes widened.
Go Sangjun was talking to Woosung in Korean. Amelia replied to him in Korean! She understood and spoke the language! Shin Semi also looked surprised. Go Sangjun replied quickly.
“Haha, I’m just kidding. I know Woosung’s not a liar.”
Woosung changed the subject. “How’s the mood in Daeyang? Your company keeps poaching my people, so I am having a lot of difficulties finding new workers.”
At Woosung’s complaint, Go Sangjun sweated. “We are busy with developing a new smartphone. We are working with Google too. As for poaching your developers…”
“I am happy to make constant offers to my own employees both in Korea and America.”
While Go Sangjun was sweating uncomfortably, Amelia murmured. “I’m not like that.”
“Hm…m?”
When Woosung asked, Amelia replied, “I will work for you forever.”
Shin Semi murmured quietly, “You are a lucky man, Woosung, to have such a loyal employee.”
“Oh, haha, of course. I feel confident having such a talented developer like Amelia with me.”
Amelia continued. “I’m serious. I got a call from a head-hunting company, but I hung up on them right away.”
Woosung looked at Amelia and said warmly, “Amelia, I am always thankful to you.”
Amelia looked away and blushed. Shin Semi watched this interaction unhappily.
Go Sangjun smiled. “What’s going on here? You two look way too close!”
Shin Semi bit her lips.
Woosung shook his head. “Haha, I told you. Nothing’s going on between us.”
Shin Semi exhaled.
Woosung tried to change the uncomfortable subject and started eating. “By the way, I meant to call you, Advisor Shin.”
“Really? That’ll be the day.”
“There is something I need help with when I return to Korea.”
Shin Semi answered again in an unkind tone, “You need another corporate gossip?”
“Haha, nothing like that.”
“Then you better have something ready to trade with.”
Woosung smiled confidently. “I have something that you would love to have. It’s something that will allow me to gain your trust. We will talk when we get back to Korea.”
When the lunch ended and they were about to leave, Logan approached them with a stranger. When Woosung saw him, he knew immediately who Logan brought.
Rich Miner.
He was the man who created the Android with Andy Rubin.
