[Chapter 489: The Technology Startup Center]
Looking at the devastated San Francisco, William White found himself at a loss for words. A major earthquake every few decades really didn't make it a suitable place for people to live.
"Jason, how's the damage at your place?"
"Not too bad, just a bit much to handle," Jason replied, relieved that their restaurant hadn't opened yet. The partially collapsed building might not have killed anyone, but it would certainly cause injuries.
"San Francisco is in a seismic zone; there's not much to be done. The only solution is to build houses a bit sturdier," William said.
"Boss, while that's true, your investment in the White Center is rather large in scale," Jason pointed out.
"Ha, while it may seem like a way to appease the locals, it's been in the works for a while now. Don't forget, this is Silicon Valley; our high-tech buildings will definitely attract attention," William replied.
...
The news that this wealthy tycoon planned to build an iconic structure in San Francisco caught many people by surprise.
However, with this guy's propensity for innovation, there wasn't much more to say. He was just a whimsical rich man who happened to possess some sense of social responsibility -- that was about it.
The San Francisco government naturally welcomed this investment. Their biggest concern wasn't how to restore normalcy but rather that a mass exodus of affluent residents would spell disaster for them.
At this time, the tycoon's substantial investment would indeed help boost public confidence. Despite the massive loss in San Francisco, as soon as the disaster relief funds arrived, the GDP in those final months of the year would see a significant leap.
William White was quick to lend a helping hand. In contrast, Congress's slow response left much to be desired. If they continued to bicker without end, they would face overwhelming criticism.
Now, it seemed that stabilizing public sentiment was a task left to him. The onlookers must be very curious about who the officials really were.
William White stayed out of politics; if he ever ran for office, he would surely win half the votes in San Francisco. For now, the officials tagging along were acceptable enough -- they didn't look too bad.
"Filson, we need to make some adjustments to the building's interior. Each unit shouldn't be too large, and we need a common workspace," William instructed.
"Sir, what do you mean by that?" Filson asked, looking puzzled.
"Many people are working in the underground parking lot, which isn't ideal. We'll set up an engineering lab on the basement level; for a fee, anyone can use it. Filson, if we had all this, Steve Jobs wouldn't have been forced to work out of a garage back in the day."
"Are you saying an office desk can be rented?" At that moment, Filson's expression was worth a thousand words. This idea was set to overturn existing rules.
"Exactly. A one-month minimum rental. Any issues with that? Telephone lines, mail service -- those will incur additional costs. Filson, where are we? This is Silicon Valley; it's where dreams take flight. I'm just lowering the cost of their takeoff," William explained.
"Okay, sir, this idea is incredibly bold and innovative. I think we need to hold a press conference," Filson suggested.
"Go ahead and prepare, but don't forget we'll also have banks, various venture capital firms, meeting rooms, and comprehensive office automation services, along with translation services. If needed, we can even provide copywriting and secretarial support to help tackle the nitty-gritty. In short, you don't need much capital to set up your own company; you just need a dream."
"I understand, sir. For the IT industry, this will be a landmark day. This place will be where dreams begin," Filson excitedly declared.
"Ha! I like that phrase. Oh, and we need to have agencies and lawyers to handle patents prepared, along with financial personnel," William added.
William's grand vision left everyone sweating bullets. A few of the officials were quick to realize how great this was.
"Mr. White, if there's anything the city government can assist with, please let us know," one official offered.
"Of course, the company registration and review can be managed by renting an office space. It won't need to be large; everything can be handled from within this building," William suggested.
"Great idea. Should we hold the press conference right away?" an eager official proposed.
Seeing the earnest expression on his face, William White understood that this was all about boosting political image. However, he didn't mind; this was beneficial for everyone involved.
"Of course, once I've made up my mind, I won't change it," he affirmed.
...
The subsequent discussion went smoothly, as high-tech was an increasingly hot topic.
Watching William White speak confidently on TV, a group of Wall Street bigwigs exchanged glances.
"Wow, he's really shaking things up. But isn't this something the government should be handling?" one commented.
Some reporters directed their questions at William, who naturally deflected them to the officials. After all, if they were there to get some face-time, they needed to provide some support. William's industry still relied on them.
After the press conference, the greatest impact was felt within the IT industry. William's White Center resembled a hatchery for tech companies. Was he planning to mass-produce high-tech enterprises?
This positioned Silicon Valley back in the spotlight. At least the elites on Wall Street and some bankers were becoming restless. They clearly stated they welcomed participation from venture capital firms and banks.
Everyone knew William White had his hands in both fields. If they hesitated, they might miss a golden opportunity.
The concept of venture capital was a recent phenomenon and had previously only been the domain of the wealthy.
Things had changed, though; venture capital had become far more sophisticated. There were analysts for evaluating projects, risk assessors, and negotiators.
In short, the venture capital firm under William White was already a leader in the industry. There was no denying that; he started off deep-pocketed and formal. With the projects they favored, they were generous with their investments.
...
"This guy is really generous," George Bush Jr. snarked, watching the broadcast.
"Seriously, how do you keep missing the point?" Bush Sr. replied. "This is about changing the industry's landscape. If he can spawn a multitude of tech firms, how big a deal is the building investment?"
"What's your point, Dad?" Bush Jr. shot back.
"First off, he's lowered the barriers for new companies. Secondly, he's connected all the dots. What characterizes high-tech companies? They typically lack management. Now, that's no longer an issue."
Bush Sr. envisioned university professors eagerly working in such a place. If they developed something worthwhile, they could pitch it to venture capitalists right away.
The most crucial element was the complete laboratory equipment that many university labs lacked.
*****
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