The product director's words caused everyone in the conference room to freeze for a moment.
Then, after they processed it, everyone couldn't help but think: Yes, our company's product performance is so phenomenal, it's simply sweeping away all competing products on the market.
With such a powerful product in hand, why would we need celebrity endorsements?
Moreover, what the product director said was also very true: celebrities nowadays, despite their glamorous public image, only live under the spotlight, deliberately presenting a facade to the public.
In private, who knows what unsavory things they get up to? Otherwise, why are there so many celebrities exposed for scandals?
Come to think of it, our company's product is already top-notch. If we were to hire such a celebrity, wouldn't it be like planting a ticking time bomb next to us, constantly worrying about it exploding?
Thus, everyone's opinions began to waver.
"May I interrupt?"
A woman wearing black-rimmed glasses and an OL suit raised her hand.
She was the company's financial director, Zhang Qin.
As Zhang Qin spoke, everyone's gaze turned to her.
"Director Zhang, is there a problem?"
Zhang Qin was hired by Liu Shishi with a high salary. Previously, she worked for a foreign company and was renowned in the industry for her financial expertise.
Seeing everyone stop their chatter and look at her, Zhang Qin slowly opened the folder in her hand. "Director Liu and everyone, I know you all have great ambitions and visions for the company's development. However, there's a critical issue: the company's accounts don't have much money right now. So, I want to pour some cold water on everyone's enthusiasm."
"In my opinion, the most urgent task is to restore the company's cash flow to normal as quickly as possible."
After speaking, Zhang Qin had Liu Shishi's secretary distribute the printed documents from the folder to everyone.
Liu Shishi picked up the document printed by Zhang Qin and saw a long list of company expenditures. The last line stated that the company's account only had a little over two million.
Two million might take a lifetime for an ordinary person to earn.
But for a company, especially a startup, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
Especially now, with the company's flagship product yet to be launched and a new factory being built on the land purchased in the development zone, every step required substantial capital.
Seeing the numbers on the document, Liu Shishi's brow furrowed slightly.
"Director Liu, actually, I wanted to say earlier that the factory issue could be put aside for now. While we have the formula, developing products is very costly. What we urgently need to solve is the capital problem, otherwise, the company might face the danger of a broken capital chain," Zhang Qin said to Liu Shishi.
Although Zhang Qin's words were somewhat blunt, some people in the conference room couldn't help but nod in agreement.
Indeed, for a startup, Liu Shishi was taking steps that were too large.
"How about we halt the factory for now and push the product to the market as quickly as possible?" someone proposed.
However, it was quickly rejected.
The factory construction had already begun. Even if they stopped now, it would only be a temporary fix and wouldn't solve the problem fundamentally.
"I have an idea that can address the company's urgent need for funds."
It was Zhang Qin again who spoke.
Liu Shishi immediately asked with surprise, "Director Zhang, do you really have a way to solve the shortage of capital?"
Logically speaking, if there was a capital issue, Liu Shishi could consult with Du Fei.
But Liu Shishi felt that since the company was founded, all the money had come from Du Fei. She absolutely did not want to go to him every time a problem arose.
At this moment, hearing that Zhang Qin had a solution, she naturally wanted to hear her thoughts.
"With our company holding two blockbuster products, we can completely seek venture capital funding and appropriately offer some equity. This way, we solve the capital problem, and the venture capitalists will surely help us with various forms of support," Zhang Qin slowly revealed her idea.
Introducing venture capital was a common practice in many foreign companies.
After all, running a company well these days required a huge amount of capital.
Moreover, as long as the founders held sufficient equity, there was no worry about the company's control falling into others' hands.
"Director Zhang's idea is excellent. I believe with our company's outstanding performance, as soon as word gets out, many venture capitalists will be willing to invest in us."
"Yes, I also think introducing venture capital is a good idea. This way, the company can not only alleviate financial pressure but also have venture capitalists share some of the burden at the appropriate time."
"Venture capital is acceptable, but when it comes to ceding equity, I think we must be cautious. Some venture capitalists are like wolves that devour without spitting out bones. We must be careful not to invite trouble."
After Zhang Qin shared her idea, the various executives in the conference room expressed their opinions.
However, the final decision naturally rested with Liu Shishi, as she was the actual controller who held the power.
Therefore, everyone turned their gaze to her.
"Alright, today's meeting has gone on for quite some time, and I'm sure everyone is tired. I will carefully consider the matter of introducing venture capital."
Liu Shishi hadn't expected that Zhang Qin's solution to the capital chain issue would be to introduce venture capital, and she was somewhat indecisive for a moment.
Zhang Qin seemed to sense Liu Shishi's hesitation and said, "Director Liu, I know you founded this company with your own hands, and you value it more than any of us. But as the company's financial director, I must state the company's situation. With the current cash flow, we can only last for at most a week."
Liu Shishi also knew that Zhang Qin's proposal for venture capital had no selfish motive; she was considering the company's best interests entirely.
However, it was too difficult for Liu Shishi to give up equity in a company that she and Du Fei had built from scratch.
Moreover, Liu Shishi had seen many companies introduce venture capital, only to be gradually eroded by ill-intentioned investors, forcing the founders to leave in despair. She did not want to be one of them.
"I understand, Director Zhang. Please don't worry, I will definitely think of a solution as soon as possible," Liu Shishi nodded.
Following this, everyone in the conference room stood up and gradually left.
Liu Shishi waved her hand, signaling her secretary to go about her work, while she herself sat for a long while before slowly getting up.
Having attended meetings all day, she felt exhausted. At this moment, all she wanted was to go home and rest.