Sun Yiqiu was taken aback for a moment, but immediately recalled the text from Lin Yuming's PPT, "Haha Travel is currently the market leader, covering over 250 cities with a 70% market share."

"Xiaoju just integrated its bike and e-bike business divisions this year and is accelerating... its layout in the sinking market."

Sun Yiqiu stuttered a bit on some of the terms he didn't fully understand.

"Huangleme is also testing the waters with shared e-bikes."

"..."

Sun Yiqiu struggled through reciting the competitive analysis of the shared e-bike market.

Chen Cheng tilted his head slightly, "What do you two think? Just looking at market competition, is this project investable?"

Whether a project is investable depends on too many factors.

Even if Chen Cheng intended to test the three of them, he wouldn't make up nonsense questions.

Gao Sicong immediately realized that the test had begun.

After pondering for a long while, he spoke, "Giants are encroaching on third and fourth-tier cities, while small and medium-sized brands focus on county-level sinking markets, solving the problem of underdeveloped public transportation in counties." He pushed up his glasses, "Jindouyun has already formed a certain brand effect in the county-level sinking market. I think we can continue to invest and expand market share."

Chen Cheng's lips curled slightly; this involved an element of gambling.

Gambling that in the chaotic battle of small and medium-sized brands, they won't be the ones eliminated.

Chen Cheng didn't comment on his answer, instead turning his head to look at Meng Yanchen, "What about you, Little Meng?"

Meng Yanchen's expression was calm as he spoke indifferently, "After those three companies enter the market, the market landscape will effectively be set for a long time to come."

"If the strategy is quick entry and exit, inflating the bubble, and then finding a successor to offload it to, then it's investable."

Chen Cheng's lips curled slightly; this version of Little Meng already possessed some of the ruthlessness of a businessman.

With this shared e-bike thing, small and medium-sized brands lower vehicle quality and operational investment to grab market share, which leads to issues like deposit risks and indiscriminate parking.

Small and medium brands are fighting to the death, yet none have successfully proven their model, and the giants are about to heavily subsidize the sinking market.

In the internet era, without traffic entry points or core technology, inflating a bubble in the short term and exiting quickly is the best choice.

Or even selling directly to the giants to complete the exit.

In fact, many industries are currently in this state.

Giants control first and second-tier cities, while regional brands fight to the death in the sinking markets.

Being able to survive until a giant takes over is victory.

This is also why entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly difficult and the threshold is getting higher.

What you can do, others can do too.

Without unique core competitiveness, on what grounds do you think you can succeed?

Because your dad is Li Gang?

Oh, no, if your dad is Li Gang, then your dad is your core competitiveness.

Chen Cheng thought he had finished, but Meng Yanchen thought for two seconds and continued:

"Or, keep investing."

"This industry has a market scale. But it's limited. The giants are only maintaining their ecosystem and won't fight to the death in this track."

"This situation is actually suitable for entrepreneurship."

"Actually, there is another type: a market that has demand but isn't very standardized."

"Many food delivery drivers and couriers are temporary part-timers and might not own an e-bike themselves."

"Launching daily or monthly rental products might be a new growth point."

Chen Cheng watched the meeting room without turning his head. This was getting interesting.

If you give up just because market competition is fierce or giants enter the scene, then why bother starting a business?

Fierce market competition means there must be many unresolved needs.

Entrepreneurship actually boils down to two choices.

Either choose to do something mature, which is what's called a red ocean.

The commercial value is very clear, but the downside is that there are many competitors, and possibly giants everywhere.

Whether you can survive depends entirely on whether you can skillfully find a niche to hold on in.

The food delivery drivers and couriers that Meng Yanchen mentioned—that market is indeed not big, but it could become that niche.

As for the second type, choose something new to do.

For example, new technology or new consumer preferences, to create a blue ocean.

The ZEN AI that Chen Cheng copied belongs to new technology. That Labubu thing that is very popular in the market now is a new consumer preference.

But usually, in the early stages, the technological dividend or the new cognitive dividend hasn't yet converted into commercial profit.

It requires burning money to wait for the market to mature.

Chen Cheng hadn't stood there long when Zhao Hui, who was sitting at the head of the conference table with his back to Chen Cheng, received a message and turned to peek through the grille.

One look, and it really was Chen Cheng.

A smile appeared on his face, and he waved, signaling to ask if Chen Cheng wanted to come in.

Chen Cheng's lips curled slightly, and he waved his hand to decline.

Zhao Hui followed suit, nodded, pointed to himself, and then to the conference room, signaling, "Then I'll continue the meeting?"

Chen Cheng nodded.

With Zhao Hui's movement, everyone in the conference room saw Chen Cheng and his group.

Lin Yuming was not only standing but also facing Chen Cheng directly. This was his first time attending an investment committee meeting alone; he was already nervous, and now he was even more so.

Zhao Hui turned back to continue the meeting, and Chen Cheng turned and left the printing room.

Once discovered, there was no point in watching anymore.

Lin Yuming's natural talent was average; his work performance might not even be as good as the current Little Meng, let alone the Little Meng from two years later.

Effort can determine the lower limit, but it cannot break through the upper limit.

Seeing Chen Cheng turn and leave, Meng Yanchen nodded faintly to Gao Sicong and Sun Yiqiu, then followed.

As soon as Chen Cheng stepped out of the printing room, he saw Gao Yue waiting at the door.

Looking at her, he felt both satisfied and dissatisfied. Satisfied with her loyalty, but dissatisfied that she hadn't understood his intentions.

Since he had said not to notify anyone else, even if she knew, she shouldn't have appeared.

Chen Cheng looked at Gao Yue and spoke calmly, "After the meeting, communicate with Zhao Hui to find a new HR Director, and you return to Company Name."

Gao Yue was struck by lightning; she was stunned and stuttered, "Oh, okay, Chairman Chen."

Chen Cheng raised his eyebrows and glanced in the direction they had just come from; the floor above that corner housed the Finance and Administration Department offices.

Lucy and Lin Dawei hadn't appeared like Gao Yue, clearly having guessed Chen Cheng's intentions correctly.

The HR, Finance, and Administration staff at Company Name were all arranged by him, so in Zhao Hui's eyes, they were all Chen Cheng's people.

You invited me to be the Managing Director, to be the boss.

But you don't give me personnel or financial power; what kind of boss is that?

Chen Cheng had long intended to transfer Gao Yue back.

Unfortunately, today Gao Yue happened to run into the line of fire.

He just went with the flow and got it done.

Chen Cheng patted Gao Yue on the shoulder and smiled, "Don't be so nervous. Returning to Company Name will only benefit you, not hurt you. How can you grow if you're always tied up with trivial matters?"

A useful person doesn't necessarily need outstanding or exceptional abilities.

It's about execution, sufficient execution and loyalty.

Before a better candidate appears, Chen Cheng still favors Gao Yue enough.

Hearing this, Gao Yue finally exhaled, putting her heart back in her chest; she had almost thought she was going to be unemployed.

A smile appeared on Gao Yue's lips, "Alright!"