Chapter 578: Hyping Up to Ignite the Trend

Quick Meal and Exceptional Venture Capital had discussions for about half a month; Hungry Not and Public Review had similar negotiations.

Eventually, the former secured about five million in funding, while the latter managed to get around three million.

Around the same stage, other meal ordering platforms found interested investors, secured funding, and quickly started planning their future development.

Jiang Qin used Tonight’s Headlines to spark an initial flame that quickly caught fire, as recruiting posters for delivery personnel sprang up all over the city within just a few days.

The rise of any industry initially involves groping one’s way across the river—whether it’s the business model or development direction, continuous adjustments and changes are needed.

At the outset, no one knows if their strategy and ideas will resonate with the market.

This is quite distinct from the rise of the group buying industry.

Because Random Group copied Group-Buy to ignite the group buying craze, the industry was semi-mature from the start.

Thus, although everyone is a meal ordering platform, since everyone’s ideas differ, the operational models vary widely.

Hungry Not recruits part-time riders, attracting them with high delivery fees.

Aside from not providing insurance, the take-home pay is quite decent.

As this system is like sales commissions, it indeed provides ambitious individuals a chance to get rich.

Quick Meal, however, offers riders a monthly base salary of fifteen hundred plus basic insurance, though with slightly lower delivery fees. The main aim here is to retain more users.

Besides these two, there are also platforms specializing in late-night snacks, shared meal canteens for office workers, and short-haul fresh food deliveries.

With the industry showing potential, entrepreneurs are beginning to enter the market, sniffing out opportunities.

Among them, Quick Meal’s expansion is the fastest.

Because it provides a base salary and basic insurance, such work is very popular in the labor market.

After securing funding, Quick Meal deployed all newly recruited riders and employees to several of the largest nearby residential areas.

Hungry Not, however, took a completely different development path.

Besides recruiting riders, it spent most of its funds on technological development.

Stabilizing the platform system, adding servers, optimizing the order-taking process, and vigorously developing the riders’ ‘downtime’ allowing them to seamlessly move to the next order after completing one.

Zhang Xuhao knows that as the number of orders and riders increases, later coordination and deployment cannot be managed by manpower alone.

To ensure smooth expansion down the line, technology is crucial.

Regardless of the business model, the number of people working as riders is beginning to increase.

Concurrently, various news about the food delivery industry ignited by Tonight’s Headlines is buzzing and gradually gaining attention on other social platforms.

“Takeout cheaper than dine-in? Crazy!”

“Too cold to move; takeout is my savior.”

“Takeout is definitely the next big internet startup trend!”

“After a day’s work, I just want to lie flat; who has the energy to cook?”

“Whoever invented takeout is a genius, they deserve a Nobel Prize!”

As the discussion heats intensify, some internet startups begin to follow suit.

This trend is like the later VR, shared bicycles, metaverse, AI, and short dramas—as long as it’s hyped, it will inevitably attract a flood of participants.

Some enterprises like Exceptional Venture Capital also quickly follow suit, accelerating the blaze.

These small capitals are best at fishing out enterprises from the vast ocean and selling them off once they grow.

They don’t care who ultimately wins because they make their money from this kind of quick profit.

Like the previous group buying wars—some stubborn sites lost heavily, such as the explosive Tuanbao Net, Random Group caught in a double bind, and Lashou reported for fiscal fraud.

Yet, some companies sold at their height and made a hefty profit.

“Boss, Public Review invested in Hungry Not, now we can use Public Login and even switch seamlessly to Public Review’s in-store services.”

“Public is really relentless. Looks like they want to boost their group buying platform with the food delivery business.”

On New Year’s Day morning, Jiang Qin strolls around the front square with little rich girl.

Meanwhile, Group-Buy’s headquarters staff, back at Linchuan for the holidays, are gathered at Xitian’s lounge, sipping milk tea and discussing this matter.

“Boss, we’ve already ignited this fire; when are we entering the food delivery game?”

“Right now, Hungry Not is just circling Shanghai, Quick Meal’s also just hitting Kyoto. We need to be patient, wait for them to expand outward and draw more capital into the fray.”

Tan Qing rubs his hands: “During the group buying wars, the internet giants were beaten so badly by us. Now that takeout is essentially our home turf, will they still enter the fray?”

Jiang Qin smiles: “QQ is already the ceiling of social networks. Isn’t Alibaba still pushing hard into it? And with Taobao booming, didn’t Tencent launch Paipai? These giants, how could they shy away from just another competitor like Wu Bo?”

“That makes sense…”

“Most importantly, I poached Mr. Ma’s investment manager and sniped him out of the deal he wanted with Gaode. He’s definitely got to be fuming. He’s not short of money; even if it’s just to spite me, he’ll jump in.”

“He wants a robust ecosystem, allowing Alipay more payment scenarios. He can’t stand being idle.”

Wei Lanlan speaks up: “And Tencent?”

Jiang Qin purses his lips: “Tencent wants a finger in every pie. If they mess it up, they can afford it. If they succeed, it becomes another growth point for them.”

“I see.”

“Small capitals in the early phase are here for a quick buck. They don’t care who wins or loses. But regardless, this industry is ultimately going to be stoked.”

Jiang Qin leans back in his chair: “Group-Buy has the greatest advantage in the food delivery industry, but to grow this big market, we’ll need a robust rider industry, which will cost a lot. I can’t bear it alone; I’ll need to bring more people to share the burden.”

“There’s a saying, ‘When the sky falls, the tall ones should stoop down to let the shorter ones take the lead for a while’.”

Dong Wenhao turns his head, glancing at Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin catches his look: “What’s up?”

“Nothing, boss. Just thinking you’ve got a good heart!”

Tan Qing and Wei Lanlan exchange looks: “Isn’t this playing too dangerously?”

Jiang Qin turns back: “Wealth and risk go hand in hand. Ever heard ‘the bigger the storm, the pricier the fish?'”

“That makes sense…”

Jiang Qin turns to Lu Feiyu: “Keep up the hype on Feiyu’s end. Go all out with the shock value—’shocking, food delivery industry may create tens of thousands of jobs’, ‘shocking, food delivery riders could earn over ten thousand a month!'”

Lu Feiyu clenches his fist: “Feels a bit off pumping up others.”

“It’s just the start. Later on, it’ll get exciting—’shocking, Hungry Not exploits riders!’, ‘shocking, Hungry Not maliciously hikes food prices, secretly making consumers bear delivery costs!'”

“Why only Hungry Not? What about Quick Meal?”

Jiang Qin pats the armrest: “By the time these stories are published, Quick Meal will already be dead on the road.”

Tan Qing hesitates: “Boss, Quick Meal received more investment than Hungry Not and is expanding fast.”

“Doesn’t matter. Quick Meal’s boss isn’t as ruthless as Hungry Not’s. As both sides grow, Quick Meal will find its costs rising, slowing its growth.”

“I see; to make money, it seems one must first silence their conscience…”

“It’s just that Hungry Not has a more inherent advantage in its business model.”

As Jiang Qin speaks, he suddenly feels thirsty and reaches for his tea on the table, only to find it gone.

Then he remembers seeing a scene where Feng Nanshu sneakily took his milk tea during their chat.

“Little rich girl, did you steal my milk tea again?”

Feng Nanshu, putting on a lofty, wealthy, beautiful demeanor, then reaches into her down jacket and hands Jiang Qin his milk tea.

The tea, prepared half an hour ago, is still warm.