“So, what brings you here exactly?”
Andreessen’s guard was still up.
“I ca to talk. This will be good for you too, Andreessen.”
“I don’t know what you an by ‘good for ’... but I don’t think I have anything to talk about with you.”
His wariness was stronger than expected.
Still smiling, I pressed on without missing a beat.
“Why don’t we chat over a al? My treat. I heard you like Chinese food—is that right?”
At the ntion of Chinese food, sothing shifted in his expression.
As always, the universal language is free food.
“If there’s a place you frequent, I’ll follow your lead. What do you say?”
“Well... it’s a bit pricey. Are you sure?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
After a brief exchange with his friend, he led the way, and we followed behind.
We arrived at a nearby Chinese restaurant, got seated, and ordered. Once that was done, we resud the conversation.
“You’re the one who developed Mosaic, right?”
“Oh! You know Mosaic?”
Released earlier this year, Mosaic had accelerated the popularization of the internet.
But by now, tensions were likely already rising between Andreessen and the university.
Technically, the browser belonged to the research lab. Andreessen had no ownership rights.
“Of course I know it. Nobody in Korea knows yet, but it’s the browser that opened a new world on the internet.”
As I praised Mosaic, a bit of Andreessen’s guarded expression finally eased.
He really was a textbook engineer at heart.
“Right? I got so fed up, I just built it myself. and this guy here barely slept for days...”
So this guy next to him was Eric Bina?
Just then, the food arrived.
We kept talking as we ate.
“Are you satisfied with Mosaic as it is?”
“Satisfied? We’ve barely started. There’s so much more I want to do...”
I spotted the opportunity in his frustration.
“No matter how hard you work on it, the rights belong to the research lab, right? You and your partner did all the work, but the university reaps the reward. And it’s not like they’re even supporting you properly.”
“Damn those university bastards. I don’t even have the energy to complain anymore. If they just gave us a bit of funding, we could make it ten tis better... but when it cos to money, they always have so excuse...”
While Andreessen was venting, Eric Bina awkwardly scratched his head, visibly uncomfortable.
“Eric! Say sothing, will you?”
“Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Mark.”
I chuckled and addressed Andreessen again.
“Don’t get like that. Have you thought about doing this properly after you graduate? You’ll finish your master’s next year, right? No need to stick around after that.”
Andreessen let out a deep sigh.
“That takes money too, doesn’t it.”
“So if you had the money, you could build a better browser than Mosaic?”
“Of course! I’m Mark Andreessen!”
Still full of confidence and prone to excitent, just like in the future.
After graduating, he’d go straight to Silicon Valley and partner with a venture capitalist to found a company.
But this ti, I was going to be that investor. Once they go public in ’95, their market cap will explode to $8 billion.
“I’ll invest. I’ll put up the money. You build the product.”
“Then it’s not really my company, is it? How’s that ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ different from the university?”
Andreessen sounded unimpressed. I shook my head.
“No, it’ll be your company. Built and nad by Mark Andreessen. I’m just investing. You handle managent and developnt. I’ll only take... 40% equity.”
That made him fall silent.
Eric Bina was watching Andreessen carefully.
Ti to close the deal.
“I have no intention of interfering in managent.”
I paused my al and waited patiently. Andreessen stroked his chin and thought for a while.
Then, finally, he spoke.
“How much are you thinking of investing?”
“As much as you want. Na a number.”
He twitched at my confident reply.
“One million dollars. I think that’d cover everything I need. Can you do that?”
Holding back a grin, I answered:
“Five million dollars. On one condition—no other investors. That must be written into the contract.”
He blinked in disbelief at the massive sum.
“Five million dollars for 40% equity? That’s all? Are you so kind of philanthropist?”
“I’ll cash out after the IPO. You’ll have the right to buy my shares then. But until that day, my stake can’t be diluted or tampered with.”
“Of course not. Five million dollars... damn. What the hell do you see in ?”
To be fair, I’d be suspicious too if a stranger offered millions out of nowhere.
Lucky he didn’t think I was a scamr.
“I see the future in you. And I’m investing in that future. So, do we have a deal?”
“This is a no-brainer. Once I’m done here, I’ll head to Silicon Valley next year. Hey! Eric! Co with . I’ll treat you better than the lab. Hell, I’ll even give you equity.”
Eric, who’d been staring wide-eyed the entire ti, imdiately nodded.
“If you’re going, I’m going. We’re Mosaic’s mom and dad, right?”
“My partner, right there.”
The two laughed and looked back at .
I gestured toward Han Kyungyeong, who’d been quietly observing the whole ti.
“This is Jas Han. He’ll be in charge of U.S. investnts on my behalf. You’ll see him more than . He’ll also handle the paperwork.”
Han Kyungyeong exchanged glances with Andreessen.
“Then let’s et again tomorrow to sign. You have a lawyer at the university, right? You can bring them, or delegate to one I’ll bring. Your call, Mark.”
Andreessen and Han exchanged greetings.
“Jas Han.”
“Mark. Nice to et you.”
“Haha, I just do what the boss tells . Right, boss?”
Han winked at .
Satisfied, we ended the al with smiles all around.
“See you again tomorrow, then.”
As I paid and we stepped outside—
“Hey, why’d you offer him five million when he only asked for one? Got cash to burn?”
Kyungyeong imdiately pounced with questions.
“Hyung, you trust , right? Trust one more ti. That five million’s going to turn into billions.”
“Jesus. Say sothing that makes sense.”
I just laughed and climbed into the car.
Back at the hotel in Chicago, I explained the details to Kyungyeong.
“Got a lawyer?”
“Lawyer? There’s soone who helped with the company registration. Want to call them?”
“Yes. Tell them to co to Chicago tomorrow and draft the contract with us.”
“Alright.”
I reiterated the key points from my earlier talk with Andreessen.
“You heard it earlier, right? The contract must state that no other investnts are allowed. If additional funding is needed, we get first refusal. And my 40% stake can’t be diluted—ever. The lawyer will know how to handle the details.”
“That’s it?”
I nodded.
“Leave the rest. Let them run things on their own—that’s better than us ddling.”
“Sigh... I’ll go along with it, but it feels like we’re throwing money away.”
Kyungyeong still didn’t grasp the future of the internet.
But give it one more year. When the IPO happens in ’95... he might faint from shock.
“Trust ! And hey, if we lose that five million, you’ll just earn it back for , right?”
My grin made Kyungyeong burst out laughing in defeat.
He returned to his room, and I turned to Ma Seokdae.
“Let’s talk in my room for a bit.”
“Yes.”
I led him in and popped open a beer, offering him one—but he shook his head.
So I took a sip from mine.
“Section Chief Ma, do you still think I’m not worthy of your loyalty? Haven’t you seen enough by now? I’m not walking the path handed down by my grandfather. I’m carving my own. It’s ti you made a choice. If I can’t trust you, how can I let you stay by my side?”
A flicker crossed his eyes, but his stare remained unwavering.
“If you still haven’t given an answer before we return to Korea, I’ll find soone else. I can’t keep a personal assistant by my side 24/7 if they’re not my person.”
The beer cooled my throat and helped relax my tired body.
Then, finally, Ma Seokdae spoke.
“Is it alright if I answer before we return to Korea?”
“...That’s fine. But whether you choose to beco mine or not, everything that happened on this U.S. trip stays secret. You can do that much, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then go rest.”
He bowed and stepped out.
I took another swig of beer, watching his retreating back.
“I wonder what you’ll decide. I like you, you know. I really want to have you.”
Murmuring to myself, I crawled into bed.
The next day, we flew out with the lawyer from New York and headed back to the University of Illinois to et Andreessen.
We waited at a restaurant near campus until he arrived with what looked like a university-assigned lawyer.
“This gentleman supports student startups.”
“Ah, pleased to et you.”
After the introductions, we sat and presented the contract.
The lawyer reviewed it for quite so ti, then whispered sothing to Andreessen.
Then he looked at and smiled.
“I’ve seen many investnt contracts, but never one like this. It’s so favorable to Mark that I was shocked.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“But there are a few things we’ll need to revise.”
“Of course. Please discuss it with our lawyer.”
With a look, I signaled our side’s attorney, and both lawyers moved to another table to hash things out.
Andreessen looked utterly thrilled.
“Charlie! Thank you so much! I feel like I can finally do everything I’ve dread of. I won’t let you down.”
“You’ll do great. I’m sure of it.”
He bead as he talked excitedly about the company he wanted to build.
Eventually, the lawyers returned, having finalized the terms.
They explained the changes to each of us and handed out copies.
“Then let’s sign.”
We each signed and exchanged contracts.
“The funds will be wired to your account the day you leave school. From then on, direct any inquiries to Jas. If you ever need additional capital, just ask—but understand that’ll dilute your equity.”
“Charlie, thank you.”
As he got up, Andreessen suddenly pulled into a hug.
If anything, I should be thanking you.
Just like that, Netscape—the company that would spark the dot-com boom—was now in my hands.
Now... it was ti to et our dear friend Jobs, wasn’t it?
< First Investnt > End
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