Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 127: What’s Lucrative in 2010?
Darren placed a thinking finger on his jaw as he walked, turning the quest over in his mind.
To be fair, this was as interesting a quest as any. It was also a very important one too, especially when it came to the company.
Investing in a struggling startup wasn't just about the system's reward — whatever that would be — it was a chance to diversify Steele Investments beyond Bitcoin.
It was Steele Investments, not Steele Crypto Investments. So even though Bitcoin was a focus, other investment strategies weren't supposed to be ignored.
Now, a smart pick here could yield tech, talent, or partnerships, strengthening his empire's foundation.
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Back in 2020, there were many more established companies. But now In 2010, there were many more startups, and the thing about startups now is that they were scrappy, underfunded, but also ripe for someone with cash and vision to swoop in.
A hidden gem could mean early access to innovation — software, hardware, maybe even crypto-adjacent tech — that'd pay dividends when markets shifted.
This was going to be easy.
At least that's what Darren thought. He thought this because he knew the future's giants, and he knew that it would be awesome if the future's history changed to be that he was the one who discovered these giants back when they were nothing.
With a burst of inspiration tugging at him, he ordered the Investor System. 'System, list some companies that blew up in my former timeline but are struggling for funds now.'
The interface flickered, displaying a short list with names and founders:
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┏Netflix – Reed Hastings & Marc Randolph. Streaming's in its infancy, bleeding cash against Blockbuster's shadow.
┏Wesla Motors – Elon Must. Electric cars are a gamble, burning through funds with no mass-market hit yet.
┏Airbnb – Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, Nathan Blecharczyk. A quirky rental idea, scraping by on angel investments.
┏Dropbox – Drew Houston, Arash Ferdowsi. Cloud storage's niche, fighting for users against free giants.┛
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Darren's finger hovered, tempted by Netflix, he knew their pivot to streaming would crush it by 2015. And fuck it, Elon Must didn't need cash.
But before he could choose, the system blared, a sharp chime that made him wince.
┏Warning: Using future knowledge is banned for quests like this. This quest is to sharpen your scouting and investment skills. You must find other startup companies on your own.┛
"Oh." Darren's finger froze as he stared at the screen, then he chuckled, leaning back. "Fair enough," he muttered.
The system was right. As for this situation, leaning on his timeline was a crutch. If he was going to build an empire, he needed to hone his instincts, not just follow a script.
Following a cheat code at all times usually led one to forget how to actually play.
He drummed his fingers on the elbow of his other hand, thinking. 'What's lucrative in 2010? Film? Technology? Clothing? Electronics? Cars?'
The system responded, its text scrolling smoothly:
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┏Here are the most lucrative branches of business now┛
┏Analysis is as follows:
- Film: Digital distribution is emerging. Small studios with online platforms could disrupt traditional models, but returns are slow.
- Technology: Software and mobile apps are exploding — iPhone's rise opens doors. Early movers in cloud or security could scale fast.
- Clothing: Fast fashion's peaking, but niche sustainable brands gain traction long-term. Low margins unless you hit a cultural nerve.
- Electronics: Hardware's costly, but peripherals (e.g., phone accessories) have low entry barriers and high demand.
- Cars: Electric's niche, hybrids growing. Small players innovating in parts or tech could be acquired by giants later.┛
Darren nodded, his choice clear. "Many to choose from but I can't go wrong with Technology," he said to himself.
Software, apps, maybe something crypto-adjacent. Since it was his wheelhouse, and 2010 was a goldmine for tech startups nobody saw coming.
A good pick could mesh with his mining, maybe streamline transactions or security, giving Steele Investments an edge.
Or, he could just forget about crypto at all and focus on another technological advancement that was sure to implode soon.
Darren stopped walking, smoothing his suit and glanced at the door to his right.
It was Rachel's office, the exact room he was hoping to arrive at by the time he finished thinking.
Darren turned fully and faced the office door. He knocked once and then twisted the knob.
Inside, Rachel sat on her chair across from Amelia, papers spread between them. Rachel's hair gleamed under the light, her pen tapping as she spoke. "The Apple stocks are locked at $250 per share. Your staggered buy worked. It kept us under the radar. We're projecting a 20% gain by Q1 if trends hold."
Amelia, her brunette bangs neat but her eyes wide with focus, nodded. "Sandy's finalizing the transfer now. We'll clear 8,000 shares by tomorrow."
Darren knocked lightly on the frame, and both women looked up. "Ladies," he said, stepping in.
"Sir."
"Mr. Steele," Amelia said nervously, almost even bowing because she didn't know how to act around him.
Darren looked at the two of them and smiled. "I'm going scouting for our first official company investment. We need to find a hidden gem — some startup nobody's betting on yet — and bring them to light."
Rachel's brow arched, excitement flickering. "That's a good move for week one. It'll be difficult to get people to trust us, since we're not established. I'll go with you."
Darren shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "No, Rach. You're my secretary, assistant, and consultant — hell, you're half the brain here. I need you holding the fort in case something comes up and I'm not around."
He turned to Amelia, whose hands froze mid-shuffle. "You, though — you're secretary of investments. This is your specialty, isn't it?"
Amelia swallowed, her voice a touch shaky. "Yes, sir."
"Then let's go," Darren said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You're coming with me."
She nodded, gathering her notes with a nervous haste, glancing at Amelia only once before following him out, the click of her heels trailing his steady stride.
"Let's find out why Ryan Anders cherished you so much."
