"Here's the prototype for your waitresses Michael," said Aaron, showing Michael a pair of sleek black leather pumps with thin black stiletto heels.
"They... actually look quite normal," said Michael, surprised by the lack of gleaming titanium.
"I've used a thinner shank, and made just the heel core pin out of the lower grade titanium alloy - 44% titanium instead of 70%. The heel cladding is an aluminum carbon composite with a black enamel finish, and the sole is high-friction anti-slip rubber. The upper is cowhide leather, and the padding is silicone gel with a memory foam top layer. It's not the same as the Sirius Software combat boot, but should still be durable and comfortable enough for waiting tables and any kitchen mishaps," said Aaron.
"That I can actually attest to. It's not in the same league as my combat boots, but I can stand in those all day without needing a foot massage," said Natasha.
"Please tell me they are non-lethal, I'd rather not have my employees face manslaughter charges," asked Michael.
"They'll bruise, but they won't break anything. It took repeated kicks and stomps to do the same kind of damage my combat boots did, and the heel warped and bent, so relax. These won't get you sued for attempted murder," said Natasha.
"That's good enough for me. How quickly can we ramp production?" asked Michael.
"As soon as you can convince OSHA that these are safe for an army of waitresses," chuckled Aaron.
"Hey, I can be pretty persuasive you know. How else was I able to bring you all those shiny permits?" shot back Michael.
"Wasn't disrespecting you, Michael, was just amused by how an OSHA inspector would react to the pitch," said Aaron.
"Haha, yeah, I can see that. OK, I'll take these prototypes and go pitch them," said Michael, as Natasha handed him a set of boxes that contained the prototype shoes in standard sizes.
---
"Mr. Albrecht, to what do I owe the pleasure?" asked Aaron, as Friedrich entered the temporary office with another boy about the same age.
"It's Friedrich, please. This here is my nephew, Axel," said Friedrich, shoving Axel forward.
"Uncle, do I really-" began Axel in German, but Friedrich smacked him hard on the head.
"Speak in English while you're in America, you imbecile!" barked Friedrich.
"Sorry Uncle," mumbled Axel, rubbing his head.
"And you two are here because?" asked Aaron impatiently.
"Axel here fancies himself a bit of an engineer. But he's greener than a spring sapling. I was hoping that you could teach him some discipline in engineering entrepreneurship," said Friedrich.
"I don't need some other kid who makes video games and drones to tell me how to start a business!" said Axel, his tone defiant.
"This kid stared down a conference room full of mining executives and pitched them a mining robot without equity! And then took my first installment and delivered the first shipment ahead of schedule!" snarled Friedrich, gesturing to Aaron.
"So what? I don't want to make plastic toys with robotics. How is this going to help me make real cars?" retorted Axel.
"And it is that Luddite attitude that got you thrown out of engineering school and a Volkswagen internship!" snapped Friedrich.
"All right, shut up both of you!" barked Aaron.
Friedrich and Axel fell silent, and stared at Aaron with a mixture of apologetic embarrassment, and annoyance at being interrupted.
"First, Axel. Pitch your ideas to me. And Friedrich, buzz off. I'll decide what to do once I've heard what Axel has to say," said Aaron
Friedrich chuckled, and left the Temporary Office.
Axel visibly relaxed once his uncle had left.
"I apologize Herr Zakhrov. I meant no disrespect, it's just Uncle Friedrich won't stop singing your praises, and that gets on my nerves," said Axel, trying to save face.
"Sit, and tell me what you have in mind," said Aaron.
"Let me be blunt, Herr Zakhrov. I hate what the automotive industry has become. Even the last bastions of performance cars are being stuffed full of electric and electronic gizmos instead of focusing on pure driving feel. I refuse to make cars that are nothing more than oversized remote-controlled toys," said Axel, his blue eyes blazing.
"I see. Well, let me tell you something Axel. I have the same opinion, which is why I haven't got a car yet. I'm not one for antiques, and the new stuff is too coddling," chuckled Aaron.
"Yes! Finally! Somebody who speaks my language!" exclaimed Axel, throwing his hands up in relief.
"All right. Now, what you're thinking of can work, but you'll need to control the entire pipeline. You'll need to turn raw materials into a car with no external suppliers or intermediaries. Just you, and a team of like-minded engineers and craftsmen," said Aaron.
"What you're talking about is a hand-built car shop. I could probably pull that off back in the 1940s, but not in today's world of regulations and safety standards," sighed Axel.
"Which is why you're going to ignore and tear those regulations apart. You're not making something for the masses, or even for idiots with big bank accounts. You're making something for those who still value driving skill and mechanics and who accept the risks of driving a raw, unfiltered car," said Aaron.
Axel tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose that could work. But where do I start?" he asked.
"That's where you need to have a strategy. First, you need to build the basics - nuts, bolts, pistons, all of that stuff. That stuff will sell in the spare parts and modding markets. Reinvest the profits into making more complex parts, until you have the capability to build an entire car from scratch. Then, it's just a question of selling it to the right people," said Aaron.
"Sounds like a plan, but it also sounds like a very long road," sighed Axel.
"Not as long as you think. Show me your best designs, and if I like them, I'll fund the project as best I can," said Aaron.
Axel's eyes lit up. "Really? You would do that?" he asked excitedly.
"Only if I like what I see. You have something to show me?" asked Aaron.
Axel pulled out a worn leather portfolio from his backpack, and handed it to Aaron.
"These are the kinds of cars I want to make," said Axel, as Aaron opened the portfolio and examined the sketches.
Aaron's eyes fell on the design for a sleek, low-slung car that was drawn with entirely flat surfaces and sharp angles, almost as if Axel had an aversion to curves.
"What materials were you thinking of using for this design?" asked Aaron.
"Titanium-Aluminum alloy for the chassis, carbon fiber for the body, and Titanium-Magnesium for the engine block, pistons and wheels," said Axel.
"Axel, you've got my respect. Natasha, get Friedrich back in here," said Aaron, as he handed the portfolio back to Axel.
Friedrich entered the Temporary Office, looking curious.
"Friedrich. I've seen Axel's designs, and I like what I see. I'll guide him through the process of building his company, and fund it as best I can. Can I count on your support as well?" asked Aaron.
"Of course. I want to see my nephew succeed," said Friedrich, smiling.
"Didn't look that way earlier," said Aaron, his eyes narrowing.
Friedrich sighed, and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"I suppose I was a bit hard on him. But I felt his parents have spoiled him rotten. He doesn't have the kind of drive that I saw in you when I first met you," he admitted.
"A few betrayals and attacks from competitors will put that in him, don't worry," said Aaron, and Axel gulped nervously.
Aaron smiled. "Relax Axel, you'll be fine," he said.
"Thank you, Herr Zakhrov. I won't let you down," said Axel, his eyes shining.
"Come back here tomorrow, and I'll give you a crash course in getting started," said Aaron.
"Yes, Herr Zakhrov!" said Axel, standing up.
---
"First, lets talk IP. Have you shown these designs to anyone else?" asked Aaron, as Axel sat in front of him with a notebook open to take notes.
"Um, yes. I did show them to a few of my professors back in Germany," said Axel, looking nervous.
"And their response?" asked Aaron.
"They laughed at me. Said that even if I built it with my own money, I could never sell it," groused Axel.
"They didn't make any notes or copies of your designs, did they?" asked Aaron.
"No, they just laughed and tossed them back at me," said Axel, clenching his fists.
"Well, then they were truly imbeciles. All right, first step is to lock these designs down tight. You'll need to draft a non-disclosure agreement, and make everyone sign it before they see your designs," said Aaron.
"OK, I can do that," said Axel, jotting down notes.
"Next, lets talk infrastructure. You're going to need space for both working on parts, and for storing inventory. Do you have anything in mind?" asked Aaron.
"I can lease space in Stuttgart," said Axel.
"No, you're not. You're going to buy space, not lease it. Buy a warehouse or factory building. If it is abandoned or condemned, even better. You can get it cheap, and renovate it to suit your needs. And it means there won't be pesky landlords or rent hikes," said Aaron.
"I'll need to ask Uncle for help with that," said Axel, making a note.
"OK, next. You'll need equipment, so make a list and price estimates of everything you'll need to get started on the engine and chassis components. Remember, this is going to be hand built, so no need for fancy monocoque presses, just equipment to turn with raw titanium alloy ingots and sheets into first nuts and bolts that you can sell to F1 teams and rich modders, while you build engine part inventory for yourself," said Aaron.
"Got it," said Axel, jotting down notes furiously.
"And finally, people. This is going to be your biggest asset as well as liability. My advice is to vet everyone as best you can, pay them well, and make sure the contracts and NDAs are airtight. Quality over quantity here, and absolutely no freelancers or part-timers. Everyone needs to be full-time and bound buy your NDAs and contracts," said Aaron.
"Understood. I'll make sure of that," said Axel.
"All right, now flesh these notes out into a proper business plan, and run the hard numbers. We'll go from there," said Aaron.
"Yes, Herr Zakhrov. Thank you so much for your help," said Axel, standing up.
"Don't thank me yet. You still have a long road ahead of you," said Aaron, as Axel left the Temporary Office.
---
"You know, Axel. I'm a bit envious of your head start on this," said Aaron, as he and Axel walked around the assembly floor of Axel's newly renovated factory in Stuttgart.
The factory site had been an old Daimler-Benz storage depot that Axel had managed to buy at a bargain price, and with Aaron and Friedrich's help and funding, had been renovated into a small-scale assembly plant with a titanium alloy foundry, machine shop, and assembly line.
Aaron's drone based construction technology had compressed what would have taken months into a few weeks, much to Axel and Friedrich's amazement.
Axel had taken a financial short-cut by blowing his entire trust fund on the factory site, and on some of the specialized fabrication equipment he needed to work with titanium alloys.
That move had impressed Friedrich enough to bring his own Albrecht Nuclear Systems connections to bear, and helped Axel get the rest of the equipment, the required raw materials, and had even managed to score a few supplier deals for safety equipment like airbags and seatbelts - meaning Axel would soon be able to build road-legal albeit emissions constrained cars.
"Please, Herr Zakhrov. Without your help, I would be languishing in some backroom, building that glorified go-kart that Porsche now calls its flagship sports car," said Axel, chuckling.
"Well, you've got most of the infrastructure in place. I'm looking forward to seeing what you build here," said Aaron.
"Thank you, Herr Zakhrov. I won't let you down," said Axel.
"You're not giving yourself enough credit, Aaron. You're the one who rebuilt this factory with those crazy drones of yours," chuckled Friedrich, as he walked up to them.
"Uncle, did we get the airbag supplier sorted?" asked Axel.
"Yes, with the airbags and seatbelts now contracted, your car design can be certified as road-legal as long as the emissions regulations permit it," said Friedrich.
"Excellent. I can't wait to get started on the assembly," said Axel, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
"All right, I'll check in with you after I get back to America," said Aaron, as he and Natasha left the factory.