Sigh! If only a VC truly loved me...

A special Christmas ditty for a struggling startup

By David Lim

ON THE first day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: a term sheet in a money tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: seven months-to-listing, six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: eight minutes-to-millions, seven months-to-listing, six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: nine VPs dancing, eight minutes-to-millions, seven months-to-listing, six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: ten I-bankers-leaping, nine VPs dancing, eight minutes-to-millions, seven months-to-listing, six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: eleven programmers piping, 10 I-bankers-leaping, nine VPs dancing, eight minutes-to-millions, seven months-to-listing, six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my VC gave to me: twelve summers spending, eleven programmers piping, ten I-bankers-leaping, nine VPs dancing, eight minutes-to-millions, seven months-to-listing, six gruelling meetings, five golden million, four calling cards, three business partners, two techno whizzes, and a term sheet in a money tree.

The writer is a high tech venture capitalist at an Asia Pacific VC firm.