T’was the night before disruption … A startup Christmas poem

December 22, 2016  |  Bobby Burch

gork0bacw2i-aaron-burden

fire warm fireplace cozy

With inspiration from Clement Clarke Moore’s classic A Visit from St. Nicholas, Startland News wanted to take a creative crack at wishing our readers a merry Christmas and happy holidays. Hope you enjoy 🙂


 T’was the night before Christmas when all through the land,
Not a founder was sleeping, for at work they still stand.

Their laptops of silver did twinkle and gleam.
And on gizmos and gadgets they continued to dream.

Red-eyed they remained and alert in their lair
In hopes that disruption would soon be found there.

They scoured the market to find just the right fit
With the maxim “fail fast,” the duds they’d omit.

But the creators were restless with inspiration remote
More time to researching, they’d surely devote

“The investors stopped calling,” I said to my friend.
“Perhaps a bold pivot!” she replied with a grin.

Distraught and downhearted, I slunk in my chair.
“What can we concoct for the masses to care?”

And then in an instant, with speeds near gigabit,
I heard a thunderous crash like the roof had been split!

At once I turned round to my screen on the right
And before me stood Santa made of bits and of bytes.

“What here is the problem?” he chortled with glee.
“Our startup is flailing!” and he seemed to agree.

“We tried tweaking this and we shifted to that.”
I gasped in frustration, then he showed me his hat.

“Take a look at my cap — this advice you should heed.
It’s simple yet useful and fulfills a great need!

“Your pursuits are noble and aim for everyone,
But a product so broad is really tailored to none.”

Like a big bag of bricks his note arrived with a smack!
“A narrower focus will get us on the right track!”

Pixelated and plump, his cheeks rosy with cheer,
Santa whistled to summon his team of reindeer.

But I heard him exclaim when they left quite abrupt
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all who disrupt!”

South Park moon santa reindeer sleigh

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2016 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        PopBookings rallies as KC startup looks for its own key hires: ‘We’re back in a big, big way’

        By Tommy Felts | May 9, 2024

        After dialing back its event staffing platform’s operations during the pandemic, Kansas City-grown PopBookings is back online in the Midwest — ramping up hiring as it works toward a Series A funding round by year’s end. “Kansas City has a real nurturing feel to it. And this community is why I believe we’ll have our…

        $11M renovation in the works for historic hub of Black entrepreneurship; project ties into 18th Street pedestrian mall plans

        By Tommy Felts | May 9, 2024

        Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by AltCap, an ally to underestimated entrepreneurs that offers financing to businesses and communities that traditional lenders do not serve. For more than one hundred years, the Lincoln Building has served as a cornerstone of commerce and community in the 18th and Vine district. The historic district —…

        MTC’s spring $1.4M investment cycle loops Facility Ally, DevStride into equity deals 

        By Tommy Felts | May 8, 2024

        Two Kansas City startups are among a handful of Missouri companies receiving a collective $1.4 million in investment allocations through a state-sponsored venture capital program. Facility Ally, led by serial entrepreneur Luke Wade; and DevStride, co-founded by Phil Reynolds, Chastin Reynolds, Aaron Saloff and Kujtim Hoxha; must now complete the Missouri Technology Corporation’s due diligence process…

        Kauffman CEO: Foundation’s reset aligns Mr. K’s intent with KC’s needs of the moment

        By Tommy Felts | May 8, 2024

        A recently announced strategy refresh for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will drive the organization’s collective impact in the community — honoring the vision of its namesake while recognizing the challenges Kansas City faces today, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace. “Mr. K had very distinct philosophies and ideas around how he wanted this work done,” explained…