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

December 22, 2016  |  Bobby Burch

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

Tagged ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder
      [adinserter block="4"]

      2016 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        A St. Joe CEO handed him a franchise after graduation; two years later, the risk is paying off 

        By Tommy Felts | October 17, 2025

        Spencer Engelman’s expectations for his post-college career were shredded by an offer he couldn’t refuse. The Northwest Missouri State University graduate was awarded a business of his own — minus the franchise fee — by a veteran entrepreneur who had visited one of his classes. “It’s a crazy opportunity,” said Engelman, who now operates a DocuLock…

        What a catch: Kansas City fandom creates custom appeal for taco-loving cartoonist vibe

        By Tommy Felts | October 17, 2025

        Drawing from Kansas City’s spotlight moments — whether trendy and new or iconic and timeless — W. Dave Keith balances a quirky aesthetic with a practical focus on what will actually sell. “I’ve slowly learned that if I want to make money off this business, I need to make stuff that people want to buy,”…

        Power through purpose: How a winding journey led this eco devo steward to deep-rooted impact

        By Tommy Felts | October 17, 2025

        Editor’s note: The following story was written and first published by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). Click here to read the original story. [divide] Going behind the scenes of CCED with the people who make it happen Some people are drawn to city-building because of the bricks and steel, the architecture, the skyline, the…

        Missouri’s weapon in the AI race with China: KC tech companies, says GOP lawmaker

        By Tommy Felts | October 16, 2025

        As artificial intelligence reshapes the way Kansas City works, civic and elected leaders want to ensure small businesses and the region’s tech community have seats at the table. Federal regulation could help, said Eric Schmitt. “For me, [it’s about] making sure that the big tech companies don’t block out a lot of the innovators, say…