We all know the 12 Days of Christmas Song, although most of us can never remember all the damn categories. For me I can never get those Lords a Leaping, forget the Pipers Piping. Supposedly either the English or French wrote the song in the late 1700s, leading to more than 300 years of repetitive radio play in December.

According to the most widely accepted version, the gifts on the 12 days of Christmas are as follows:

12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords-a-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids-a-Milking
7 Swans-a-Swimming
6 Geese-a-Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens[4]
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

But I was listening to this song and realized that if it had been written in Silicon Valley, it would have a slightly different twist. For your holiday pleasure, I offer you here an Entrepreneur’s 12 Days of Start-Up Christmas. I am confident that while singing this, the typical startup CEO would be wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans and be full of the spirit of Starbucks. Happy Holidays everyone!

An Entrepreneur’s 12 Days of Start-Up Christmas

It’s the 1st day of Christmas and I can hardly see, but I got an investment from a VC!

It’s the 2nd day of Christmas and I can hardly see, but I’ve got 2 meals at Bucks
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the third day of Christmas and I can hardly see, but I got $3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 4th day of Christmas and I can hardly see, but I’ve got 4 programming nerds, $3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 5th day of Christmas and my co-founders hate me, now I’ve had 5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 6th day of Christmas and I miss my family, so I have 6 nerves-a-fraying,
Compounding 5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 7th day of Christmas and damn I need money, Now I have 7 budgets trimming,
6 nerves-a-fraying,
and 5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC

It’s the 8th day of Christmas and time to persevere, so I have 8 teams-a-building,
Despite 7 budgets trimming,
6 nerves-a-fraying,
5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 9th day of Christmas and oh my goodness me, 9 rounds financing,
To pay for 8 teams-a-building,
Despite 7 budgets trimming,
6 nerves-a-fraying,
5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 10th day of Christmas and I am so weary, 10 days no sleeping.
After 9 rounds financing,
To pay for 8 teams-a-building,
After 7 budgets trimming,
6 nerves-a-fraying,
5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

It’s the 11th day of Christmas and I just can’t believe, 11 code rewritings
Causing 10 days no sleeping,
After 9 rounds financing,
To pay for 8 teams-a-building,
After 7 budgets trimming,
6 nerves-a-fraying,
5 mood swings!
But I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

But on the 12th day of Christmas, Karma gave to me, 12 cash buyers coming,
Despite 11 code rewritings,
And 10 days no sleeping,
Taking 9 rounds financing,
To pay for 8 teams-a-building,
After 7 budgets trimming,
6 nerves-a-fraying,
5 mood swings!
but I’ve got 4 programming nerds,
$3K from friends,
2 meals at Bucks,
and an investment from a VC.

Lisa Suennen is a managing member with Psilos Group. Opinions expressed here are entirely her own.

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