By: Jim Pinto
February 2002

The San Diego day was sunny, I was out there raising money
My business plan was sweet like honey, I had high-growth tech to show
For startup funding I was shopping I was really jumping, hopping,
I saw a sign quite brightly popping, La Jolla office, penthouse floor
"Tis only a mirage!" I muttered, standing right there at that door
'Twas only this and nothing more.

The Venture funds had flocked together, just like birds of kindred feather
In San Diego�s sunny weather, something never seen before
They had simply all agreed on, all of them just took the lead on
Startup funding all could feed on, bio, high-tech deals galore
"I must see you at once!" I stuttered, "My business plan to you I�ll show
You�ll really like it, that I know."

Ah, distinctly I remember, it was then in mid-December,
Every local VC member, watching on that penthouse floor
My Powerpoint it was a wonder, flash of brilliance, lightning, thunder
My doubts and fears were cast asunder, the VCs they were all aglow
"We like your business plan!" they fluttered, and they bought what I had to show
I was shaken to the core.

Eager not to seem too drooly, I held my ground and shrugged quite cooly,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam truly, your forgiveness I implore
Is this funding really something? An open-ended I�m your chum thing?
A truly betting-on-the-come thing? Where�s the term-sheet? Tell me more!"
"Ten million bucks!" they uttered, agreed to make me CEO
And soon we�ll float an IPO!

I found their term-sheet quite endearing, long I stayed there counting, peering,
Doubting, shouting, hoping, cheering, dreaming dreams ne�er dreamed before
But then the spell was quickly broken, and the truth was clearly spoken
�Cause then quite simply I awoken, lying right there on the floor
My dream just fizzled out and sputtered and I wandered off with naught to show
�Twas just a dream and nothing more....