If you're a cash-hungry technology entrepreneur hitting up on the venture capitalists for first round funding, the Margin has a bit of advice. You could do worse than draw them aside, raise one knowing eyebrow, and adopt a demeanor of informed confidence. Then, in slightly hushed tones, whisper the following: "We're FODOB."

That means, of course, Friends of Denis O'Brien, and supposedly causes the Irish sun to instantly shine more brightly on your little dot.com or software venture and ups your chance that one day you too can buy up Portuguese golf courses and be plagued constantly by organisations that want you to give keynote speeches.

That, at least, is what the Margin's extremely well-informed technology sources are saying, and they're always right.