Fail
Err if you want VC cash - do something VC's are interested in. Perhaps something <airquotes>social</airquotes> Otherwise dont whine about it.
Additionally what was the autonomy buy go to do with VC's any way. As I recall both Autonomy and HP were public quoted companies at the time of the deal so any VC's originally involved would have been long gone with their pound of flesh.
Maybe he just has a "me-too" product in a swamped market? Or maybe like many technology related markets there is only room for 1 800lb Gorilla.