--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm often asked what it takes to be…" description: "\"I'm often asked what it takes to be 'Series A ready' in terms of metrics, progress, and traction. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer.\" — David Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg" --- # I'm often asked what it takes to be 'Series A ready' in… ![“I'm often asked what it takes to be 'Series A ready' in terms of metrics, progress, and traction. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer.” quote by David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg) > “I'm often asked what it takes to be 'Series A ready' in terms of metrics, progress, and traction. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer.” [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving Series A readiness lacks a simple formula; it depends on nuanced metrics, progress, and traction. **In simple terms:** No simple path to Series A. Key Takeaway Focus on holistic growth. Themes startup fundraising metrics Mood analytical cautious Type strategic informative When to use this quote - pitch decks - market validation - financial planning Key Concepts growth stages investment readiness Questions to Reflect On - What metrics truly reflect traction? - How to balance qualitative and quantitative progress? A Different Perspective Metrics can be misleading without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Traction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-traction-3474148/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Series Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series-ready-3474149/) [Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes/) [Takes Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-series-3474151/) [Traction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traction/) [Traction Unfortunately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traction-unfortunately-3474150/) ## Related quotes > [In the summertime, it's always hard to introduce new series; everyone's ready for that in the fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/in-the-summertime-it-s-always-hard-to-introduce-new-series-everyone-s/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [Gay marriage within mainline denominations is gaining traction. Skewed pastors and even the government can't trump the Bible on this issue. Pastors: stand!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-camp/gay-marriage-within-mainline-denominations-is-gaining-traction-skewed/) [Steve Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-camp/) > [I bought a new book, '100 new ways to make love'. I ended up in traction - it was a misprint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-bought-a-new-book-100-new-ways-to-make-love-i-ended-up-in-traction/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [You actually do confront your dark side, your impulses, or your feelings of sibling rivalry in Cinderella or whatever. You admit that they exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/you-actually-do-confront-your-dark-side-your-impulses-or-your/) [Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/) > [Rumors sound of galleries asking artists for up-sized art and more of it... Everything winds up set to maximum in order to feed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/rumors-sound-of-galleries-asking-artists-for-up-sized-art-and-more-of/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [There is no point in retaining a brand equity if it has no traction with consumers, or has no likelihood of doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cooper/there-is-no-point-in-retaining-a-brand-equity-if-it-has-no-traction/) [Nick Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cooper/) > [That race was so hard and I am very happy with the result in the end. Michelin did a great job with the tyres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-biaggi/that-race-was-so-hard-and-i-am-very-happy-with-the-result-in-the-end/) [Max Biaggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-biaggi/) > [There's people that say “It's not fair You have all that stuff.” I wasn't born with it. It was a horrible process to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/there-s-people-that-say-it-s-not-fair-you-have-all-that-stuff-i-wasn/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Sometimes perfecting the one thing can be the enemy of getting any traction on anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/sometimes-perfecting-the-one-thing-can-be-the-enemy-of-getting-any/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [“Bodee keeps us upright; not that his traction is better than mine, but because it’s what he does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-c-stevens/bodee-keeps-us-upright-not-that-his-traction-is-better-than-mine-but/) [Courtney C. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-c-stevens/) > [To tell the truth, in Pacific 231 I was on the trail of a very abstract and quite ideal concept, by giving the impression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-honegger/to-tell-the-truth-in-pacific-231-i-was-on-the-trail-of-a-very/) [Arthur Honegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-honegger/) > [There's a tremendously satisfying freedom associated with weightlessness. It's challenging in the absence of traction or leverage, and it requires thoughtful readjustment. I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/there-s-a-tremendously-satisfying-freedom-associated-with/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [An innovation will get traction only if it helps people get something that they're already doing in their lives done better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-innovation-will-get-traction-only-if-it-helps-people-get-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I've started to realize is that social media is not just technology - it's become its own entity, full of energy waves. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/what-i-ve-started-to-realize-is-that-social-media-is-not-just/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [It might be different for people that are A-list actors, but a lot of us really look at what's offered to us and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-noble/it-might-be-different-for-people-that-are-a-list-actors-but-a-lot-of/) [John Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-noble/) ## More by David Cohen > [Because Techstars is an intensely productive three-month program in which product development and iteration are primary goals, we're constantly looking to streamline our program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/because-techstars-is-an-intensely-productive-three-month-program-in/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [The best mentors present their opinions simply as data and not as direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/the-best-mentors-present-their-opinions-simply-as-data-and-not-as/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [My attitude is there are at least hundreds of interesting startups that are going to get going in every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/my-attitude-is-there-are-at-least-hundreds-of-interesting-startups/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [We've been publishing the TechStars data fully since the beginning on TechStars.com. For every single company, you can see if it's a failure, success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/we-ve-been-publishing-the-techstars-data-fully-since-the-beginning-on/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [At TechStars, I have the privilege of working with hundreds of the best and brightest start-up mentors on the planet. We coach our mentors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/at-techstars-i-have-the-privilege-of-working-with-hundreds-of-the/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [There is no doubt that Boulder was a supportive and open-door community well before TechStars ever existed. But one of the things that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/there-is-no-doubt-that-boulder-was-a-supportive-and-open-door/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [San Francisco is a great startup community that you shouldn't even try to model yourself after because it's just special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/san-francisco-is-a-great-startup-community-that-you-shouldn-t-even/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Part of the thing that's magic about TechStars is it's about a community that wants to make itself better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/part-of-the-thing-that-s-magic-about-techstars-is-it-s-about-a/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [If you're not working on something you're passionate about, it's a long, hard road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/if-you-re-not-working-on-something-you-re-passionate-about-it-s-a/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Ultimately, we measure ourselves on the success of our investments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/ultimately-we-measure-ourselves-on-the-success-of-our-investments/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [I'm most proud of helping so many others achieve their dreams as founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-m-most-proud-of-helping-so-many-others-achieve-their-dreams-as/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [When fundraising, your network is critical. Leveraging it early and often is the key. Don't make the mistake of waiting until you need money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/when-fundraising-your-network-is-critical-leveraging-it-early-and/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Twilio is a great example of a company executing tremendously well on its vision and delivering a beautiful set of products that solves real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/twilio-is-a-great-example-of-a-company-executing-tremendously-well-on/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Ultimately, even if you follow the advice of a mentor or board member, it's still your fault if they were wrong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/ultimately-even-if-you-follow-the-advice-of-a-mentor-or-board-member/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [People look up to Techstars because they get funded by Techstars; they go through the accelerator. What we do impacts what they do. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/people-look-up-to-techstars-because-they-get-funded-by-techstars-they/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) [Explore all 75 David Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) [Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/) > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) [Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm often asked what it takes to be 'Series A ready' in terms of metrics, progress, and traction. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-series-a-ready-in-terms-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-series-a-ready-in-terms-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/david-cohen-9104_answer_i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-seri_2804474.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm often asked what it takes to be 'Series A ready' in terms of metrics, progress, and traction…” — David Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm often asked what it takes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-series-a-ready-in-terms-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-m-often-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-series-a-ready-in-terms-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```