---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While seed deals have gotten easy, Series…"
description: "\"While seed deals have gotten easy, Series A negotiations still often feel like the death of 1,000 cuts.\" — Gil Penchina"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg"
---

#  While seed deals have gotten easy, Series A negotiations…

![“While seed deals have gotten easy, Series A negotiations still often feel like the death of 1,000 cuts.” quote by Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg)

> “While seed deals have gotten easy, Series A negotiations still often feel like the death of 1,000 cuts.”

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Series A deals are harder than seed, feeling like a massive, painful cut.

**In simple terms:** Negotiations become tougher as stakes rise.

Key Takeaway

Anticipate challenges and stay resilient.

Themes

business negotiation investment

Mood

strategic pragmatic

Type

business financial

When to use this quote

- startup fundraising
- investment meetings
- term sheet discussions

Key Concepts

venture capital deal dynamics risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- How can founders better prepare for Series A?
- What negotiation tactics reduce friction?

A Different Perspective

Market conditions can shift, making deals harder.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[000 Cuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-cuts-1045476/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Negotiations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiations/) [Negotiations Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiations-feel-1045473/) [Seed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seed/) [Seed Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seed-deals-1045475/) [Series Negotiations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series-negotiations-1045474/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/)

## Related quotes

> [M&amp;A negotiations feel really fun. This is one of the biggest killers of companies, is they entertain acquisition conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/m-a-negotiations-feel-really-fun-this-is-one-of-the-biggest-killers/)

[Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/)

> [The impositions that this government is trying to put on now, it's the typical death by 1,000 cuts. We'll take a little bit here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/the-impositions-that-this-government-is-trying-to-put-on-now-it-s-the/)

[Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/)

> [“Civilization is the general agreement to refrain from resorting to violence if negotiations fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/civilization-is-the-general-agreement-to-refrain-from-resorting-to/)

[Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/)

> [I think women have a hard time not apologizing their way into negotiations. We tend to back in to these conversations in a self-deprecating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika-brzezinski/i-think-women-have-a-hard-time-not-apologizing-their-way-into/)

[Mika Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika-brzezinski/)

> [Why would we start demanding negotiations over sovereignty of the Falklands right now, 30 years since the war, and not 31 years or any other date?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe-eliaschev/why-would-we-start-demanding-negotiations-over-sovereignty-of-the/)

[Pepe Eliaschev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe-eliaschev/)

> [“TF-16 returned to Pearl Harbor on May 26 in good order, with one huge exception: Admiral Halsey, the sixty-year-old commander, arrived back completely exhausted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-a-jenkins/tf-16-returned-to-pearl-harbor-on-may-26-in-good-order-with-one-huge/)

[Dale A. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-a-jenkins/)

> [“But up until that time I want you just to follow my lead and don’t worry. There are negotiations going on that will solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/but-up-until-that-time-i-want-you-just-to-follow-my-lead-and-don-t/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [Africans are on the front lines of humanitarian efforts, distributing life-saving aid in dangerous environments. Africans comprise the vast majority of peacekeepers in civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prendergast/africans-are-on-the-front-lines-of-humanitarian-efforts-distributing/)

[John Prendergast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prendergast/)

> [The first principle of contract negotiations is don't remind them of what you did in the past - tell them what you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-musial/the-first-principle-of-contract-negotiations-is-don-t-remind-them-of/)

[Stan Musial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-musial/)

> [“International peace negotiations need more value creation than value claiming. The more we create value for peace and development, the easier it is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/international-peace-negotiations-need-more-value-creation-than-value/)

[Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/)

> [I started, actually, as an analyst on African affairs, mainly on Al Jazeera. I remember the first few series were about Saudi students, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/i-started-actually-as-an-analyst-on-african-affairs-mainly-on-al/)

[Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/)

> [During negotiations nothing is gained by attacking people's comfort zones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sugar/during-negotiations-nothing-is-gained-by-attacking-people-s-comfort/)

[Alan Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sugar/)

> [I see negotiations as an honest attempt to reach a deal that's great for everyone at the table. But sometimes, for whatever reason, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/i-see-negotiations-as-an-honest-attempt-to-reach-a-deal-that-s-great/)

[Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/)

> [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [The western mantra is that Israel seeks negotiations without preconditions, while the Palestinians refuse. The opposite is more accurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-western-mantra-is-that-israel-seeks-negotiations-without/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More by Gil Penchina

> [When trying to start a company, your enemy isn't criticism, anger or insults. Your enemy is apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/when-trying-to-start-a-company-your-enemy-isn-t-criticism-anger-or/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [When I participate in a Series A deal with VCs, entrepreneur-friendly terms go out the window. VCs remain attached to age-old traditional industry terms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/when-i-participate-in-a-series-a-deal-with-vcs-entrepreneur-friendly/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [It's clear to me now that Ethereum is the new currency of the Internet. It's way ahead of where Paypal was in its day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/it-s-clear-to-me-now-that-ethereum-is-the-new-currency-of-the/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [I started angel investing because I like hanging out with entrepreneurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/i-started-angel-investing-because-i-like-hanging-out-with/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [Ethereum is enabling a new form of financing in ICOs that is like a massive gravitational pull - dragging every entrepreneur with a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/ethereum-is-enabling-a-new-form-of-financing-in-icos-that-is-like-a/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [In the U.S., Wikia has content sponsorships with top brands, including Blizzard Activision, Sony, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, ABC Television and others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/in-the-u-s-wikia-has-content-sponsorships-with-top-brands-including/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [Whether someone wants to learn the words to a new Lady Gaga song they heard on the radio or to verify the lyrics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/whether-someone-wants-to-learn-the-words-to-a-new-lady-gaga-song-they/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [I was one of the early folks at eBay, and by 1999, it was completely overrun by consultants from McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/i-was-one-of-the-early-folks-at-ebay-and-by-1999-it-was-completely/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [Along the way, I learned the key to launching a company. It's all about storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/along-the-way-i-learned-the-key-to-launching-a-company-it-s-all-about/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [When I first started as an angel investor, I was excited to start investing in startups - but I didn't know much. I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/when-i-first-started-as-an-angel-investor-i-was-excited-to-start/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [You're under tremendous pressure, and everyone needs you to be perfect all the time, and that often creates a perverse incentive to not tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/you-re-under-tremendous-pressure-and-everyone-needs-you-to-be-perfect/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [For merchants, it is an amazing opportunity. Compared to Paypal, crypto has no credit card fees, no charge backs, no 'Oops, we decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/for-merchants-it-is-an-amazing-opportunity-compared-to-paypal-crypto/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [Any ICO going forward that doesn't use a 'Ticketmaster-style' queueing engine is clearly trying to ruin the ecosystem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/any-ico-going-forward-that-doesn-t-use-a-ticketmaster-style-queueing/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [Mobile was Internet 2.0. It changed everything. Crypto is Internet 3.0.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/mobile-was-internet-2-0-it-changed-everything-crypto-is-internet-3-0/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

> [Crypto today is a libertarian paradise. If you send your money to the wrong place, it's gone. If you send it to a merchant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/crypto-today-is-a-libertarian-paradise-if-you-send-your-money-to-the/)

[Gil Penchina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

[Explore all 26 Gil Penchina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

[J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/)

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

[Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/)

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "While seed deals have gotten easy, Series A negotiations still often feel like the death of 1,000 cuts.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gil Penchina"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series-a-negotiations-still-often/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series-a-negotiations-still-often/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/gil-penchina-22864_death_while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series_2499450.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“While seed deals have gotten easy, Series A negotiations still often feel like the death of 1,000 cuts.” — Gil Penchina",
                "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": "Gil Penchina",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-penchina/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "While seed deals have gotten easy,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series-a-negotiations-still-often/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-penchina/while-seed-deals-have-gotten-easy-series-a-negotiations-still-often/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
