Veteran entrepreneurs show how. : The Series A is the first round of startup funding from institutional investors, such as venture capitalists. This is certainly a huge milestone. But getting this funding is not easy. “Series A investors will be looking at your prototype, traction, and management team,” said Sid Sijbrandij, who is the CEO of GitLab. And even if you get funding, there are lots of risks. “When negotiating, remember that you’re not just setting terms for the Series A but you’re signaling what is acceptable for all future rounds,” said Adam Wilson, who is the CEO of Trifacta.