You’ve done it. After months of pitching, due diligence, and countless sleepless nights, a term sheet from a venture capital firm finally lands in your inbox. The initial feeling is pure elation—a wave of validation for all the hard work, late nights, and relentless determination it took to get to this point. But as the excitement begins to settle, a new, more intimidating feeling creeps in: the realization that now you have to negotiate. For many founders, this is the most daunting part of the fundraising journey. It’s like stepping into a high-stakes game where the other side seems to hold all the experience, leverage, and power. But here’s the truth—it doesn’t have to feel that way.

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