Janet Bannister⁠ from ⁠Staircase Ventures⁠

Janet Bannister is the Founder & Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures.

Takeaways

• Working at eBay early days.
• Launching Kijiji in Canada.
• Getting into VC and joining Real Ventures.
• How she raised a fund so quickly with Staircase Ventures.
• Building relationships with LPs.
• How the venture scene has changed in Canada.
• Staircase Ventures prioritizes founder support and development, offering CEO coaching, peer groups, access to health coaches, family statements, and personal financial advisors.
• Staircase shares carry with portfolio founders to foster a sense of teamwork.
• Important qualities in founders she backs.
• Burn rate and PMF.

Chapters

00:00 From eBay to Silicon Valley

07:12 Launching Kijiji in Canada

12:30 Transitioning into Venture Capital

25:15 Investing in Seed Stage and Founder Development

32:11 The Role of a Board Member

36:01 Raising a Fund and Building LP Relationships

42:30 Common Missteps After Closing a Seed Round

45:52 Dealing with Hard Times and Persevering

49:39 Journey of an Entrepreneur

Keywords

Janet Bannister, Staircase Ventures, eBay, Kijiji, venture capital, Canadian venture landscape, founder support, founder development platform, shared carry, founders, growth mindset, talent acquisition, execution speed, relationships, fundraising, burn rate, product-market fit, long-term success