The Hard Part with Evan McCann 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