Board Chair Series Episode 6: Janet Bannister

Janet is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures, which invests in Canada’s most promising early-stage technology companies. Staircase recognises that founders are the bedrock upon which companies are built and therefore provides unparalleled support to accelerate founders’ development and performance. Staircase Ventures is backed by leading institutional investors and successful entrepreneurs. The Fund’s performance is in the top decile amongst VC and PE funds across North America.

Before launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s most active early-stage investors. Janet is also a graduate of prestigious. The Kauffman Fellows program is a global network of the world’s top 1% of venture investors and innovation leaders.

In addition, Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem; she is the Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of the Ivey Business School and LEAP, a social venture accelerator. She has been a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab, an advisor at One Eleven, and on the boards of Vector Institute and Communitech. 

In addition, Janet was Honorary Chair of the Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2023, which is the largest single fundraising event in Canada. Janet has won numerous awards and recognition, including the Toronto Region Builder of the Year Award for 2023, Business Insider’s 2024 and 2023 “Best Women Early-Stage Investors”, Venture Capital Journal’s 2021 “Women of Influence in Private Markets”, Pitchbook’s 2021 “Female Founders & Investors to Know”, and American Bankers’ 2019 “Most Influential Women in Payments”. In June 2025, Janet was awarded an Honorary Degree from Ontario Tech University for her visionary and exceptional leadership in the Canadian technology ecosystem and her significant contributions to innovation and business growth in Canada.

In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji in Canada and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in the country. Subsequently, she led the Kijiji Global business, launching the website in new countries and accelerating growth in North America, Europe, and Asia. Janet also spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley, where she helped transform eBay from a collectables-focused site to a mainstream marketplace, growing the business fourfold, year-over-year, for four years. She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey Co., where she was an Engagement Manager. She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up. 

Janet was a varsity long-distance runner at Western University, where she completed her business degree at Ivey, earning the Gold Medal. Post-university, she took up the sport of triathlon, and two years later, became Canada’s National triathlon champion. She competed internationally on the National team for several years while working full-time. Janet is married with a 20-year-old son.