The Hard Part with Evan McCann

Janet Bannister⁠ from ⁠Staircase Ventures⁠

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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

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    The Hard Part with Evan McCannBy Evan McCann