Janet Bannister

Managing Partner

Janet is an experienced founder, operator, and investor. She has 12 years of experience investing in early-stage tech companies and building the Canadian tech ecosystem. Janet is also the founder of Kijijji.ca and was an early employee at eBay in Silicon Valley.

Janet Bannister is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures. Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors. Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem including being on the boards of C100 and Ivey Business School. She previously served on the boards of Communiech in Waterloo and Vector Institute in Toronto. She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab. In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.

Janet has won numerous awards and recognition including CVCA’s “VC Woman of Achievement Award” in 2026, the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s “Builder of the Year Award” in 2023, Business Insider’s 2024 and 2023 “Best Women Early-Stage Investors”, Venture Capital Journal’s 2021 “Women of Influence in Private Markets”, and Pitchbook’s 2021 “Female Founders & Investors to Know”. 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.

Janet spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace. 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 prior to joining Real Ventures.

Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and Canada’s National Triathlon Champion. She loves to cycle, hike, golf, and spend time with her husband and 20-year old son.