At our next Wine Wednesday, Sandi Gilbert sits down with Janet Bannister, one of Canada’s most respected venture capital leaders and the Founder & Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures.
With an impressive track record spanning leadership at eBay, founding Kijiji.ca, and serving as Managing Partner at Real Ventures, Janet has been at the forefront of shaping Canada’s tech and investment landscape. Today, through Staircase Ventures, she’s redefining how investors work with founders - with a deep belief that empowering entrepreneurs at every stage leads to stronger companies and a more resilient ecosystem.
Staircase Ventures is already making an impact here in Alberta, investing in three Calgary-based companies: Fillip, Galatea Technologies, and Ultimari — helping to fuel local innovation and growth in the province’s thriving tech sector.
Janet’s commitment to advancing Canadian innovation extends far beyond investing. She is Co-Chair of C100, serves on the Boards of Communitech, Vector Institute, and the Ivey Business School, and is a mentor with Creative Destruction Lab. Her work has earned her recognition on Venture Capital Journal’s Women of Influence in Private Markets and Pitchbook’s Female Founders & Investors to Know lists.
Join us for an inspiring conversation about building founder-first ventures, investing with purpose, and what’s next for Canadian tech - over great wine and even better company.
Date: December 10th, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Hyatt Regency Calgary
Register here to secure your spot.
In partnership with:
With the support of:
