In this presentation, investor, Kijiji founder and managing partner of Staircase Ventures Janet Bannister shares hard-won lessons on entrepreneurship, investing, and the power of mindset. Drawing from her own journey—from starting a muffin delivery business at 15 to persistently landing a job at eBay and launching Kijiji against internal skepticism—Bannister outlines what truly matters for startup success in an sector being transformed by artificial intelligence.

She emphasizes the importance of a clear long-term competitive advantage, keeping burn rates low until product-market fit is achieved, and recognizing that a strong team is the most critical asset. Bannister also talks about how AI-enabled tools are changing the way that startups grow and seek investment.

She also details her unique founder-centric investment philosophy at Staircase Ventures, which provides holistic support including executive coaching and wellness programs, arguing that the best investors bet on the person, not just the business.

Upper Bound 2025 is Amii's annual artificial intelligence conference, held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, bringing together researchers, industry, and policymakers. The conference focuses on accelerating AI excellence and innovation for good, emphasizing AI for critical infrastructure, health, industrial operations, responsible AI, and AI Literacy.