Meet the judges
Our Three Minute Thesis (3MT) judges bring a wealth of expertise from the public and private sectors. Their diverse backgrounds in industry, and innovation make them well-equipped to evaluate participants’ ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear, engaging, and impactful way. We are grateful for their time and commitment in supporting our graduate students as they take on this exciting challenge.
Heats (March 19)
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Coming soon...
...stay tuned for details on our judges for the 2026 3MT heats!
Finals (March 20)
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Janet Bannister
Affiliation
Founder & Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures
Bio
Janet Bannister is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures, investing in Canada’s most promising early-stage technology companies. Staircase is built on the belief that founders are the bedrock of great companies, and provides hands-on support to accelerate founder development and performance. Staircase Ventures is backed by leading institutional investors and successful entrepreneurs.
Previously, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s most active early-stage venture firms, and is a graduate of the Kauffman Fellows program, a global network of top venture investors and innovation leaders. Janet is deeply engaged in Canada’s innovation ecosystem as Co-Chair of C100 and a board member of Ivey Business School and LEAP.
Earlier in her career, Janet launched Kijiji in Canada and later led Kijiji Global, expanding the platform internationally. She also spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley and began her career at Procter & Gamble and McKinsey & Company. In June 2025, Ontario Tech University awarded Janet an Honorary Degree in recognition of her leadership and contributions to innovation and business growth in Canada. -
...more judges still to come!
Check back soon.