Cyan Banister

Cyan Banister is a prominent investor, entrepreneur, and author based in Half Moon Bay, California.1 She is the author of "The Ugly Duckling," a newsletter-style book she began writing in June 2020 that chronicles her journey from homelessness to becoming a successful venture capitalist.13

Professional Background

Cyan has an extensive career in technology and investing:

Investing Experience::

• Currently an investor at Long Journey Ventures (since March 2020)1
• Owner of Banister Capital (since August 2008)1
• Former Partner at Founders Fund (February 2016 - February 2020)1

Entrepreneurial Ventures::

• Co-founder of Zivity, a subscription-based artist/fan interaction platform (February 2006 - March 2016)1
• Co-founder of Signal Media Project (April 2013 - February 2016)1

Technology Career::

• Held various positions at IronPort, including Senior Manager of Security Operations and Manager of Strategic Support and Anti-Spam Operations1
• Previous roles in system administration and operations at companies like NBCi and Extreme Internet1

Personal Story

Cyan's personal journey is particularly noteworthy. She went from being homeless to becoming a highly successful venture capitalist and angel investor.45 This transformation forms the basis of her book "The Ugly Duckling," which she describes as "The story of how I went from being homeless to becoming a VC".1

Recent Activities

As of 2024, Cyan continues to be active in the investment world. She recently announced joining LUUM as an investor, demonstrating her ongoing involvement in supporting innovative startups.2

Cyan Banister is recognized as one of the best angel investors of her generation, known for her sharp intellect, creative approach, and ability to identify promising opportunities in the tech industry.14