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Cyan Banister is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Long Journey Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. Before launching her current firm, she served as the first female investing partner at Founders Fund from 2016 to 2020 and previously co-founded the subscription platform Zivity, where she acted as CEO and editor-in-chief. As a prolific angel investor with a portfolio of over 100 startups, Banister provided early capital to prominent technology companies including Uber, SpaceX, and Postmates. At Long Journey Ventures, she typically writes checks ranging from $25,000 to $1 million and recently helped close the firm's fourth fund with approximately $181.8 million in committed capital in March 2025. Her current investment focus centers on pre-seed and seed-stage opportunities across the consumer and B2B software sectors, specifically targeting unconventional founders building frontier technologies.
Cyan Banister is a distinguished Partner at Long Journey Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs who are building the future. She brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the investment landscape, consistently seeking out and nurturing companies that challenge the status quo and drive significant technological advancement.
At Long Journey Ventures, Cyan Banister focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in deep technology, frontier tech, and companies addressing complex, often overlooked problems. Her investment thesis often revolves around backing founders with unconventional ideas and the tenacity to execute them. She is known for her founder-first approach and her ability to identify disruptive potential before it becomes mainstream, making her a valuable partner for nascent startups.
Before joining Long Journey Ventures, Banister made a significant impact as a Partner at Founders Fund, one of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capital firms. During her tenure there, she played a crucial role in identifying and funding numerous successful startups across various sectors. Prior to her venture capital career, Banister was a successful entrepreneur herself, co-founding Zivity, a social networking site. This firsthand experience as a founder gives her invaluable insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, allowing her to offer empathetic and strategic guidance.
Her impressive portfolio includes early investments in some of the most transformative companies of our time. These include SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company; Palantir Technologies, specializing in big data analytics; Affirm, a financial technology company; Thumbtack, a local services marketplace; Wish, an e-commerce platform; Niantic, known for augmented reality games; and Anduril Industries, a defense technology company. These investments highlight her diverse interests and her consistent ability to spot companies with long-term potential and market-defining innovation.
Cyan Banister's career is marked by a consistent commitment to fostering innovation and supporting founders who are building the future. Her strategic insights, deep industry knowledge, and willingness to take calculated risks have solidified her reputation as a leading figure in venture capital, making her a sought-after partner for entrepreneurs aiming to create lasting impact and redefine industries.
Cyan Banister is a prominent venture capitalist and Partner at Long Journey Ventures. She is known for her early-stage investments in deep technology and frontier tech companies, and for her previous role as a Partner at Founders Fund.
Cyan Banister primarily invests in early-stage companies, with a focus on deep technology, frontier technology, and disruptive innovations. She seeks out visionary founders building solutions to complex problems across various sectors.
Cyan Banister works as a Partner at Long Journey Ventures, a venture capital firm. Previously, she was a Partner at Founders Fund, a well-known Silicon Valley VC firm.
