Cyan Banister is a self-taught engineer who broke into Silicon Valley without traditional credentials and now makes extremely early, conviction-driven bets on founders at the pure idea stage before other investors see the opportunity. Her non-linear path from the Navajo Reservation through homelessness to venture capital informs her focus on backing underestimated founders and magically weird projects that other investors might overlook, while integrating spirituality and human potential as core investment themes. Cyan Banister is a self-taught engineer who broke into Silicon Valley without traditional credentials and now makes extremely early, conviction-driven bets on founders at the pure idea stage before other investors see the opportunity. Her non-linear path from the Navajo Reservation through homelessness to venture capital informs her focus on backing underestimated founders and magically weird projects that other investors might overlook, while integrating spirituality and human potential as core investment themes.