Our approach is personal.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, but there are a few absolutes intrinsic to who we are and how we work. And these values weren’t contrived out of thin air, they’re hard earned over the past 30 years and counting.

01

High performance, low ego.

The old adage “actions speak louder than words” rings true within Canaan’s walls, and in our interactions with companies out in the wild. Words like "understated" and "effective" are often used to describe our partners, and that’s fine by us. We’ll leave the bragging to the others.

“Seasoned investors can be very arrogant, but Canaan is no BS, unassuming, and humble—no hysteria, no angst.”

— Michael Gilman, CEO Arrakis

02

People are more than statistics.

A diverse team means we bring varied perspectives to the table. And that table welcomes out-of-the-box thinking, spirited debate, and people from all walks of life. It’s our individual backgrounds and interests that inform our collective approach, which spans industries, generations, and coasts. In short, our diversity is who we are and what we do.

"Canaan was a founding investor in Synthekine in 2019, and since the beginning, Julie’s thought partnership and strategic advice have been invaluable to our growth into a multiproduct clinical stage company with world class partnerships."

— Debanjan Ray, CEO Synthekine

03

We ask for help, and so should you.

We firmly believe that two heads are better than one. So while our investors thrive in 1:1 partnerships, our companies also have the support of the entire Canaan team whenever, wherever. Recruiting your executive team? We’ll mobilize our full network. Need operational advice to bring a product to market? We’ll connect you with the right partner or colleague. Our resources are yours.

“Even if Canaan hadn’t funded us, just going through the process with them – the discussions we had and the questions they asked – already made us a better company. And that’s amazing.”

— Julie Wainwright, CEO The RealReal

04

The Golden Rule still applies.

We treat you like we treat ourselves—with respect, transparency, and honesty—even if it’s sometimes not what you want to hear. It’s this approach that makes our portfolio companies more like family, because we’re not afraid to get in the weeds and help solve big hairy problems. In fact, it’s what we live for. We’re acutely aware that our success hinges on your success, so we do what it takes.

“We made big strategic shifts as a company and worked closely with Maha through all of them. Canaan is really smart about the way they get involved and how they support you through good times and bad.”

— Kevin Chou, former CEO Kabam

05

We're in the know, not in the way.

We’d be lying if we said we weren’t hands-on, but we also know when to step back and let you soar. Our goal is to add value to your process, and help you grow in ways you couldn’t alone. That’s why you’ll never see us booking meetings just to check a box or “see how are things are going.” We’ll already know, because that’s the kind of relationship we have with our companies.

“Hrach's deep belief in our business model and potential is all a CEO could want and manifests itself in so many ways. He was there for me and the company through thick and thin. His fundamental belief is more powerful than any advice or coaching an investor can give. Building on that strong belief allowed us to drive the business to where it is today. Thank you Hrach and Canaan. Your commitment to us says it all.”

— Richard Gerstein, CEO Cargomatic