Wine Review October 14, 2012 - Kevin O’Leary Wines

andrewinereview:

When I had a chance to speak with Kevin O’Leary about his wines I was dying to ask him the question: “Why Ontario?”… He is a businessman and literally has the world at his disposal for creating a world class wine, surely California, Argentina, Australia or anywhere else could offer what he was looking for.  But as he said to me, he is a proud Canadian and Ontario is not a backwater for growing grapes.  We offer World Class Wines here.  Both the Red and the White (but especially the Red) are excellent value and something he should be proud to have his name on.

O’Leary Cabernet Merlot 2010 - LCBO 307744 - $14.95 - This Cab-Merlot recognized as a Best Value at the InterVin International Awards is certainly interesting.  I am always curious when a Celebrity lends endorsement to a wine, whether they actually get their hands dirty in producing the product in the bottle.  I had a chance to speak with Kevin (check my podcast) and he was very involved in with the process of deciding what was going to go in the bottle.  What I love about this wine is hints of Cocoa and rich velvety flavour and texture to the wine that I have only found in Cabernet Franc from Ontario at a higher price point.  With the weather cooling off this would pair perfect with hearty Stews or Roasted meats from the oven.  However this is one that doesn’t need to be paired with food.

O’Leary Unoaked Chardonnay 2011 - LCBO 307751 - $14.95 - I did a double take after tasting this wine.  I couldn’t believe that this was an Unoaked Chardonnay, I thought for certain some of this had touched a barrel somewhere.  This is a complex wine that has a touch of sweetness on the finish.  Many Unoaked Chardonnay’s are crisp with a laser beam focused acidity this has a softer flavour that let’s the flavours linger on the palette a little longer.  Kevin talked about sitting at the cottage sipping this wine, or getting into a bottle right after work.  This wine will pair well with Chicken of all sorts.

Cross-Platform Developer - O’Leary Ventures Corporation

Job Description

  • This position will begin as a 6 month contract that may evolve into a full time, senior-management level position depending on employee performance and company needs
  • This is a hard job with long hours, but it also an incredible opportunity to see entrepreneurship up close and personal, as well as helping guide a nascent company’s technology
  • Develop applications for an exciting, new company that we are launching

Company Info

O’Leary Ventures is a private company owned by Kevin O’Leary. We actively look at startup businesses, and we’re looking to build the next great O’Leary company.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Demonstrated ability with Android
  • Demonstrated ability with iOS
  • Demonstrated ability with web app development
  • Demonstrated ability to meet hard deadlines
  • A Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, and/or design related field
  • Experience with design (creative side) of application development considered a strong asset
  • Strong references available

Please apply with a covering letter, resume, and links and/or attachments of your prior work sent to hiring@olearyventures.com.  

Strong preference will be given to candidates based out of Toronto, ON, Canada.

KEVIN O’LEARY AND JASON KENNEY ANNOUNCE STARTUP VISA FOR ENTREPRENEURS O’Leary Ventures, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Team Up to Mark Launch of Consultation Process Program Will Enable Canadian Venture Investors to Recruit Global Talent April 18, 2012 - For Immediate Release TORONTO - Kevin O’Leary joined Canada’s immigration minister, Jason Kenney, today to make a big announcement for the country’s startup and venture investing community. Canada’s startup visa, if implemented, will create highly skilled jobs and bring much-needed capital into Canada’s startup sector. A Global Pool of Talent As envisioned, Canada’s startup visa would enable Canadian investors like O’Leary to recruit highly skilled startup entrepreneurs from around the world to build fast growing, successful startup companies in Canada. “Building fast-growing, globally competitive companies is tough,” said O’Leary. “You really do need every advantage you can get. The startup visa will give entrepreneurs and venture investors like me access to a global pool of talent.” Consulting Key Stakeholders Today’s announcement kicks off a consultation process: over the next few months, the Canadian government’s citizenship and immigration ministry (CIC) will get input and feedback from angel and venture investors, startup CEOs, and the heads of startup “incubators”. “Canada cannot afford to lose out in the competition for foreign entrepreneurs among immigrant-receiving countries, said Minister Kenney. “We need to proactively target a new type of immigrant entrepreneur who has the potential to build innovative companies that can compete on a global scale.” Supporting New Ventures, but Focusing On Value and Yield O’Leary’s background as a repeat entrepreneur and venture backer fed his interest in establishing a startup visa. Widely known as a low-risk, value yield investor, O’Leary keeps a strict limit on his own financial exposure to what he sees as riskier bets. His biggest company, O’Leary Funds, stays away from risky startups and instead tends to focus on value, yield and capital preservation. Still, he maintains an active presence in the entrepreneurial world as the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, his own privately owned venture company. “We do deals on both sides of the border,” explained Alex Kenjeev, president of O’Leary Ventures. “It doesn’t take long before you see how the wrong immigration policy can prevent these highly skilled, entrepreneurial job creators from fueling our innovation economy.” Global movement Canada is not the only country looking at a startup visa. In the United States, startup visa legislation has been floated twice in the last two years - but has not yet become law. “We’d like to see startup visas available on both sides of the border,” said Kenjeev, “but whichever country moves first will send a strong signal, and gain an advantage as destination for capital. As an investor, you want this idea to be a global movement.” The United Kingdom introduced a startup visa program a year ago. Chile has gone even further, granting government cash to help fund those entrepreneurs who qualify for their country’s startup visa program. About Kevin O’Leary Kevin O’Leary is an entrepreneur and investor. O’Leary is the bestselling author of Cold Hard Truth, as well as a star on Dragons’ Den, Shark Tank, Redemption Inc. with Kevin O’Leary and The Lang & O’Leary Exchange. He is chairman of O’Leary Funds, a billion-dollar investment fund company. He is also the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, a private venture company. Previously, O’Leary founded and was president of SoftKey (later called The Learning Company), a global educational software company that was acquired for $4.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.kevin-oleary.com and follow @kevinolearytv. About Jason Kenney Jason Kenney is Canada’s Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, a post he has held since 2008. The Ministry is responsible for all matters pertaining to selecting, encouraging and supporting newcomers to Canada. Minister Kenney is also the Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Operations. Prior to being elected to government 1997, he was the president and CEO of the Canadian taxpayer’s federation. For more information, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/minister and follow @kenneyjason. About O’Leary Ventures O’Leary Ventures is a private early-stage investment company owned and chaired by Kevin O’Leary. It invests in and partners with early-stage, high growth potential companies in all industries. It also looks for ways to bring new and innovative products to market that build upon Kevin O’Leary’s core values of honesty, value, and wealth creation. It is run by Alex Kenjeev, a repeat entrepreneur who previously co-founded Dayforce, a global, Canadian-headquartered software company that was acquired in a nine-figure transaction. For more information, please visit www.olearyventures.comand follow @olearyventures and @akenjeev. For more information, please contact: • Alex Kenjeev, President, O’Leary Ventures: 416.875.3319 • Ana Curic, Minister’s Office, Citizenship & Immigration Canada: 613.954.1064
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KEVIN O’LEARY AND JASON KENNEY ANNOUNCE STARTUP VISA FOR ENTREPRENEURS

O’Leary Ventures, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Team Up to Mark Launch of Consultation Process

Program Will Enable Canadian Venture Investors to Recruit Global Talent

April 18, 2012 - For Immediate Release

TORONTO - Kevin O’Leary joined Canada’s immigration minister, Jason Kenney, today to make a big announcement for the country’s startup and venture investing community. Canada’s startup visa, if implemented, will create highly skilled jobs and bring much-needed capital into Canada’s startup sector.

A Global Pool of Talent

As envisioned, Canada’s startup visa would enable Canadian investors like O’Leary to recruit highly skilled startup entrepreneurs from around the world to build fast growing, successful startup companies in Canada.

“Building fast-growing, globally competitive companies is tough,” said O’Leary. “You really do need every advantage you can get. The startup visa will give entrepreneurs and venture investors like me access to a global pool of talent.”

Consulting Key Stakeholders

Today’s announcement kicks off a consultation process: over the next few months, the Canadian government’s citizenship and immigration ministry (CIC) will get input and feedback from angel and venture investors, startup CEOs, and the heads of startup “incubators”.

“Canada cannot afford to lose out in the competition for foreign entrepreneurs among immigrant-receiving countries, said Minister Kenney. “We need to proactively target a new type of immigrant entrepreneur who has the potential to build innovative companies that can compete on a global scale.”

Supporting New Ventures, but Focusing On Value and Yield

O’Leary’s background as a repeat entrepreneur and venture backer fed his interest in establishing a startup visa.

Widely known as a low-risk, value yield investor, O’Leary keeps a strict limit on his own financial exposure to what he sees as riskier bets. His biggest company, O’Leary Funds, stays away from risky startups and instead tends to focus on value, yield and capital preservation. Still, he maintains an active presence in the entrepreneurial world as the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, his own privately owned venture company.

“We do deals on both sides of the border,” explained Alex Kenjeev, president of O’Leary Ventures. “It doesn’t take long before you see how the wrong immigration policy can prevent these highly skilled, entrepreneurial job creators from fueling our innovation economy.”

Global movement

Canada is not the only country looking at a startup visa. In the United States, startup visa legislation has been floated twice in the last two years - but has not yet become law.

“We’d like to see startup visas available on both sides of the border,” said Kenjeev, “but whichever country moves first will send a strong signal, and gain an advantage as destination for capital. As an investor, you want this idea to be a global movement.”

The United Kingdom introduced a startup visa program a year ago. Chile has gone even further, granting government cash to help fund those entrepreneurs who qualify for their country’s startup visa program.

About Kevin O’Leary

Kevin O’Leary is an entrepreneur and investor. O’Leary is the bestselling author of Cold Hard Truth, as well as a star on Dragons’ Den, Shark Tank, Redemption Inc. with Kevin O’Leary and The Lang & O’Leary Exchange. He is chairman of O’Leary Funds, a billion-dollar investment fund company. He is also the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, a private venture company. Previously, O’Leary founded and was president of SoftKey (later called The Learning Company), a global educational software company that was acquired for $4.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.kevin-oleary.com and follow @kevinolearytv.

About Jason Kenney

Jason Kenney is Canada’s Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, a post he has held since 2008. The Ministry is responsible for all matters pertaining to selecting, encouraging and supporting newcomers to Canada. Minister Kenney is also the Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Operations. Prior to being elected to government 1997, he was the president and CEO of the Canadian taxpayer’s federation. For more information, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/minister and follow @kenneyjason.

About O’Leary Ventures

O’Leary Ventures is a private early-stage investment company owned and chaired by Kevin O’Leary. It invests in and partners with early-stage, high growth potential companies in all industries. It also looks for ways to bring new and innovative products to market that build upon Kevin O’Leary’s core values of honesty, value, and wealth creation. It is run by Alex Kenjeev, a repeat entrepreneur who previously co-founded Dayforce, a global, Canadian-headquartered software company that was acquired in a nine-figure transaction. For more information, please visit www.olearyventures.comand follow @olearyventures and @akenjeev.

For more information, please contact:

• Alex Kenjeev, President, O’Leary Ventures: 416.875.3319
• Ana Curic, Minister’s Office, Citizenship & Immigration Canada: 613.954.1064

No business-themed program is hotter right now than ABC’s ‘Shark Tank.’

From NYPost.com - by Sean Daly

Suddenly, entrepreneurs are TV’s new Idols.

As singing competitions shed viewers, a new breed of reality show is striking it rich.

“Coming out of the recession, people like to see other people beating the system and living the American dream,” says Brent Montgomery, producer of “Pawn Stars” and ABC’s new sports memorabilia series “Ball Boys.”

No business-themed program is hotter right now than ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

Now in its third season — and with the addition of grinning billionaire Mark Cuban — the venture-capital show has seen ratings jump nearly every week this winter.

Continue reading the full article at NYPost.com.

Source: New York Post

Shark Tank investor helps ChordBuddy find success

Robert Herjavec has not learned how to play the guitar.

Yet.

Herjavec, a self-proclaimed “wannabe musician with no talent,” is the driving reason behind Travis Perry’s recent success. Perry, a former Nashville country star, did $500,000 of sales in the two weeks after the duo paired up in February on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank.”

Herjavec, who made his money in 2000 by selling his tech company to AT&T, doled out $175,000 for ChordBuddy, a plastic covering that snaps to the neck of a guitar. The beginner’s tool is intended to take the guess-work (and calluses) out of learning to play.

Herjavec, who owns a private island, really likes music. He’d give up everything for the chance to hit the road and jam in front of thousands of people a night. Fittingly, Perry actually was a rock star. Perry lived in Nashville between 1987 and 1994 while jamming with the country band Silverado.

Continue reading the full article at the Nashville Business Journal..

You can also visit Chord Buddy’s website here.

Jamba Acquires Talbott Teas- Expands Consumer Products Platform

Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ: JMBA) announced today the acquisition of Talbott Teas™, a Chicago-based boutique, premium tea company, recently profiled on ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank”. Talbott Teas founder, certified master tea blender, Shane Talbott, has a unique talent for blending specialty ingredients to produce exceptional, award-winning teas that appeal to tea aficionados and conventional consumers alike, and which Oprah Winfrey selected as one of her “Favorite Things” in 2010.

“Talbott Teas is part of our strategy for growth through the acquisition of lifestyle specialty brands that fit well with the Jamba brand and our positioning as a leading health and wellness company,” said James D. White, Chairman, President, and CEO, Jamba Juice Company. “Jamba shares Shane’s commitment to using the finest quality ingredients to create premium tea blends that are flavorful and healthful, but designed with a flair that only a visionary trendsetter could achieve. I welcome his creativity on our team.”

Steeped in style and wrapped in museum quality, designer packaging, Talbott Teas is reinventing the premium tea category with their luxurious, but accessible collection of caffeinated and decaffeinated loose leaf, all-natural teas blended with real fruit, flowers, herbs and spices to create delightfully decadent flavor profiles. Talbott Teas tea blends are available in 23 customizable flavors, including the award winning “Chocolate Lover” teas. All tea blends are made from high quality ingredients, certified free-trade and 100% natural with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.

Talbott Teas appeared on the “Shark Tank”, which airs Fridays from 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network, gives nascent entrepreneurs the chance to dramatically alter the course of their business by making a possible deal with the Sharks —self-made millionaires in search of innovative investment deals to bankroll. While on the show, the founders of Talbott Teas received an offer from venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary, who subsequent to the show worked with fellow Sharks Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran to seal a bigger deal with the iconic leading national smoothie and specialty healthy lifestyle brand, Jamba Juice.

“Jamba is a progressive, specialty beverage brand with a passion for creating innovative, trendy offerings that support healthier lifestyles,” said Shane Talbott, founder Talbott Teas. “Jamba has broad reach and appeal among consumers who are seeking premium products at affordable pricing that are better-for-you and great tasting. The Sharks connected us with Jamba Juice and we could not have found a better company with whom to align and grow our brand.”

Talbott Teas’ products are available online at QVC, fine retailers, and the Talbott Teas website as well as specialty retailers, gourmet grocers, salon spas, select luxury hotels and restaurants throughout the Chicagoland area. Talbott Teas will also be available for sale at Jamba Juice locations. The purchase of Talbott Teas is part of Jamba’s strategy to accelerate growth through the acquisition of specialty, lifestyle brands that support Jamba’s expansion into new and relevant product categories.