The Talent Behind O’Leary Ventures

Mr. Wonderful is known for being an entrepreneur and television personality, but O’Leary Ventures cultivated an extraordinary team of business and fiduciary experts with diverse backgrounds in the investment sector. As a generalist venture capital investment platform, O’Leary Ventures invests in seed through late-stage companies across a broad spectrum of industries.

Team Wonderful

Kevin O'Leary

CHAIRMAN​

Kevin O’Leary

Kevin is a renown global investor, venture capitalist and capital markets expert. He has a passion to invest with entrepreneurs and helping them tell their stories and make their vision become a life changing reality.

PAUL PALANDJIAN

CEO

Paul Palandjian

Paul is the CEO and Co-General Partner of O’Leary Ventures. He has 30 years of experience as a fiduciary, asset manager and investor across a broad spectrum of asset classes for institutional investors and high net-worth family offices.

Nancy Chueng

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BRANDING & PR

NANCY CHEUNG

Nancy Cheung is the Managing Director of Branding & Public Relations. She is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience with securing media in North America and internationally. She oversees brand strategy, driving strategic initiative and public relations.

Matt Scalise

PRINCIPAL OF INVESTMENTS

MATT SCALISE

Matt started his career at Cambridge Associates, where he served as a Private Investments Specialist for over five years. In this role he advised and invested in venture capital and private equity on behalf of endowments, foundations, and high-net-worth family clients with assets ranging from $100 million to over $5 billion. He holds an A.B. from Harvard College and grew up in Nahant, MA.

MARIA COWPER-SMITH

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

MARIA COWPER-SMITH

Maria, Senior Director of Finance, is the Global Head of Finance and Administration for O’Leary Group of Companies. She oversees accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, audit and tax functions, and business support: HR, contracts, insurance and real estate.

Maria is a proud Canadian immigrant who is passionate about business, innovation and community.

MANAGER OF MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA​

KEVIN TENG

With over a decade of experience in digital marketing and media, Kevin is a seasoned professional who excels in creating video content, developing websites, and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing. His expertise in social media marketing, video production, and website design is unparalleled, making him a true master of his craft.

MANAGER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

GAGIK EISAGHOLIAN

Gagik oversees business administration for the team. Prior to joining O’Leary Ventures, Gagik worked in administration and as an analyst at the Trinity Group Limited from 2008-2022 and at Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation from 2000-2008.

Gagik holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

David Haukaas

ADVISOR

DAVID HAUKAAS

David has over 17 years of investment industry experience specializing in contract negotiations, business development, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and profit optimization with firms such as Ameriprise, ColumbiaThreadneedle and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. In addition to this, he advises and invests into various startups as well as consults on a myriad of business projects both domestically and internationally.
Mike Mentesana

LP, SMALL BUSINESS AND HEALTHCARE INVESTING

MIKE MENTESANA

Michael is a dynamic executive, innovator, venture investor and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the Biopharmaceutical industry. He has worked with startup biotechnology companies, 18 out of the top 25 pharmaceutical organizations, the top five contract research organizations (CROs), many global public health organizations, leading provider networks, and FDA. He is currently focused on working with PE/VC backed startups in a variety of capacities–as an investor, strategic advisor, and as a member of their Boards of Directors.

Ashley Davis

ADVISOR

ASHLEY DAVIS

Ashley is an accomplished government affairs professional with extensive experience representing Fortune 500 clients in sectors like Healthcare, Energy, and Homeland Security. She has served in the White House and is recognized as one of Washingtonian’s 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy. Ashley is actively involved in Republican Party activities and serves on various boards of directors.

Mission

On and off the set of Shark Tank, Mr. Wonderful is constantly seeking seed through late-stage investments.

O’Leary Ventures is an asset management platform with a diverse team of investment experts with backgrounds as operators, investors and fiduciaries across a broad spectrum of industries ranging from technology, science, consumer goods, real estate, and beyond. Because of the history and breadth of its investment portfolio, O’Leary Ventures has a proprietary network and an operational ecosystem that continually works to support O’Leary Ventures’ portfolio companies. Unlike other generalist venture capital investment firms, O’Leary Ventures is more than just a platform. It’s a Wonderful family.