Kevin O’Leary, also known as Mr. Wonderful, is a household name as one of the “sharks” on the hit show Shark Tank. However, before he became a renowned investor and television personality, O’Leary was a successful startup founder. In fact, his experience as a startup founder has played a crucial role in shaping his approach to investing and his success in the world of entrepreneurship.
O’Leary launched his first startup, SoftKey Software Products, in the basement of his Toronto home in the late 1980s. The company went on to become a leading publisher of educational software, with O’Leary at the helm as CEO. Under his leadership, SoftKey grew into a multi-billion dollar company and eventually merged with another software giant to form The Learning Company.
After the success of his first startup, O’Leary went on to found several other companies, including O’Leary Funds, a leading investment management firm. His experience as a startup founder has given him a unique perspective when it comes to evaluating and investing in early-stage companies. O’Leary understands the challenges and risks involved in building a business from the ground up, and he uses this knowledge to guide his decisions as a shark on
