His background is in software, and he got his start with SoftKey Software Products, which he started from his basement. This was in the 1990s, when the computer world was still rapidly evolving. All those growing pains led to O’Leary’s ascension to the role of president at The Learning Company.

The Learning Company was then responsible for popular educational computer games like The Oregon Trail, Reader Rabbit, and the Carmen Sandiego geography game franchise. O’Leary left the company in 2000, a year after it was sold to the toy-making tycoons at Mattel in a $3.7 billion deal.

Since then, he has put his entrepreneurial spirit to work in new business ventures. He started the mutual fund company O’Leary Funds to manage his own wealth and share his investing philosophy with others. He is also involved in Storage Now, the third largest storage services company in Canada.

He is also a member of the advisory board at Genstar Capital, and he works hard to find worthwhile investments that have a positive impact on the environment.

O’Leary is no stranger to the TV cameras, having appeared on several Canadian series, including Canada’s version of Shark Tank, which is called Dragons’ Den. In the Dragons’ Den, he is joined by fellow Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec.

When he’s not making money or scowling for the camera, he can be found at his remote Canadian estate with his family, where he enjoys playing the guitar and learning about wine.

In the Shark Tank, Kevin O. is a notoriously hard sell, but he has opened up his checkbook a few times for the show’s entrepreneurs. His investments have included: the Caffeindicator, a sweetener than changes colors in the presence of caffeine; Jump Forward, a social marketing tool for student athletes; and First Defense Nasal Screens.

All the Sharks will be returning this season, real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, infomercial pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology expert Robert Herjavec, fashion owner Daymond John and financial expert Kevin O’Leary. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy will join the Sharks for 3 episodes, adding a little mainstream star power to the group.

At first glance Jeff Foxworthy may not seem like a business tycoon like the rest of the Sharks but he has turned “You Might Be A Redneck If…” into an empire. Publishing over 25 books, selling 15 million records, creating a line of greeting card, owning restaurants, staring in a game show, his own brand of beef jerky, and BBQ sauce.

There is no information about casting as of yet but when it becomes available I will let you all know.

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“You may be a redneck if . . . you think you are an entrepreneur because of the “Dirt for Sale” sign in the front yard.” – Jeff Foxworthy

A longer one with Daymond

New interview with Barbara, Kevin H and Robert.

Check out WalletPop.com After Shark each week for interview with the Sharks and the entrepreneurs.

First up was Leslie Haywood and her business Grill Charms. Grill Charms are dime-sized stainless steel charms that are placed in your meat right before grilling. This will help to separate different flavors, spices and identify what degree stake is cooked. Leslie was looking for $50,000 in exchange for 25% equity in her business. There are four different collections and opportunity to license the product to sports teams and other groups. Grill Charms are currently available in just over 100 stores and their sales were $60,000 last year.

That was enough, the sharks attacked. Kevin O was first to bite with an offer of $50,000 for 50% and 7% royalties. Kevin H was next with an offer of $50,000 for 50% and all his experience behind it. Both Robert and Daymond wanted in on Kevin H’s offer but Kevin H would only partner with Daymond. Robert would not let the offer die so he offered $50,000 for 25%, which is what Leslie, had original asked for. The sharks were jumping at this deal, fighting each other off, one of the best moments of the night.

After talking to her husband Leslie countered Kevin H and Daymond deal with 49% equity. Then came the best line of the night, Kevin O asked why she was not looking at his deal. Leslie said “I do like you, I just don’t think I can work with you.” Kevin O then offered $50,000 for 20% and 7% royalties. Leslie ended up taking Roberts deal.

Not really sure if this is the deal I would have gone for, Kevin H and Daymond offer was sure to make her a fortune. Although I am sure Roberts deal will still work out.

On a side note I would like to pass on my condolence to Leslie and her family over the loss of her father.

The Fun House Project was the brainchild of Todd Robbins and David Adamovich. Their goal was to build a magic themed, 20,000 square feet attraction in Times Square. They would have restaurants, theaters, bars and other attractions. They were looking for $300,000 for 20% equity in the idea. The idea was way too much of a risk for the Sharks and everyone was out.
It’s a little crazy to go from a performance magician to owning a 20,000 square foot entertainment centre in Times Square.

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Dedelle Barbarti-Parra developed Boogie Box Fitness after having three children, she used her experience in martial arts and dance to develop her own workout routine. Boogie Box was hoping to take their workouts to the home DVD market by developing a DVD and marketing through infomercials. Dedelle was looking for $700,000 for 70% of her DVD business.

The sharks were not interested and everyone was out.

Last into the tank was Sawyer Skarks and his business Soy-Yer Dough. Soy-Yer Dough is a wheat free molding dough that is made out of soy. Play Doh and other molding clays are made out of a wheat-based product that children with celiac disease (an allergy to wheat) are not able to play with. Sawyer, a University student was looking for $125,000 for 25% of his business. Sawyer has a provisional patent on Soy-Yer Dough, although he was still making it in his mother’s kitchen he had been able to sell 8,000 units with 10,000 on order.

Play Doh has been knocking on his door, multiple times, their last offer was for $500,000 for his business. He turned down the offer.

Kevin O saw a huge opportunity in this business so offered $125,000 for 51% of the business. He argued that he would not be able to negotiate with Play Doh as effectively he had control of the business. For the first time ever it almost looked like Kevin was beggin an entrepreneur to accept his offer. He said he would bend over backwards to make the deal a success, he would get Sawyer everything he wanted including employment for his home town. But Sawyer was still not convinced and countered with 40%, Kevin added that he would negotiate the deal with Play Doh before the deal was done, and if Sawyer felt bad about it he could chose not to take Kevin’s deal.
Robert offered $125,000 for 40%, and Kevin O was not happy about it. Sawyer then asked for more money, and within a few seconds Daymond, Robert and Kevin O offered $100,000 each for a total of $300,000 in exchange for 51%.
Sawyer accepted their offer!

This episode featured two of the best deals in Shark Tank history, and it was the most entertaining episode I have seen. I am excited to see what next week holds.

Remember to follow on twitter @SharkTankABC
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Before Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec were Sharks they were Dragons. Dragons’ Den is the show that inspired Shark Tank, it airs in different formats around the world. The 4^th season of the Canadian version will premier on September 30th on CBC.

…That take-no-prisoners toughness is certainly entertaining, but behind the ego and bluster, O’Leary’s real-life business performance is spotty. All four of the funds run by O’Leary’s asset-management company are trailing the market this year. Shares of the company’s oldest fund, O’Leary Global Equity Income Fund, which was launched in 2008, have plunged nearly 24% in the past year. Next, there’s the truth-in-advertising problem: O’Leary calls himself an “eco-preneur,” but many of the funds’ investments are in coal companies and other large polluters. An O’Leary Funds representative declined to comment on the performance of the funds….

…It’s not the first bit of unpleasantness for O’Leary. For most of the 1990s, he was the president of educational-software company Softkey, which he co-founded with fellow Canadian entrepreneur Michael Perik. O’Leary and Perik sold the firm, which they renamed the Learning Company, to Mattel in 1999 for $3.6 billion. But almost immediately the deal turned sour. The Learning Company lost $200 million in the second half of 1999 alone. O’Leary and Perik, who joined Mattel after the merger, left the toy company six months later in a management shake-up. In 2001, Mattel disposed of the Learning Company by giving away most of the division to a private-equity firm for free.

Anyone who can pick a corporate pocket for $3.6 billion is a pretty cool customer, but there are many lingering questions about the business that O’Leary and Perik delivered to Mattel in return for that money. “It was an ugly mess,” says Bernard Stolar, a software-industry veteran who was brought in by Mattel to take over the Learning Company from O’Leary and Perik. “There had been an awful lot of mismanagement at the company.”…

Read the whole article here

There is no doubt that Kevin O’Leary is very entertaining on Shark Tank, I leave it up to you to make up your mind about his business dealings.

Robert Allison was next into the Shark Tank. Lifebelt is a device that would not allow cars to start without the seatbelt being buckled up. Traffic accidents are the number one killer in the country. Lifebelt cost around $229 installed. Robert wanted $500k for a 10% stake in the company. The sharks were wondering why he was even bothering with creating a product since he owned the patent he could just enter a licensing deal with a major car company. He was worried that it would take to long, he believed his major problem was that no one knew his product existed. Kevin H, Daymond and Barbara were all out. Kevin O offered $500k for 100% ownership of the patent, Robert countered for $1 million but for the same percentage. He turned both offers down. Personally I would have tried to negotiate for a royalty deal, but it’s not my business.

Susan Knapp was the next entrepreneur to take a dip in the tank. She was looking for $500k for a 15% stake in her company, A Perfect Pear. Her company sold gourmet food products such as jam’s. A Perfect Pear was sold in 650 stores and had sales of $700k with $100k in orders that she was not able to fill. Banks were unable to lend her the money to fill the orders because of the credit crunch. Kevin O offered $500k for 70% then Daymond offered $500k for 51%. Kevin H and Robert offered the full amount for 50%. Susan counted with 49% but The Sharks would not accept, so she accepted Robert and Kevin H’s deal. Although she gave up more than she wanted, she gained a huge amount of business experience which should help her company get to the next level.

Mary Ellen Simonsen pitched her odd product Sticky Note Holder (great name). She was looking for $100K for 20% equity in her company. Sticky Note Holder was basically a larger sticky note that other sticky notes could be posted on the side of a laptop. She was hoping to sell them for $10 each, she had no patent and had only spent $1k on the product so far. The male sharks thought the idea was useless and were all out. Barbara said it would sell on a QVC type show, but was not willing to invest. This was not a real product, it was an idea… and a useless one at that.

The last in front of The Sharks was Marc Furigay and his product Classroom Jams. Classroom Jams is an educational record label and publishing house. He was looking for $250k for 10% equity in his company. Marc is a teacher who was having a hard time relating Shakespeare to his class. He composed songs that helped his class relate to Shakespeare. The song was actually pretty good, a class set with 30 CD’s and a teachers guide would sell for $499. Shakespeare is the most taught playwright in the English language but Marc had plans to expend to different subjects. The Sharks talked about the deal together, and offered $250k and 5% royalties, but he would have to give up 100% of his company. Marc wanted to be one of the partners. Robert then offered $250k for 100% with an option to buy 49% back with the profits from the business, but there would be no royalties. Marc still wanted to have a deal with all five sharks so Robert sweetened the deal for the same price but this time lowered what he wanted to 51%. Marc rejected Roberts deal and wanted the royalties from the first deal increased to 8.5%, The Sharks said no but agreed to let him use his royalties to buy into the company and become a partner with The Sharks. This was one of the best deals of the season, I have no dough this company will be a success.

Next week:

“Episode 103″ — An entrepreneurial newbie comes to the Shark Tank with high hopes for her kitchen accessory, but her presentation is less than stellar. Will the Sharks shred her vision to pieces or will there be a Shark fight to get a piece of the idea? A passionate stay-at-home mom (Lori Lite from Marietta, Georgia) with her own line of self-published children’s books seeks much-needed funds to grow her business. Also, a father and son business team impress the Sharks with a revolutionary new musical product, but their need to control could derail the opportunity to make a fortune, on “Shark Tank,” SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Take a look at Crooked Jaw’s audition video:

Five money hungry sharks decide weather to invest their own money into a hopeful entrepreneurs business. The Sharks of “Shark Tank” are real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, “infomercial” industry pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion icon Daymond John and financial expert Kevin O’Leary.

Tod Wilson of Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory was first into the tank, he needed money to expand his business to meet demand. Although he ran a profitable retail pie business over 50% of his business came from wholesaling sweet potato pies, he had sales of over $850,000 last year. McDonald’s is interested in carrying his product in the southern states. He was asking $460,000 for a 10% stake in his business. Barbara and Daymond offered the money for 50% of his company and Tod accepted the deal.

Darrin Johnson presented his invention called Ionic Ear. He was looking for $1 million for a 15% stake in his company. The Ionic Ear is a Bluetooth device which is surgically implanted in the ear. As expected the Sharks laughed at him, and he didn’t get any investment. I actually wonder if this was a real business because I am unable to find any reference to a Darrin Johnson or a Bluetooth device called Ionic Ear anywhere online…

The next entrepreneur was Kevin Flannery who had to mortgage his house to keep his company WiSpots afloat. WiSpots is a content delivery system (advertising) which would be set up in doctors offices allowing patients to surf the net while waiting for their appointments. He was seeking $1.2 million for a 10% steak in his business. The units cost a little over $9 thousand and the sharks were positive doctors would not pay for it. They all opted out, and encouraged him to give up his business.

Next to enter the tank was Tiffany Krumins. She was looking for a $50 thousand investment for a 15% stake in her business, Emmy, an elephant that helped deliver medicine to difficult children. Tiffany was in need of mentorship, she had no patent, no mold, and nothing much more than a idea. Barbara offered Tiffany the money for a 55% stake,  which she accepted.

Last was Omar Solomon and Nick Friedman with their business College Foxes Packing Boxes. They would send good-looking girls to help pack up boxes on moving day. This business was a sister business to College Hunks Hauling Junk which sent guys to help move. Omar and Nick were only offering an investment in College Foxes Moving Boxes but the sharks wanted both. Omar and Nick asked for $1 milling for a 10% stake in both business. No one was interested, Robert counted with $250 thousand for a 10% take in College Hunks Hauling Junk and a 50% stake in College Foxes Packing Boxes. The guys were not interested.

Next week the Sharks hear a pitch from Mark Furigay an inner-city schoolteacher who has a unique way to get kids to learn. Sensing that a gourmet food business is about to make it big, Susan Knapp the owner watches as the Sharks fight it out for a piece of her business. Also, the Sharks are so impressed with a life-saving idea that an astonishing one million dollar offer is made. Will this headstrong entrepreneur accept the offer or will his ego stand in the way?

Open Casting Call:

ORLANDO
Thursday, June 11th
Sheraton Hotel Orlando Downtown
60 S. Ivanhoe Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32804
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

NEW YORK
Saturday, June 13th
Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

CHICAGO
Satuday, June 13th
Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown/Lakefront
511 N. Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

As I said last time, arrive early, make sure you fill out this application (tell them you found out about it from InTheSharkTank.com) and be prepared to answer these questions.

Follow us on twitter at Twitter.com/SharkTankABC

Barbara Corcoran

Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job, however, that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, when she borrowed $1,000 from her boyfriend and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City. Over the next 25 years, she’d parlay that $1,000 loan into a five-billion-dollar real estate business and the largest and best known brand in the business. As a speaker, Barbara brings her front-lines experience and infectious energy to each person in the audience. They laugh, cry and learn how to become more successful. Motivational, inspirational, and sometimes outrageous, Barbara Corcoran’s tell-it-like-it-is attitude is a refreshing approach to success. Barbara is the author of If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails, an unlikely business book that has become a national best-seller. She credits her struggles in school and her mother’s kitchen-table wisdom for her innovation and huge success in the business world. The book is a fresh, frank look at how to succeed in life and business and is as heartwarming as it is smart and motivating. Barbara is the popular real estate contributor for the Today Show and CNBC. She writes a weekly real estate column for the Daily News and monthly columns for MORE Magazine and Redbook. Springboard Press released Barbaras second book, Nextville: Amazing Places to Live the Rest of Your Life, last spring, to amazing reviews.

Kevin Harrington

Kevin Harrington, CEO of TVGoods.com, LLC and co-founder of OmniReliant Holdings, Inc., is widely acknowledged as the pioneer and principal architect of the “infomercial” industry. 2009 marks the 25th year since Harrington produced the industry’s first infomercial; with milestones of over 500 product launches resulting in sales of over $ 4 billion worldwide and 20 products reaching individual sales of over $100 million — creating dozens of millionaires. Harrington’s first company, Quantum International, started in the mid-80′s and merged into National Media in 1991.That grew into $500 million in annual sales with distribution in over 100 countries in 20 languages. Additional entrepreneurial startups included ventures with HSN, Inc. (HSN Direct) and Reliant International; selling the latter to the Koo banking family of Taiwan in 2006. That same year, Harrington co-founded TVGoods.com and Omni Reliant Holdings, raising over $17 million in equity investment capital from a NY hedge fund. The firm recently purchased the controlling stake in Tampa Bay’s premiere production facility, OmniComm Studios, Harrington’s present office location — a 33,000 square foot film studio on 5.4 acres in Clearwater, Florida. Harrington’s philanthropy established two important global networking associations — the Entrepreneur’s Organization (E.O.) and the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA).

Robert Herjavec

Robert Herjavec has lived the classic “rags to riches” story. The son of Croatian immigrants, he earned his incredible wealth by overcoming the odds with pure hard work and intuition. He remembers how his mother, who could barely speak English, lost the family savings to a smooth talking vacuum salesman. Since then, Robert vowed he would never let his family be taken advantage of again. In the early ’90′s, Robert eked out a living waiting tables at a posh Yorkville restaurant. During the initial stages of the dot com craze, he realized that technology was the ticket to serious money. By night, he launched BRAK systems, his first technology company. BRAK soon became Canada’s top provider of Internet security software, worth a reported $100 million dollars. Robert sold his company to AT&T in 2000. But that was only the start. He then helped negotiate the sale of another technology company to Nokia for $225 million dollars. Instead of retiring with his cash, Robert now heads The Herjavec Group, listed as one of Canada’s leading and fastest growing IT security and infrastructure integration firms. His palatial 50,000 square foot Bridle Path mansion hosts luminaries like Michael Bublé and Mick Jagger. For thrills, Robert jets to a private island near Miami or cruises Yorkville in one of his many luxury cars.

Daymond John

Daymond John’s creative vision helped revolutionize the sportswear industry in the 1990s. As founder, president and chief executive officer of FUBU–”For Us, By Us”–John created distinctive and fashionable sportswear and a host of other related gear. FUBU’s phenomenal success made mainstream apparel companies realize the potential for fashionable sportswear that appeals not just to trendsetting urban youth, but to mainstream teens, as well. John was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn but spent his childhood in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens during the 1970s. An only child, John grew up in a single-parent household headed by his mother, who was a flight attendant for American Airlines but often held more than one job at a time. His first foray into the apparel market came when he wanted a tie-top hat and was put off by the price. John asked his mother to teach him how to use a sewing machine, and he began making the distinctive tie-top hats in the morning and then selling them on the streets of Queens in the evening hours. One day in 1992, he and his friend sold $800 worth of hats and realized their ideas had definite potential. They created a distinctive logo and began sewing the FUBU logo on hockey jerseys, sweatshirts and t-shirts. John lured some longtime friends into the business and asked old neighborhood friend L.L. Cool J. to wear a t-shirt in a photograph for a FUBU promotional campaign in 1993. John and his mother mortgaged the home they collectively owned for the $100,000 in start-up capital. Even more amazingly, she then moved out so the quartet could use the home as a makeshift factory and office space. FUBU officially emerged in 1994 when John and his partners traveled to an industry trade show in Las Vegas. Buyers liked the distinctively cut, vibrantly colored sportswear, and John and his partners returned to Queens with $300,000 worth of orders. FUBU soon had a contract with the New York City-based department store chain Macy’s, and they began expanding their line to include jeans and outerwear. A distribution deal with Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung allowed their designs to be manufactured and delivered on a massive scale. As CEO and president, John guided FUBU to a staggering $350 million in revenues in 1998, placing it in the same stratosphere as such designer sportswear labels as Donna Karan New York and Tommy Hilfiger. Over the last 16 years, John has evolved into more than a fashion mogul. In 2007 the street-smart businessman penned his first book, Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Branding & Lifestyle,which was named one of the best business books of 2007 by the Library Journal. Known as the Godfather of Urban Fashion, Daymond is regarded as one of the most sought-after branding experts and keynote speakers in fashion and business today. With multiple business ventures on his resume, John can be seen sharing his knowledge and business genius on numerous business and entertainment television programs.

Kevin O'Leary

Kevin O’Leary is opinionated, ruthless, hungers for big deals and loves to take control, yet he made his millions helping children learn how to read. Kevin’s success story starts where most entrepreneurs begin: with a big idea and zero cash. From his basement, he launched SoftKey Software Products. As sales took off, Kevin moved to headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts and went on an industry consolidating acquisition binge. From 1995 to 1999 he bought almost every one of his software competitors, including Mindscape, Broderbund and the Learning Company in the industry’s first vicious public hostile battle. Shareholders love his take-no-prisoners cost cutting style and fueled him with billions to do his deals. In 1999 Kevin sold his company to the Mattel Toy Company for a staggering 3.7 billion dollars, one of the largest deals ever done in the consumer software industry. To keep his money working hard, Kevin took control of his wealth from his lackluster money managers and founded his own mutual fund company, O’Leary Funds. He raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors who share his “get paid while you wait” yield oriented value investing philosophy. He shares his tips and tribulations with a national television audience and turns the Street upside down in the process. As a self-proclaimed “Eco-preneur,” Kevin looks hardest for investments that make money — and are environmentally friendly. When he’s not squeezing the market from his office in West Palm Beach, he travels the world looking for new opportunities to deploy his capital. He is a founding investor and director of Stream Global, an international business outsourcing company. Kevin is on the investment committee of Boston’s prestigious 200-year-old Hamilton Trust, and is the Chairman of O’Leary Funds. He also serves on the executive board of The Richard Ivey School of Business. Kevin escapes on weekends with his family to his luxurious cottage that spreads over prime Canadian wilderness on the shore of an ancient glacial lake.