As a serial entrepreneur with a prescient ability to identify upcoming markets, Jon Sharun believes work and life are inextricably intertwined.
“What excites me is we may find the next Uber or Airbnb,” said the 35-year-old founder and managing partner of Venexo Corp., a Vancouver-based private equity and venture advisory firm with more than $50 million in assets.
Besides leading Venexo, Sharun oversees The Pint Public House and has embarked on numerous other ventures, mostly focused on the millennial market.
Sharun’s first entrepreneurial success was establishing a marketing agency in 1999 to help push Kokanee beer to a top-three brand in B.C. and Alberta. He later joined Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) where he ranked among the company’s global top 25 and earned Labatt’s Top Sales Performer award.
While completing his master’s degree, Sharun continued his entrepreneurship at Lex Venture Developments, later joining Colliers International (TSX:CIG). With a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the University of British Columbia, he developed the idea for Venexo during the 2010 Olympics when he envisioned an integrated international private equity company acquiring “cool” life-experience projects. He established the firm, raising $50,000 his first year.
An avid traveller and reader, Sharun launched The Pint Public House in 2011, leading an expansion in 2013 that increased revenue by 52%. He has since acquired 25% of hospitality company Urban Sparq, launched a real estate redevelopment company and acquired three health-care businesses. He chairs the boards of directors of Venexo and Urban Sparq.
Sharun’s ventures have extended into real estate, pursuing repurposed heritage, retail, industrial and hotel projects in Canada and California.
Among other volunteer committee and director positions, Sharun is chair of the Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association (HXBIA), . He also sits on the Urban Land Institute programming committee and is known for hosting mentorship and networking events.
Join us to celebrate the 2016 Forty under under 40 Awards January 25, 2017 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. For tickets and event info visit www.biv.com/events/40under40.
