Former State Treasurer Questions "Shark Tank" Strategy, Transparency, and Measurables

Previous news reports of a $35,000 trip to Miami likely resulted in O'Leary gaining the contract with North Dakota.

Former State Treasurer Kelly Schmit is raising the alarm about an issue we’ve been covering for months. According to the Bismarck Tribune in digging up how Kevin O’Leary ended up with the contract for North Dakota’s $45 million investment fund:

O'Leary said he met Teigen recently at a cryptocurrency conference, where the commerce commissioner asked if his firm would like to bid on the RFP for the investment fund, what O'Leary called a "venture fund very similar to 'Shark Tank.'" Teigen confirmed O'Leary's account of inviting the "Shark Tank" star's firm to bid on the RFP.

O'Leary said he has heard from investors he works with, sovereign funds and state funds after Commerce announced the Wonder Fund.

Former state treasurer Kelly Schmidt says:

"I think it's always a great opportunity when we have outsiders come into North Dakota that take a look at what we have to offer, because we have so much to offer, especially in our rural communities, but I guess my question would be, if it was so a…