Manjit Minhas Siblings: All About Ravinder Minhas

Manjit Minhas is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and venture capitalist, widely recognized for her role as a “Dragon” on the Canadian reality television series Dragons’ Den, where she has been a prominent investor since joining in 2015 for its tenth season.

Born on May 31, 1980, in Calgary, Alberta, to Indian immigrant parents, Minhas grew up in a modest family with her father working as an engineer and her mother as a teacher.

She initially pursued engineering studies at the University of Calgary and the University of Regina but shifted her focus to entrepreneurship, driven by a passion for marketing, branding, and sales.

At the age of 19, she co-founded Minhas Breweries, Distillery, and Wineries with her brother, laying the foundation for a global liquor empire that now ranks among the top 10 largest breweries worldwide, with reported annual revenues exceeding $220 million.

Beyond her business ventures, Minhas is a committed philanthropist, public speaker, and board member for organizations such as Enbridge, ATB Financial, and the Calgary Airport Authority.

Siblings

Manjit has one sibling, her younger brother Ravinder Minhas, who is also her business partner and co-founder of Minhas Breweries, Distillery, and Wineries.

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, alongside Manjit, Ravinder shares a close professional and personal bond with his sister.

Their partnership began in 1999 while both were students at the University of Calgary, initially importing private label spirits for their parents’ chain of liquor stores.

While Manjit focuses on marketing, brand development, and retail negotiations, Ravinder oversees other operational aspects of the business, allowing them to scale rapidly while keeping the company privately owned.

In 2006, the duo made history by purchasing the second-oldest brewery in the United States, the Joseph Huber Brewing Company, renaming it Minhas Craft Brewery, which made them the youngest brewery owners in the world at the time.

Ravinder has also pursued independent ventures, including serving as a board member for Canada Jetlines, but remains a key figure in the Minhas business empire.

Career

Minhas’ entrepreneurial journey began at 19 when she and Ravinder invested $10,000—raised partly by selling her Toyota RAV4—to launch their first beer brand, Mountain Crest Classic Lager, for their parents’ liquor stores in Alberta.

This venture marked their entry into the alcohol industry in 1999.

Also Read: Luke Mitchell Siblings: Meet the Siblings Squad Behind the Australian Actor

By 2002, they expanded into importing beer, and in 2006, they acquired the Joseph Huber Brewing Company in Monroe, Wisconsin, renaming it Minhas Craft Brewery.

This acquisition not only solidified their presence in the U.S. market but also established them as the youngest brewery owners globally at the time.

The Minhas Craft Brewery, now the 18th largest craft brewery in the United States and 28th overall as of 2020, produces over 120 brands of beers, spirits, liqueurs, and wines, including well-known labels like Boxer Lager, Lazy Mutt Ale, and Huber Bock.

The company also manufactures private label products for major retailers such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Walgreens.

In 2012, the siblings opened Minhas Micro Brewery in Calgary, followed by Minhas Distillery, Minhas Winery, and Minhas Kitchen in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Their combined operations reported \$155 million in revenue in 2014, with estimates suggesting growth to over $220 million by recent years.

Beyond brewing, Manjit co-owns Spotlight TV and Film Production, which produces documentaries, films, and commercials, and has diversified her portfolio with investments in real estate, a graphic design firm, and a glass-blowing company.

Since joining Dragons’ Den in 2015, she has invested over \$2.7 million in more than three dozen businesses, showcasing her venture capitalist expertise.

In 2022, she was appointed Senior Advisor to Decibel Cannabis Company’s Board of Directors and later nominated to join the board.

Minhas also serves on the boards of Enbridge, ATB Financial, and the Calgary Airport Authority, and in 2024, she became the first woman owner of the Edmonton Stingers, a Canadian Elite Basketball League team.

Accolades

Minhas has been named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by BNN Bloomberg, recognizing her as a leading young business figure.

She was also listed among Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN and honored as a Top Growth Entrepreneur by PROFIT magazine.

In 2011, Chatelaine magazine awarded her the Top Entrepreneur Woman of the Year, and she received Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Prairie Region award.

Minhas was also recognized with The Sikh Centennial Foundation Award in 2015 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Canadian business and society.

In 2017, she received the 1st Alumni of Influence Award from JA Southern Alberta at the Calgary Business Hall of Fame.

Her commitment to gender equality earned her the United Nations Association in Canada’s Global Citizen Laureate Award in 2024.

Additionally, Minhas was appointed an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in 2022, reflecting her leadership and community involvement.