News Americas, New York, NY, July 18, 2024: A Caribbean distilled and the world’s first award-winning Island Vodka handcrafted from breadfruit, has so far raised over USD800,000 in a crowdfunding equity raise on the platform Start Engine.

This Caribbean Based Vodka Made From Breadfruit has raised Over 800K To Date. (mutinyislandvodka.com image)

Mutiny Island Vodka, the world’s first award-winning vodka handcrafted from breadfruit, has successfully has secured $855,507.81 from 499 investors, with a minimum investment of $495.60 or $4.72 per share raised as of July 17, 2024.

Founded in 2017 by American-born Chef Todd Manley, Mutiny Island Vodka operates out of the 20,000 sq. ft. solar-powered Sion Farm distillery on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company is committed to zero waste production and also offers ginger and turmeric-infused vodka, hot pepper-infused vodka, and Puerto Rican coffee-infused vodka. To date, the company has reported $5 million in sales.

Mutiny Island Vodka takes its name from the historic Mutiny on the Bounty. According to the company, they combined breadfruit with purified Caribbean rainwater to create the unique vodka. Manley, a graduate and former graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, previously ran multiple restaurants with average revenues of $1.4M per year each. After relocating to the U.S. Virgin Islands, he opened several successful businesses and was honored by the local Chamber of Commerce as “Business Man of the Year” in 2015. He also received the U.S. Congressional Award for his contributions to the community of St. Croix.

In recognition of his work with breadfruit, Manley was honored at the Global Breadfruit Summit in Hawaii in 2018 and 2022. Mutiny Island Vodka has also received endorsement from the Trees That Feed Foundation for using breadfruit as a substrate, encouraging the planting of breadfruit trees. The vodka has also been featured in Forbes, further cementing its reputation.

The history of breadfruit in the Caribbean dates back to the late 18th century, when it was introduced by the British as a cheap food source for slaves. Today, breadfruit is valued for its versatility, nutritional benefits, and climate resilience. A new study published in the journal Current Biology highlights the crop’s potential to improve food security and sovereignty in tropical regions.

Breadfruit trees are low-maintenance and can produce fruit for decades, sequestering carbon and requiring fewer resources than annual staple crops. “It should fare better than some major crops under climate change scenarios and can be utilized in a variety of ways,” said Nyree Zerega of Northwestern University.

Mutiny Island Vodka’s success in raising capital underscores the growing interest in sustainable and innovative food and beverage products. The vodka can be purchased at mutinyislandvodka.com.

News Americas, New York, NY, July 17, 2024: Carlos Watson, the Caribbean heritage co-founder of Ozy Media, now faces up to 37 years in prison after a federal jury found him guilty of defrauding investors and lenders. The jury reached their verdict after three days of deliberation, following an eight-week trial that uncovered numerous deceptive practices within the company.

Carlos Watson, the Jamaican American co-founder and chief executive officer of Ozy Media Inc., center, arriveing at federal court in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Friday, June 7, 2024. Watson was found guilty on charges that he conspired to defraud investors in Ozy Media, the digital media start-up he co-founded on July 16, 2024. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutors accused Watson of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, presenting detailed evidence of deceptive actions, including impersonated phone calls, fabricated contracts, and inflated claims about Ozy’s financial health. “Watson knew the company was failing, but he was determined to turn Ozy and himself into the next big thing, and he wasn’t going to let the truth stand in his way,” stated Gillian Kassner, the prosecutor, during closing arguments in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York.

Watson’s defense team argued that any fraudulent activities were the responsibility of other Ozy employees. Watson himself testified that his representations to investors were based on genuine assessments of Ozy’s finances and that any discrepancies were typical of a young start-up’s growing pains. Despite these defenses, the jury was not persuaded.

Watson, born and raised in Miami, Florida, is one of four siblings born to Jamaican parents. His early life saw him navigate numerous challenges, including an early expulsion from kindergarten. Watson graduated from Harvard University and went on to play significant roles in political campaigns, including managing Bill Clinton’s 1992 Election Day effort in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He later attended Stanford Law School, where he was an editor of the Stanford Law Review and president of the Stanford Law School Student Government.

After a stint at McKinsey & Company, Watson co-founded Achieva College Prep Service, which he sold to Kaplan, Inc. in 2002. He later became the Global Head of Education Investment Banking for Goldman Sachs and co-founded College Track with Laurene Powell Jobs in 1997.

Watson’s media career began in earnest in 2002 with guest appearances on Fox News and Court TV. He joined CNBC in early 2003 and moved to CNN later that year, where he became a well-known political commentator. His work on CNN, particularly during the 2004 presidential election, and his hosting of “Meet the Faith” on BET, established him as a prominent media figure.

In 2013, Watson co-founded Ozy Media with Samir Rao, raising over $70 million from notable investors. Ozy expanded into TV shows and podcasts, forming partnerships with major media entities like A&E Networks, iHeart Media, and Live Nation. However, the company faced scrutiny in 2021 when a New York Times article exposed potentially fraudulent practices. Watson dismissed the article as a “ridiculous hitjob,” but the damage to Ozy’s reputation was significant.

Sharon Osbourne, wife of rock star Ozzy Osbourne, accused Watson of falsely claiming the couple had invested in Ozy. Watson clarified that the Osbournes received shares as part of a legal settlement, though Osbourne denied ever accepting such offers.

In February 2023, Watson was arrested on fraud charges, shortly after Samir Rao pleaded guilty. Prosecutors alleged that Watson misled investors about Ozy’s financial performance and audience metrics. Despite Watson’s not guilty plea and vigorous defense on Twitter, the evidence presented at trial led to his conviction.

Watson’s trial, presided over by Judge Eric R. Komitee, featured testimonies from high-profile figures, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who refuted claims of a $600 million acquisition offer for Ozy. Jury deliberations began on July 12, culminating in the guilty verdict that now sees Watson facing a potential 37-year prison sentence.