When Wine Won’t Wait: The Sommeliers Solution That Changed Everything

Picture this: you’re with friends, opening what you know is an incredible, expensive bottle of wine. But time is against you. The wine needs 30 minutes to breathe, to reach its full potential – but you’ve got to drink it now. Your friends take a sip of the rushed wine and assume it must be cheap. “There’s nothing sadder than opening a great bottle, knowing it needs time, but having to drink it fast,” says Jesse Huang, reflecting on the moment that would change everything.

That frustrating evening sparked an idea that would eventually become Megadots Limited and their revolutionary product, the Kairos Aerator – a device that reduces wine aeration time from 30 minutes to just 30 seconds.

Lining up this zoom call with both Jesse and Jonah hasn’t been easy, what with their hugely busy schedule. Jumping from one wine event or festival to the next – there’s no rest for the wicked! But it was certainly worth the wait as I was eager to find out more about their incredibly innovative invention – Kairos, the world’s first contactless wine aerator. 

Let’s be honest, we’re all a little sceptical of wireless or contactless technology. How can we trust using our bank cards, phones or even watches when we pay for stuff? Initially it was a strange concept, however it’s quickly become the norm. Co-founders and close business partners Jesse and Jonah are putting this technology into Kairos. It’s accurate, seamless and very damn cool. Sleek, modern, incredible quality…yes I can vouch for all of these things because following our zoom call I was sent my very own green version to try out for myself. 

I love it! 

Just reading through the Kairos website there’s no mystery to what you will receive when you invest in this tech for your own home. ‘Wine enhanced in seconds’ ‘accuracy is everything’ ‘science at your convenience’ – some very strong USPs for their product indeed.

But for now let’s find out more about the duo behind this revolutionary brand.

Jesse and Jonah had been classmates and were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. Once meeting they became very close, living nearby it was easy to spend time together including going to the gym, attending art shows or perusing art galleries. With lots in common it was a great friendship from the off. After spending time in the UK they both knew it was somewhere worth settling. Both avid sports fans, any spare time is dedicated to improving their golf swing or attentively following the tennis. 

Moving to work in the wine industry, the two have found it a little tough getting the work-life balance correct but admit that even if they are spending most weekends at events in the wine industry it doesn’t always feel like work:

‘It feels like we are just meeting up with friends – being natural introverts it takes a lot of energy and confidence to speak to people at the shows or festivals we attend, but everyone is so nice and we get such a great reaction to our product that we forget our worries and enjoy every moment’

Jesse and his co-founder Jonah were both studying in London when inspiration struck. Jonah’s family background in technology provided the missing piece of the puzzle. “He thought about electromagnetic wave technology,” Jesse explains. “It’s normally used in space and 5G communication, but it gets absorbed by oxygen molecules. That’s usually a problem – but for wine aeration, it’s perfect.”

The science is elegant: wine needs oxygen to develop its flavours, and this electromagnetic wave technology naturally interacts with oxygen molecules. After five years of development, from prototype to computer chip design, they’d created something truly innovative.

As their studies came to an end, Jesse and Jonah faced a familiar challenge for international students: what happens next? “When my student visa ended, we applied for PSW to stay here as long as we could,” Jesse recalls. “But it’s very hard to find a job that will transfer to a working visa because companies want stable people who can stay forever, not just for two years.”

The catch-22 was frustrating. They had a brilliant business idea, they’d established their company and trademark, but they couldn’t actually trade until they had the right visa. “We were spending money but couldn’t do business because we were waiting for the visa – but the purpose of the visa was to do business!”

Enter Innovator International. “We looked at different endorsement bodies, but Innovator International was very straightforward because they’re tech-savvy,” Jesse explains. “We’re in electronics, we’re from Taiwan with strong semiconductor connections – it matched quite well.”

The support went beyond just visa processing. “It’s like having friends you can ask for details or questions,” Jesse says. “Different stages bring different difficulties. Once you have questions, you can ask the right person right away. It saves time and money because you might spend too much time finding the wrong people.”

Despite being endorsed only in August 2024, the results speak for themselves. In less than a year, Megadots has:

• Sold over 300 units of the Kairos Aerator
• Built a customer base spanning restaurants, wine bars, and enthusiasts
• Expanded from online sales to wine festivals and events

“99% of people love our product and notice the difference right away – even those who don’t drink wine,” Jesse says with pride.

But both admit that it can be really tough to gain trust, especially because you don’t see the results happening in front of your eyes. It’s all in the taste. Products like these can be hard to market or sell online or virtually. The best way to convert is real life demonstrations, hence the busy schedule for both attending various events, markets and festivals whenever possible. Once potential customers have had a chance to see the technology in action it’s hard to resist adding one to their own kitchen.

Measuring success can be tough – usually with a product such as this you would do so on units sold. However, the answer surprised me. ‘Our product gave somebody goosebumps once. This was a huge success in my eyes. In fact, I ended up giving away product number 002 as a gift because the person was so overwhelmed by the Kairos aerator. Their reaction to it was so strong and unforgettable. It brought tears to their eyes when they received that gift. To us, that will always stick in our minds’.

What makes the Kairos Aerator special isn’t just its speed – it’s the flexibility it offers. “Traditionally, you pour a whole bottle into a decanter and wait hours to see if it’s perfect,” Jesse explains. “But once you’ve poured it, you can’t go back. With our aerator, you can test it glass by glass. If you don’t like the taste, just pour a new glass and try a different wine.”

This precision has proven invaluable for their B2B customers. One local wine store owner with 5,000 wines on his website uses the Kairos when visiting wineries. “It helps him pick wines that match his neighbours’ preferences, and he can test them quickly without committing to a whole bottle.”

The success stories keep coming. Jesse fondly remembers giving a free sample to a Metro Bank manager during Christmas. “Last week, I saw him posting on Instagram about dinner with friends, and there was our Kairos in the photo. It’s amazing because you can see people really love the product – not because it was free, but because it genuinely improves their lives.”

The product has become a conversation starter, something people are proud to show off. “It gives you confidence during parties. You can showcase something no one else has.”

With their initial success in the UK, Jesse and Jonah are eyeing expansion to Italy and the US later this year. They’re also exploring opportunities beyond wine – the portable, pocket-sized design opens doors to travel, fashion, and sports car industries.

“We’re not just selling a product,” Jesse reflects. “We’re making small steps to change the whole industry and make lives better. People become believers because they see this is the future of wine.”

Well, I have no doubt their product is going to become very popular in countries like Italy. I also have an inkling that a certain innovative TV show would also welcome such technology, and early on in our conversation both Jesse and Jonah agreed that they’d be more than happy applying for a place in front of the Dragons. 

When asked what they’d tell others considering the Innovator Founder visa, Jesse doesn’t hesitate: “I actually help Chinese friends with their business plans and tell them they must go with Innovator International. I think they did apply!”

The journey from frustrated students to successful entrepreneurs hasn’t been easy, but the support made all the difference. “Through Innovator International, we’re clearer about the process, what we can do, what we cannot do, and the timeline. We feel very relieved after being endorsed.”

From that disappointing evening with an under-aerated wine to over 300 happy customers and increasing sales figures, Jesse and Jonah have proven that with the right idea, determination, and support, student entrepreneurs can build something extraordinary.

Their story is a reminder that innovation often comes from the most unexpected places – and sometimes, the best solutions are born from the most frustrating problems.

A huge thank you for your time to share your story with us, we really do wish you all the best!

Do connect with co founders Jonah and Jesse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsinjung-lee-509900253/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyun-chun-huang/