Spin Master Ltd. and Canadian Youth Business Foundation celebrate Innovation Fund recipient achievements

May 29, 2013

Fund established to support and champion innovative Canadian-made businesses

TORONTO, May 29, 2013 – Spin Master Ltd. and The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) honoured Canada’s leading young entrepreneurs last night as recipients of the Spin Master Innovation Fund to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and the guidance and support they received on their path to business success.

For the third consecutive year, CYBF and Spin Master Ltd., Canada’s most innovative children’s toy and entertainment company, teamed up for the Spin Master Innovation Fund, which provides young entrepreneurs with $50,000 in start-up financing, a hand-matched mentor from CYBF’s industry-leading mentorship program and a trip to Toronto to attend a two-day Innovation Workshop, with exclusive access to industry experts and senior Spin Master executives. Last year’s Fund culminated with last night’s networking celebration, held at Toronto’s The Spoke Club, honouring their tremendous achievements as innovative young entrepreneurs.

The event featured keynote speakers Ron Tite, award-winning advertising writer, executive creative director and creativity and innovation expert; Ronnen Harary, Co-CEO of Spin Master Ltd.; John Risley, CYBF Board Chair; and Julia Deans, CEO, CYBF. The speakers were joined by Canada’s top innovators, in celebrating Canadian innovation and showcasing the many accomplishments of past Spin Master Fund recipients, many of whom were recently featured in CYBF’s “Where Are They Now?” campaign.

“Where Are They Now?” followed the path of several young entrepreneurs who have demonstrated the impact of having a network of people who believed in their potential from the beginning: all received financing, mentoring and expert resources from Spin Master Ltd. and CYBF.

“The Spin Master Innovation Fund provided us with the opportunity to access advice and support from senior executives at Spin Master Ltd. As well as from a CYBF mentor in our community,” sad Ryan MacGregor, CEO of SweetSeat. “Some of the most valuable advice was from Spin Master’s marketing and public relations team. The attention we’ve since received has helped us grow our business significantly.”

MacGregor developed a smartphone application that provides in-seat merchandise and concession orders to venues. After attending the Spin Master Innovation Launch Pad Workshop in 2012, Ryan’s company expanded to five venues in five months, was accepted into Ottawa’s Grindspace Accelerator Program, was a finalist for the Best Customer Service Bootstrap Award and then, in 2013, completed a second season with Ontario Hockey League teams and is poised for major expansion in year three.

Other Spin Master Innovation Fund recipients who were featured in the campaign include:

“All of these young entrepreneurs have shown an outstanding ability to think creatively and strategically,” said Julia Deans, CEO, CYBF. “They continue to shine as leaders and innovators who now have the opportunity to become Canada’s next great business success stories. We’re pleased to partner with Spin Master Ltd. to help kick start innovative businesses from coast to coast.”

“The success of the Spin Master Innovation Fund has allowed us to give back to young entrepreneurs all across Canada,” said Spin Master Ltd.’s President and Co-CEO Ronnen Harary. “With the impressive recipients who have already come through the Fund, we’ve been so excited to see the high quality of candidates and the creativity, passion and outstanding character they’ve demonstrated once again this year. We look forward to witnessing their continued success.”

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About CYBF

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-39, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. CYBF has been recognized as a global leader in advancing youth entrepreneurship, is a founding member of the global G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA) and the Canadian Host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 18-24, 2013). Visit www.cybf.ca.

About Spin Master Ltd.

A multi-category children’s entertainment company since 1994, Spin Master has been designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing consumer products for children around the world and is recognized as a global growth leader within the toy industry. Spin Master is best known for such popular brands as boy’s action phenomena and 2009-2010 Boys Toy of the Year winner Bakugan Battle Brawlers™, and award-winning brands Air Hogs®, Appfinity™, Aquadoodle™, La Dee Da™, Nano Speed™, Spin Master Games™, Tech Deck™, and Zoobles™. The company has also marked an entry into children’s media with the launch of Spin Master Entertainment, a subsidiary focusing on the design, development and production of television and other media properties. Spin Master employs over 900 people with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Mexico, Munich, Italy, Spain and central Europe. For additional information please visit: www.spinmaster.com.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lesley Wilmot
Director, Marketing & Communications
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
lwimot@cybf.ca
(416) 408-2923 x 2203