Spin Master And Canadian Youth Business Foundation Honor Celebrate Innovation Fund Recipient Achievements

BY: 

Dave Forde
May 29, 2013

Last night Spin Master and The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) honoured 6 young entrepreneurs 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., joined forced on the annual 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.

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 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,” said 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:

  • Eric St. Pierre and Awane Moufide Jones, founders of Merchlar (Montreal)
  • Jenviev Azzolin, founder of pplconnect (Montreal)
  • Andrew White, founder of CHAR Technologies in Toronto
  • Ilana Ben-Ari, founder of Twenty One Toys (Montreal)
  • Sean Sylvestre, founder of Eyewear Evolution (Winnipeg)
  • Ryan MacGregor, founder of SweetSeat (Ottawa)

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Dave Forde


Dave “The Connector” Forde has been involved in the marketing, public relations and technology industry across Canada for over 20 years in various sales and marketing roles, he launched The Connected One network of business sites which connects buyers to the right sellers. Profectio and PR In Canada covers news about the marketing and public relations industry each day helping professionals advance their career and businesses. He also serves as an advisor to a number of businesses across the country. Find Dave on LinkedIn and Twitter.


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