Permission to Fail: A case for youth entrepreneurship

Spin Master co-founder Ronnen Harary believes Canada needs more entrepreneurs—especially young ones. In this episode of Disruptors, he joins host John Stackhouse to explain why your 20s offer the perfect window to start a business: you’re close to emerging trends, you have permission to fail, and you possess the “power of not knowing” that lets you take risks mature companies won’t. Ronnen shares the story of building Spin Master from Earth Buddies to global brands like Air Hogs, Hatchimals, and Paw Patrol. He introduces the concept of “inverse risk”—the idea that not pursuing your entrepreneurial vision may be riskier than trying and failing. And he makes the case that despite economic uncertainty, AI disruption is creating unprecedented opportunities for young founders willing to move fast. Chapters: 00:00 Why Canada needs more young entrepreneurs 01:39 Why your 20s are the best decade to start a business 03:49 The power of not knowing: the Air Hogs story 05:28 Immigrant roots, dysgraphia and an early entrepreneur 08:42 Earth Buddy and the birth of Spin Master 10:30 Tracking down the Kmart buyer 13:32 Inverse risk: from Earth Buddy to PAW Patrol 16:30 Why doesn't Canada have more entrepreneurs? 17:34 Futurpreneur and collateral-free loans 18:27 AI, Stickerbox and the most exciting time to start 21:23 Advice to his 23-year-old self CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE: • Follow RBC Thought Leadership on LinkedIn • Follow John Stackhouse on LinkedIn • For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.