{"id":9136,"date":"2026-10-14T14:29:53","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/?p=9136"},"modified":"2026-10-14T19:15:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T19:15:59","slug":"permission-to-fail-a-case-for-youth-entrepreneurship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/ai-technology-and-innovation\/permission-to-fail-a-case-for-youth-entrepreneurship\/","title":{"rendered":"Permission to Fail: A case for youth entrepreneurship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tRonnen Harary, co-founder of Spin Master, on why your 20s offer a unique entrepreneurial advantage and how AI is creating white space for agile founders.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ronnen Harary co-founded Spin Master when he was just 23 years old, armed with $10,000, a learning disability that pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and an instinct to bet on himself. What started as Earth Buddies\u2014nylon sacks filled with sawdust and grass seed\u2014led to Air Hogs flying toys, then Hatchimals, and eventually Paw Patrol, one of the most successful preschool entertainment franchises in the world. Today, Spin Master is a publicly traded global company headquartered in Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p><\/video><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In conversation with Disruptors host John Stackhouse, Harary shares his journey while making a broader argument: your 20s are the optimal decade to start a business. You\u2019re close to the zeitgeist, full of energy, unburdened by the over-intellectualization that can paralyze mature companies, and gifted with society\u2019s permission to take risks and fail. He introduces the concept of \u201cinverse risk\u201d\u2014the often-overlooked danger of not<\/em> pursuing your entrepreneurial vision, of giving up on what he calls \u201cthe screenplay of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harary also explores why Canada, despite its resources and talent, underproduces entrepreneurs compared to other developed economies. He points to culture, risk aversion, and a lack of institutional support\u2014though he credits organizations like Futurpreneur for offering collateral-free loans that help young founders get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite economic uncertainty, Harary believes this is the most exciting time ever to be a young entrepreneur. AI is disrupting established industries, creating white space for agile founders who can move faster than legacy companies. For anyone considering starting a business, his advice is simple: movement creates luck. Don\u2019t wait. Start now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n