Jon Levy joined the Spin Master Ventures team in 2021. A passionate entrepreneur in the children’s entertainment industry, Jon co-founded Mastermind Toys, a highly successful Canadian retail toy chain, in 1984. From a niche beginning selling educational computer games for children, Jon’s vision grew into a passion to find the very best of everything kids would be excited to play with and learn from. During his career, he developed a unique expertise for curation, presentation, and marketing toys, defining the Mastermind Toys experience.

Mastermind is known for the best selection of toys and books, knowledgeable customer service and renowned for free gift-wrapping. In 2010, Jon led Mastermind into a partnership with a private equity firm that shared his vision for national expansion to bring the fun, colourful, iconic stores into every major Canadian market coast to coast. In just 10 years, the partnership grew Mastermind Toys from 11 to 68 store locations, with an omni channel retail platform and 2,000 dedicated employees.

Jon’s entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity to learn, product knowledge and charismatic connectivity were instrumental in Mastermind Toy’s success. These qualities have made him a sought after subject matter expert who regularly provides industry commentary, insights and keynote appearances focusing on toys, entrepreneurship and private equity partnerships for MBA programs, signature conferences and national broadcast and print media outlets.

He now brings his experience cultivating life-long partnerships with toy inventors and creators from around the world and decades of business development acumen to Spin Master Ventures. Jon is continuing his life’s passion to find the most talented entrepreneurs, unique start ups and creative inventors by traveling the world and engaging with disrupters in the industry. At Spin Master Ventures, he is focused on finding the right opportunities to invest in the future of play and accelerate growth through partnering with the aspiring toy business leaders of tomorrow.