Acton Silicon Valley Children's Business Fair
Saturday, May 15, 2021
10:30AM - 1:00PM
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About the fair
Calling all young entrepreneurs in the Bay Area!
Do you have a product or service that you'd like to showcase to the world? Are you excited to try out a new idea with your friends and family?
Do you have a product or service that you'd like to showcase to the world? Are you excited to try out a new idea with your friends and family?
Join us on May 15, 2021 for our first annual Children's Business Fair brought to you by Acton Academy Silicon Valley and experience the magic of exploring and showcasing your entrepreneurial spirit.
Please apply by April 1st for a booth. Finalists will be confirmed by April 15th, one month prior to the fair. See FAQ section for more details.
NOTE: The fair is open to all members of the public. The fair will be held entirely outdoors. We will adhere to the local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees (masks, social distancing).
Please apply by April 1st for a booth. Finalists will be confirmed by April 15th, one month prior to the fair. See FAQ section for more details.
NOTE: The fair is open to all members of the public. The fair will be held entirely outdoors. We will adhere to the local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees (masks, social distancing).
Hosted by
Maria Ferrari
🗓️ Started hosting in 2021
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 7 fairs
The mission of Acton Academy Silicon Valley (Preschool-8th grade school) is to create an environment of curiosity and deep exploration where every child can be who they are meant to be and find their calling.
Located in Redwood City, California, Acton Academy Silicon Valley delivers a 21st century education in a self-directed environment where learners become independent, global citizens prepared for the real world.
Through our annual business fair we seek to give children a platform to learn and apply their entrepreneurship skills in a practical and fun way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 15 businesses.
How do I help my child make the most of this opportunity?
Once your application has been accepted, you will receive an electronic "tool kit" with additional supporting material to help you and your child with planning.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business.
Who is this opportunity available to?
All kids up to the age of 15 can apply.
Is there a participation fee?
There is a non-refundable $35 participation fee from all accepted businesses to reserve the spot. This fee will also go towards a toolkit, one t-shirt, table and chairs, setup and clean-up. For businesses with more than one participant, additional (limited) t-shirts can be purchased at the event.
Who is this opportunity available to?
All kids up to the age of 15 can apply.
Is there a participation fee?
There is a non-refundable $35 participation fee from all accepted businesses to reserve the spot. This fee will also go towards a toolkit, one t-shirt, table and chairs, setup and clean-up. For businesses with more than one participant, additional (limited) t-shirts can be purchased at the event.
What is on the application?
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:
- What product or service do you plan to sell?
- What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you?
- How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back?
- How will you advertise/market your business before the fair?
- At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, though we will let later entries know if another applicant has a similar idea so the later entrant can decide what to do.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table (to share with one other business) and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.
How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?
Jeff and Laura Sandefer and a few other families wanted to spark a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their children so they created the first Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007. That year, there were seven entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. Now, there are over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees at the Acton Children's Business Fair in Austin.
