Acton Academy Nashville Children's Business Fair
Saturday, September 17, 2022
1:00PM - 4:00PM
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About the fair
Calling all young entrepreneurs to showcase their business talent! On Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 1-4pm, Acton Academy Nashville will be hosting a Children’s Business Fair at 5125 Franklin Pike, Nashville TN 37220.
We will host 20 booths and children ages 6-14 are encouraged to apply. Children will create a product or service, develop a brand, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at this one-day marketplace (which is free and open to the public!). The children are responsible for the setup, sales, and interacting with customers, and there will be cash prizes awarded for categories like “Most Business Potential,” “Most Creative Idea,” and “Most Impressive Presentation.”
At Acton Academy Nashville, we firmly believe that today’s youth are tomorrow’s business innovators and leaders, and we are proud that our Children’s Business Fair gives children the opportunity to explore the world of business in a fun and interactive way!
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy Nashville, Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers.
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Hosted by
Carrie Kinsley
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 1 fair
Acton Academy is part of a growing trend of micro-schools that offers a fresh approach to education. It is school reimagined for the 21st century, founded by a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
Our mission is to help each child find a calling by developing the skills, confidence, creativity, determination, and mindset needed to flourish, create their own opportunities, and better the world. The Acton Academy Nashville Children's Business Fair in a great opportunity for the children in our community to expand their social and creative skills and gain experience in business ideation, iteration, and growth.
Judges
Our mission is to help each child find a calling by developing the skills, confidence, creativity, determination, and mindset needed to flourish, create their own opportunities, and better the world. The Acton Academy Nashville Children's Business Fair in a great opportunity for the children in our community to expand their social and creative skills and gain experience in business ideation, iteration, and growth.
Judges
Patrizio Murdocca
Bio: Patrizio Murdocca is a real estate investor and entrepreneur in Nashville. He started his first business at 15 in the non-profit sector building and donating computers to students and families in need. He went on to start a website design company that he took with him to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt. After graduating in 2019, he scaled the website company into a successful digital marketing agency which he was able to transition to a more passive role earlier this year. Today, Patrizio works on his newest venture in building residential communities to provide homes for rent throughout middle Tennessee. In his free time, Patrizio enjoys spending time with and traveling with his wife, Jennifer, and enjoying special moments with both their families who live in Nashville and Franklin.
Haley Zapolski
Bio: Haley Zapolski is the founder of NashTech, a community for investors and founders in Nashville that hosts events, workshops, and facilitates introductions and deal flow. She is passionate about building the startup community in Nashville!
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 20 businesses.
What ages can participate?
Children from the ages of 6 to 14 are able to participate in this year's event. Children ages 4 and 5 can participate if partnered in a group with children 6+.
What ages can participate?
Children from the ages of 6 to 14 are able to participate in this year's event. Children ages 4 and 5 can participate if partnered in a group with children 6+.
Where should I begin?
Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
The 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.
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 table 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 setup, 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.
