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Deadline to apply is May 8, 2023
Acton Academy Northwest Austin Children's Business Fair, Austin, TX
Saturday, May 20, 2023
10:00AM - 1:00PM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Kids ages 6-14 develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We will host ~50 booths on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 10am-1pm.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
Hosted by
Angela Griffiths
🗓️ Started hosting in 2019
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 5 fairs
Welcome to the Acton Academy Northwest Austin Children's Business Fair! My name is Angela, and I’m thrilled to head up the team hosting our 4th annual fair this spring. Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of watching young entrepreneurs light up the marketplace with their creativity, courage, and incredible ideas.
As a co-founder of Acton Academy Northwest Austin, I’m passionate about empowering kids to dream big, take ownership of their learning, and discover their unique potential. Hosting this fair is one of my favorite events of the year—it’s where curiosity, hard work, and innovation come to life!
When I’m not cheering on our young business owners, you’ll find me on our podcast, Noodles In the Sandbox or spending quality time with my kids.
Thank you for being part of this celebration of entrepreneurship, and I can’t wait to see what amazing ideas our community’s young minds will bring to the table this year!
23 booths participating
CC’s Depot
Fizzle Bath Co.
And 21 others.
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.
What are the age requirements for participation?
Children between the ages of 6-14.
What are the age requirements for participation?
Children between the ages of 6-14.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 75 businesses.
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?
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 booth with an 6-foot table, pop-up canopy tent, and 1 chair. 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.
