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We are so excited to announce our 1st Annual Children's Business Far!!
We Are HYPE Children's Business Fair
Saturday, July 22, 2023
10:00AM - 1:00PM
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About the fair
Come witness the young people in our community launch their very own startup business!
Kids 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 up to 25 youth businesses at the Children's Business Fair. The Fair will be located at 6501 Arlington Expressway Service Road Jacksonville, FL 32211 and the date and time will be July 22, 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 the Jr. entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Hosted by
Andrew Bowman
🗓️ Started hosting in 2023
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 1 fair
Andrew Bowman is the Founder and Executive Director of We Are HYPE (Helping Young People Everywhere), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving youth through mentorship and real-life development.
For over 15 years, Andrew has poured into the lives of young people as a coach, mentor, and leader — focusing not just on performance, but on building confidence, strengthening identity, and helping them discover their purpose.
His mission is rooted in one belief: every young person deserves someone who sees them, believes in them, and challenges them to become who they were created to be.
After stepping away from the corporate world, Andrew committed fully to building a sustainable organization that creates real opportunities for youth to grow — on and off the field, in business, and in life.
Through initiatives like the Children’s Business Fair, mentorship workshops, and leadership development programs, Andrew is creating spaces where young people can take ownership, build confidence, and step into who they’re meant to become.
For Andrew, this work is personal. It’s not just about programs — it’s about showing up, being present, and making sure the next generation has the guidance and support to change the trajectory of their lives.
If you want one small optional punch-up line to end it even stronger, you could add:
“Because mentorship isn’t something he does — it’s who he is.”
20 booths participating
Mani&Lani’s bags and barbies
Marcus photography
And 18 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.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 25 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 a 6 or 8-foot table (to share with one other business), full-cover tenting, 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.
