Acton Children's Business Fair Ottawa, Ontario
Sunday, May 5, 2019
10:00AM - 1:00AM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for young entrepreneurs to 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 60 booths at the 3rd annual Ottawa Children's Business Fair on Sunday, May 5th from 10 am to 1 pm.
This event is sponsored by Revel Academy, Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers.
Hosted by
Erin Anderson
🗓️ Started hosting in 2017
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 6 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, guides, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
58 booths participating
Foldscope
Mini-Stick Madness
And 56 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ottawa Children’s Business Fair?
The Ottawa 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 55 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?
Applications 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 inside the Lansdowne Horticulture Building. Each business will be given a 6-foot table and 2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided.
Will electricity be available?
We cannot guarantee proximity to an outlet, however, if it is required for your business, you must let organizers know in advance.
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, the business owner may be asked to close for the remainder of the fair.
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.
Our incredible sponsors
Our lead sponsor, Revel Academy, is a member of the Acton Academy network. This innovative studio utilizes self-paced blended learning with authentic challenge-based quests to unleash each student's inner talents. Currently serving learners aged 4 to 13-years-old, Revel believes in empowering each child to take ownership of their education. www.revelacademy.ca
Aqua Dental is a family oriented Dental Centre in Ottawa. Our practice philosophy is ” When we love what we do, our patients will love what we do." This means that at Aqua Dental we promise a friendly, calm, and relaxed atmosphere while providing our patients with a comprehensive and conservative approach to their dental care. We strive for quality, not quantity, and we will work hard as a team to continue to learn and grow, to pass our education and expertise to our patients so they can be their first line of defense against dental disease. https://aquadentalottawa.ca
Brion Raffoul is a premier Canadian IP boutique firm based in Ottawa consistently ranked as a leading patent practice by the IAM Patent 1000. We provide clients with a full range of patent, design and trademark procurement services, as well as legal advice on IP issues. From start-ups, to universities and government agencies, to both private and publicly-traded companies, we manage the IP interests of our clients both in Canada and internationally. www.bripgroup.com
Smith & Bradley's Insurance, is one of the largest commercial insurance organizations in Eastern Ontario. Founded in 2011 by Jeff Smith, the Smith & Bradley's team is the coming together of some of Ottawa's most experienced industry leaders. Our clients include local, national and international businesses of all sizes and from all industries.
