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Acton Children's Business Fair - Madison, WI
Saturday, May 17, 2025
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Applications are closed
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About the fair
The Acton Madison Children's Business Fair is the opportunity for children ages 6 - 12 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 up to 36 businesses at the 3rd annual event at Acton Academy Madison West, located at 4100 Nakoma Road, on Saturday, May 27th, 2025 from 10am – 1pm. Acton Academy Madison West is located within the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
There is a $10 booth fee to participate in the fair.
Prize money in various age categories will be awarded for best business idea, business with most potential, and best marketing effort.
There is a $10 booth fee to participate in the fair.
Prize money in various age categories will be awarded for best business idea, business with most potential, and best marketing effort.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy Madison West, 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 Steve Jobs 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
Marisa Palmer
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
The Acton Madison Children's Business Fair is hosted and organized by the team at Acton Academy Madison West, a 4K - 6th grade elementary school, where we believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
We combine elements of the Montessori method with Socratic guiding, hands-on experiential quests and interactive technology. Underlying our method is an application of the Hero’s Journey creating a lively learning environment that feels more like an adventure than school.
We combine elements of the Montessori method with Socratic guiding, hands-on experiential quests and interactive technology. Underlying our method is an application of the Hero’s Journey creating a lively learning environment that feels more like an adventure than school.
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 36 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 team should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business. There will be a $10 booth fee for accepted applications.
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 an indoor event with booths in a large 4,000sf assembly hall and throughout our school (Acton Academy Madison West). Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), and 1-3 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided.
Is there a booth fee?
Successful applicants will be asked for a $10 booth fee at time of acceptance to the Business Fair to help defray costs.
Will electricity be available?
Successful applicants will be asked for a $10 booth fee at time of acceptance to the Business Fair to help defray costs.
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.
