📣
2025 Registration is closed.
Orientation zoom meeting is on JUNE 7th at 9.00am
Waltham Children's Business Fair
Saturday, June 21, 2025
9:00AM - 2:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
IN-PERSON
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Observe the opportunity for children 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 about 100 booths at the 9th annual event.
This will in-person at the Waltham Common on June 21st, 2025
Time: 9.00am – 2.00 pm
This year the Waltham Children's Business Fair will be one of the programs at the International Children's Convention, therefore each booth will have a flag to represent their country of origin and everyone should stick around for the other half of the event which will begin at 2pm-4pm and this will include the an art exhibition, talent and fashion show, traditional food tasting and the award ceremony.
This event is brought to you by Mamai Art Gallery, Inc., Acton Academy 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.
Participation fee per booth of $25
BUSINESS COMPETITION
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged on the criteria below, most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation.
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged on the criteria below, most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation.
- Four (4) winners will be chosen and awarded cash prizes of $100 which is to be split among the business owners of the business has more than one owner.
- One of the Four winners will be selected as the overall and will get an extra $100.
Overall winner=$200
Most original business idea=$100
Highest Business Potential =$100
Best Presentation=$100
Highest Business Potential =$100
Best Presentation=$100
- Mentors will be a signed to any of the main top 4 winners that are interested in furthering their business idea/venture beyond the one-day open market.
- All participants will get non cash recognition for their effort.
Please scroll down for FAQ or contact us at the form at the bottom of the page. We look forward to seeing you.
Hosted by
Fiona Mamai
🗓️ Started hosting in 2017
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 8 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
92 booths participating
Lace Helper
Treasures with love
And 90 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Waltham Children’s Business Fair?
The Waltham Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneurial skills. And is 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 100 businesses.
Where should I begin?
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?
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Application must be submitted online through the link provided ONLY. 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 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?
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 in-person with 100 booths and we will also upload the kidpreneurs profiles on our website.
We will vet businesses before the event, kids must have created the products or contributed the bigges percentage to it's creation.
We will vet businesses before the event, kids must have created the products or contributed the bigges percentage to it's creation.
Will electricity be available?
Yes, we are able to provide electricity to the booths that request it.
What are the rules?
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.
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 Children’s Business Fairs 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, the fairs have spread out all over North America and other parts of the world.
In Waltham, the fair was started Fiona Mamai director of Mamai Art Gallery, Inc. with 8 booths and 14 kid entrepreneurs in 2017 then 48 booths and 73 entrepreneurs in 2018. For 2019, we had 64 booth applications 110 entrepreneurs and 750 attendees.
In 2020, we had 25 booths, 42 kids and over 1000 online participants.
In 2021, we had 34 booth 52 kids and it was in person.
In 2022, we had 76 kids with 51 booth.
In 2023, we had 132 kids with 85 booths
2024, 110 kids with 70 booths.
How can one pay the registeration?
After filling out the registration form, you will be directed to the PayPal link. However if you don't have PayPal,
CashApp 781-325-5053
Remember to Include child's name on any of the payment methods
In Waltham, the fair was started Fiona Mamai director of Mamai Art Gallery, Inc. with 8 booths and 14 kid entrepreneurs in 2017 then 48 booths and 73 entrepreneurs in 2018. For 2019, we had 64 booth applications 110 entrepreneurs and 750 attendees.
In 2020, we had 25 booths, 42 kids and over 1000 online participants.
In 2021, we had 34 booth 52 kids and it was in person.
In 2022, we had 76 kids with 51 booth.
In 2023, we had 132 kids with 85 booths
2024, 110 kids with 70 booths.
How can one pay the registeration?
After filling out the registration form, you will be directed to the PayPal link. However if you don't have PayPal,
CashApp 781-325-5053
Remember to Include child's name on any of the payment methods
