Children's Business Fair Mountain View, California event image
๐Ÿ“ฃ Mark your calendar for our 2026 event!

Children's Business Fair Mountain View, California

Saturday, May 2, 2026

1:00PM - 3:30PM

Palo Alto

CA, USA

Applications are closed

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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own business.
Hear their stories and be amazed!

Children develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. 

This event is hosted by Creative Imagination Schoolhouse, sponsored by 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.

We are looking for aspiring young entrepreneurs who are eager to share their creativity, inventions and amazing business ideas to the community. 
Hosted by

Maricar Abaya-Antonio

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Started hosting in 2021

โœ… Identity verified

๐Ÿš€ Has hosted 4 fairs

At Creative Imagination Schoolhouse, we believe in nurturing the unique passions and interests of each child. We foster a learning environment where children lead their own learning journeys, guided by caring adults through group discussions, open-ended activities, and interest-based projects. We cultivate a growth mindset, empowering every child to discover their voice, passion, and joy.

We are collaborating with a dedicated community of families, local businesses, and organizations who share our vision of supporting children's entrepreneurial spirit. Together, we are making the Children's Business Fair a reality, where young entrepreneurs can showcase their creativity and business acumen.

We invite you to join our team of passionate educators, mentors, and parents in supporting this inspiring event.

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 children 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 35 businesses.

Where should I begin? 
Start with our resources page. Must read the event rules and timeline to familiarize with event requirements, process and expectations.

Steps to Register and Apply:

Step 1: Complete application form online.*Must submit a photo of your business idea and products.
Step 2: Applications received will be reviewed by the CIS Children's Business Fair Team.
Step 3: If your business is selected you will receive a Paypal a non-refundable invoice within 24 hours of receipt. If payment is not received within 24 hours, your business will be waitlisted until available spot opens up.
Step 4: Once payment is complete, a confirmation email will be sent to all participating business, together with detailed information and helpful resources for the event.
 
*
Children working as a group should submit one registration that includes each childโ€™s information. No more than 3 participants per business.

Can I apply as part of a group?
To apply, you'll need to submit an online application. Each business needs its own application. If your children are working together on one business, please submit a single application with information for all of them (up to 3 participants total). If your children have two different business idea, please submit one for each business.

Registration:
Creative Imagination Schoolhouse students: $35
Early Bird Registration (5 days after applications opens): $45
General Registration: $55   *subject to capacity

Deadline for booth registration (ages 5-15) is April 2, 2026 or once we reach capacity.  WHEN ALL SPOTS ARE FILLED!

A non-refundable fee is due to confirm booth registration.
Fee covers event site rental fees, event tables and chairs, marketing materials, set-up and clean-up fees and awards/recognition certificates and prizes.

Where do I pay the fee to join the event?
Once your business is selected, you will be sent a payment link to confirm your business participation. Payment must be received within 24 hours upon receipt.

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 outdoor event with table booths (no tent). Each business will be given a booth with an 6-foot table (no additional tables are allowed) and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths and booth decorations is not  provided and is the responsibility of the entrepreneur/s. 

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.

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. If child has their own website and email, please share for all communication (all emails will be sent to both parents and entrepreneur).

Only one kind of business in each table booth, If siblings and friends have different business idea/category, you need to submit separate application.

Will there be resources and workshops available for the participants to sign-up for?
Yes! Once your business is selected and confirmed as an event participant, we will send you a good amount of resources, timeline to use and review in planning your business.

There will be an opportunity to sign-up for a very valuable entrepreneurial workshop series to help you plan, prepare and get ready for the day of event.

Is there an participant orientation:
Yes, there will be a participant orientation. After the application period closes, an email invitation to the orientation will be sent to all participants.

We welcome donations and sponsors: 
We gladly welcome donations and sponsors to help make our Children's Business Fair a memorable experience for our young entrepreneurs! The fees we collect help cover the costs of planning and hosting this event.

If you or your business would like to partner with us through a donation or sponsorship, your contribution will help us with expenses like renting the venue. In return for your generosity, we'll include your name or business in our promotional materials, and there are also opportunities for sponsor tables/booths.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please email us at cismv.cbf@gmail.com.

Thank you for considering supporting our young entrepreneurs!

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

Children's Business Fair

Acton Academy

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