Acton Children's Business Fair San Diego, California
Saturday, June 14, 2025
10:00AM - 2:30PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
Experience 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 over 10 booths at the 1st annual event in Escondido on June 14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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 principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or 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
Sophie Yapo
🗓️ Started hosting in 2024
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 2.7 (3)
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, committed to helping children learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
9 booths participating
Touch of Africa
Bubble bath bombs
And 7 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair is designed to inspire young entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to explore and showcase their business ideas. As the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market allows children to create and run their very own businesses, gaining hands-on experience in a fun and supportive environment.
The Acton Children’s Business Fair is designed to inspire young entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to explore and showcase their business ideas. As the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market allows children to create and run their very own businesses, gaining hands-on experience in a fun and supportive environment.
How many businesses will you accept?
We’ll be accepting up to 30 businesses for the event.
We’ll be accepting up to 30 businesses for the event.
Where should I begin?
Start by visiting our Resources page! You can read inspiring stories of young entrepreneurs and play interactive games to sharpen your business skills.
Start by visiting our Resources page! You can read inspiring stories of young entrepreneurs and play interactive games to sharpen your business skills.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Applications must be submitted online. Each business should submit a separate application. If children are working as a group, they should submit one application that includes the information for all participants. Please note that a maximum of 3 participants is allowed per business.
Applications must be submitted online. Each business should submit a separate application. If children are working as a group, they should submit one application that includes the information for all participants. Please note that a maximum of 3 participants is allowed per business.
What is on the application?
The application will ask kids to consider some simple yet important aspects of their business:
The application will ask kids to consider some simple yet important aspects of their business:
- What product or service do you plan to sell?
- What price will you charge for each product or service? How much will each product or service cost you?
- How will you fund your startup costs? If someone is helping with your startup costs, how will you repay them?
- How will you advertise or market your business before the fair?
- At the end of the fair, how will you measure the success of your business?
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem! In general, we allow market forces to determine how similar businesses will fare. However, we will notify later applicants if another business has a similar idea, giving them the option to decide how to proceed.
Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem! In general, we allow market forces to determine how similar businesses will fare. However, we will notify later applicants if another business has a similar idea, giving them the option to decide how to proceed.
How will the fair be set up?
Each business will be responsible for bringing its booth, chairs, and anything else needed for its setup.
Each business will be responsible for bringing its booth, chairs, and anything else needed for its setup.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide electricity to the booths.
Unfortunately, we are unable 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 their child’s product or service, the child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
- Parents of younger children may sit at the booth, but the children should be responsible for the setup, customer interactions, and sales.
- While parents can help their children fill out the application, we expect children to do as much of the work on their own as possible.
How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?
Jeff and Laura Sandefer, along with a few other families, wanted to inspire a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their children. To bring this vision to life, they created the first Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007. That year, the event featured seven young entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. Today, the Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin has grown to host over 115 entrepreneurs and attract more than 1,500 attendees.
