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 around 50 - 70 booths at the Scalzi Park
97 Bridge St, Stamford, CT 06905, USA on Saturday, September/19/2026 from 12:00am–04:00pm.
Founders & Organizers
Sumaiya Hasan Founder & Lead Organizer
Sumaiya is a dedicated homeschooling mother of two who has turned her passion for education into a series of successful entrepreneurial ventures. She has founded and managed a daycare and early childhood center, is actively involved in an educational tech startup, and various small businesses. Her focus on creating nurturing and innovative spaces for children reflects her commitment to their growth and development. Sumaiya's humble journey in entrepreneurship serves as an inspiration for the young participants of the children's business fair.
Shazia Asim Co-Organizer
Shazia holds an MBA in Marketing and Human Resources and has taught in multiple schools, bringing creativity and care to her students. These days, she shares her love for learning by teaching the Quran with Tajweed. She is excited to be part of the Stamford Children’s Business Fair, helping inspire young entrepreneurs to dream big and shine.
Saba Syed Co-Organizer
Saba is a dedicated and compassionate community leader with a strong focus on building healthy, sustainable communities, especially for future generations. Her work includes leading initiatives at both international and local nonprofits, supporting food pantries, and helping organize programs at her local Islamic center. She is especially passionate about creating inclusive, community-building social events that bring people together and foster meaningful connection. Guided by a deep commitment to service, Saba begins each day with the intention of making a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most, always striving to uplift, empower, and spread love in everything she does.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business. 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.
Note: There is a $25 entry fee per business.
Inspiration
"Let's Raise kids to be entrepreneurs!" by Cameron Herold An entrepreneur since childhood, Cameron Herold wants parents and teachers to recognize and foster entrepreneurial talent in children. His beautiful narrative about his youth and how that brought him success throughout his life.
"Forget what you know" by Jacob Barnett Jacob Barnett is an American mathematician and child prodigy. At 8 years old, Jacob began sneaking into the back of college lectures at IUPUI. After being diagnosed with autism since the age of two and placed in his school's special ed. program, Jacob's teachers and doctors were astonished to learn he was able to teach calculus to college students.
"What Adults Can Learn From Kids" by Adora Svitak Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
The 3 magic seeds A short online brochure that tells about the three magical seeds of discovering the entrepreneurial spirit and how to foster this in your children.
Young entrepreneurs A young entrepreneurs who need guidance, inspiration, direction and guidance.
50 smartest teenagers The world's 50 smartest teenagers article tells their stories, ventures and how they got there.
Business Ideas for Kids
From making cat toys to designing websites, check out these 101+ Business Ideas for Kids by Kris Solie-Johnson below.
From Biz Kid$, this worksheet below helps young entrepreneurs think about marketing (from the name of their business to who they will sell to) and financials (including materials, pricing, and profit).
Jaimie Charles is a ceramic artist and art educator based in Stamford, Connecticut. Since 2011, she has grown her business, Jaimieware, where she creates distinctive wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramics. Her work has been featured at community craft fairs such as Art on Bedford Street, and more recently she has focused on showcasing sculptural pieces in gallery exhibitions. With her dual passion for artistry and teaching, Jaimie brings both creative expertise and an eye for craftsmanship to the fair.
Leo Wadhwa brings over 25 years of experience in finance and technology, having worked with several leading Bulge Bracket banks. He is also a business owner, operating multiple Code Ninjas locations in Connecticut and New Jersey, where he focuses on equipping children with essential skills and fostering proficiency at an early age. With a strong commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, Leo is passionate about preparing future generations for success.
In addition to his business endeavors, Leo actively mentors students from underserved communities, advocating for technology as a tool to help bridge the wealth gap in society. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from a leading institution in India and a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Saba Kakiwala is the owner of a bespoke custom cake design studio in Stamford, CT. Her journey began 10 years ago when she baked her daughter’s birthday cake after not finding one that was both beautiful and delicious. With a background in ornamental furniture design from India, creativity came naturally, and today she has baked for A-list clientele including movie stars, TV artists, and high-net-worth individuals.
Saba makes all her cakes from scratch, specializing in fondant and buttercream creations, often blending in fusion South Asian flavors. Her USP: cakes that are as stunning to look at as they are delicious to eat. Beyond baking, she enjoys traveling with her husband and teen children, cooking Italian food, and appreciating fine details in all walks of life.
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Matthew Krieger is a technologist and executive with experience in IT, manufacturing and nonprofit. He is Owner and President of Cober, Inc., an industrial heating equipment manufacturer that provides large scale oven systems to companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Corning and GE. Previously, Matthew held senior IT leadership positions at Time and the Reader’s Digest Association in the roles of division CTO, global data center management, strategy and governance. Matthew also founded and built Whysper, an audio platform that converts text content into high-quality text-to-speech. Matthew is Chairman of the Board of the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, a non-profit grant maker focusing on direct services to increase the independence of blind and visually impaired individuals. Matthew serves on the board of the International Microwave Power Institute and advises Tech 2 Success, Cyber-Seniors, and Kids in the Game. He is also a frequent presenter on topics of business and technology and the intersection of them. Matthew has a Master of Science in Computer Science from NYU Poly and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Connecticut.
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Roushan Ahmed is the founder of Henna Squared and has been a full-time henna artist for the past three years, specializing in bridal henna across the tri-state area. She also runs an e-commerce shop selling natural henna products and original designs, and is entirely self-taught in both artistry and entrepreneurship. A 2018 UConn graduate, she previously worked in corporate consulting before transitioning full-time to her passion, and is committed to building an efficient, sustainable business with a healthy work-life balance.
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Khurram Nomani is a dedicated professional with experience in leadership, operations, and community engagement. Known for a strong work ethic and collaborative approach, he focuses on building meaningful connections and delivering results. 30 Years experience in retail gas business along with managing rental real estate properties. With a commitment to continuous growth, Khurram brings both strategic insight and practical problem-solving skills to every project he takes on.
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 40-50 businesses.
Is there any registration fee?
Yes, there is a $25 entry fee per business.
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 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 a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be provided with:
A shared 10x10 tent (two businesses per tent)
A table (6-foot recommended)
Chairs (1 per participant)
A tablecloth (not provided)
Please note:
Balloons and any décor extending outside the booth area are not allowed, to ensure walkways remain clear.
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.
Participants are required to do the work by themselves or with other participants. Parental participation is not permitted.
The event will supply two chairs and a 6-foot table. The participants are encouraged to make signs, wear personalized uniforms, offer demonstrations, and use creative marketing.
No more than 3 participants per booth/business idea.
BUSINESS COMPETITION
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged by Judges and fellow entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria, including the most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity. Prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.
Our incredible sponsors
Children's Business Fair
Acton Academy
Next Great Adventure
Engineering Ambassadors UCONN
Join our mailing list
Participating booths
Contact us
Have a question for us? Contact us below and we will be in touch as soon as possible with
a reply. Thanks for your interest!
The Acton Children's Business Fair does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin and admits and gives all hosts and participants access to the same rights, privileges, programs and activities.
