Youth Engaged for Success
Childrens Business Fair
Imagine the excitement of your child launching their very own startup business! At our Kidpreneur Fair, young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to:
Develop their brand.
Create a unique product or service.
Build a marketing strategy.
Open for business at a one-day marketplace!
Our Bi-Annual Children's Business Fair will occur at Water Works Park (1710 N Highland Ave, Tampa, FL 33602, near Armature Works) on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, from 11 AM – 4 PM.
Why Join the Fair?
This isn’t just an event; it’s a chance for kids to dream big, think creatively, and explore the exciting world of entrepreneurship. We’re encouraging participants to:
Be bold and try new things.
Explore unique business ideas.
Showcase their creativity to make each booth stand out!
Register for Your Booth Today!
Encourage your young entrepreneur to secure their very own booth at the fair. Space is limited, so don’t wait!
Important Dates to Remember:
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 24th, 2025.
Acceptance Notifications: Tuesday, April 29th, 2025.
Before You Apply
Please review the Guidelines to ensure your child is ready to make the most of this incredible experience.
Let’s help your child take their first step toward becoming a business leader. We can’t wait to see their creativity and passion in action at the Children’s Business Fair!
This event is made possible through the generous support of our donors and volunteers who share a common belief: principled entrepreneurs are the heroes and role models for the next generation. Through our event, we aim to inspire the next generation of Kidpreneurs to follow in their footsteps, embrace creativity, and make a positive impact on the world.
FAQs
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This event hosted by Y.E.S in partnership with Acton Children’s Business Fair, is designed to inspire children to discover their inner entrepreneurs. As the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day marketplace allows young entrepreneurs to showcase and run their very own businesses, giving them a hands-on experience in creativity, innovation, and business ownership..
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Each business requires its own application. Click the application link.
Entrepreneurs aged 5-7 may participate in groups of up to 2 individuals per business.
For all other age groups, only 1 entrepreneur per business will be accepted.
Be sure to submit your application early! Applications open March 18, 2025
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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?
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The registration deadline is May4, 2025. Once your application has been submitted, we will review it and either reach out via email with more questions or approve your business within 48 business hours of the application fee being paid. In that email, there will be instructions on how to pay for and ensure your booth has been reserved.
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To encourage diverse business ideas, we will limit the same businesses to a maximum of 1. Ensure you get your business idea accepted by applying early. If another business has been accepted we give you the opportunity to select another business idea. We ask that you limit your items to 2 items. For example you can sell cupcakes and cookies but not cupcakes, cookies and brownies.
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All participants must bring their own 10x10 tent, table(s), and chairs. We will designate a space for your tent to be set up. Please note you will need to secure the tent with weights we CAN NOT use stakes or put anything into the ground. Think how would you secure the tent if placed on cement.
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$15.00 per applicant* and is non-refundable. Applications will close once we have 40 approved vendors, so be sure to apply early!
Please Note NO electricity will be provided. NO drink vendors allowed.
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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 (ages 5-14) may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.
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Award Process & Criteria
- An awards ceremony will be held near the end of the Fair.
- All eligible booths will be automatically entered in the business competition, and
will be judged on:
- Most Original Business Idea
- Highest Business Potential
- Best Presentation / Creativity
There will be a winner in each age group and category.
- Age Group: 5-8, 9-12, 13-16
Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group will be presented at the conclusion of
the fair.
Guidelines
Guidelines for Entrepreneurs
As a Kidpreneur, you are the star of your business! Here’s what you need to know:
You’re in charge! Entrepreneurs are solely responsible for setting up their booths, making sales, and interacting with customers.
Practice makes perfect! Prepare your sales pitch ahead of time.
Smile and have fun! A positive attitude goes a long way.
Booth Guidelines:
Age Groups 8-12 and 13-16: Only one entrepreneur per booth.
Age Group 5-7: Up to two entrepreneurs can share a booth.
Award Process & Criteria
Show off your creativity and hard work for a chance to win!
An Awards Ceremony will be held near the end of the fair.
All eligible booths are automatically entered into the business competition.
Judging Categories:
Most Original Business Idea
Highest Business Potential
Best Presentation / Creativity
Prizes:
Winners will be announced in each age group (5-8, 9-12, 13-16) and category.
$50 per category and age group* will be awarded at the end of the fair.
Guidelines for Parents
This event is all about giving children the chance to experience running their own businesses. To make this a success, here’s how you can support them:
Let them take the lead! Children are responsible for setting up, selling, and interacting with customers.
No help allowed in the booth! If parents are found assisting with sales or setup, the booth will be disqualified.
Your Role:
Be there to cheer them on and provide moral support.
Encourage your child to think ahead and prepare, but let them make the decisions and take ownership of their booth.
This is their moment to shine—thank you for helping them embrace the entrepreneurial spirit!
Five “Smooth Stones” - Principles to Keep in Mind
● Wonder
○ There are so many opportunities. Allow your child the gift of wonder. Ask open-ended questions to prepare them.
● Industriousness
○ Allow your child the gift of seeing the fruit of hard work.
● Responsibility
○ Treat your child as the sole owner. Let the child make the plans and the decisions as much as possible.
● Encouragement
○ Provide encouraging communications.
● Enthusiasm
○ Provide passion for the Children’s Business Fair
Five Warnings:
● Parents tend to make children’s events too stressful. What is needed from parents are clear boundaries and background organization. Let the children flourish. This is not about you, it is about the child.
● Parents can make children’s events too complicated. This is NOT Shark Tank. You do not need business plans with five-year projections.
● Parents tend to get ahead of their children in passion. There is great value in your child not getting everything done in time. This will help them learn. Make sure they create a product or service they are excited about. Remember the parental adage that “there is a blessing in a skinned knee.”
● Parents tend to get ahead of children in competitiveness. Your role is not to be a business school professor or a venture capitalist.
● Parents tend to rob children of the joy of hard work. Do not do the work for the children. If the product or service looks messy, that is ok; in fact, that is great!
Encourage your children to make a good product or service, but never take the role of the business board, manager, or owner. Do not rob the work environment of joy by prodding or criticizing. Your child is the Chairman, CEO, and owner. Let your child be those things.
Y.E.S Childrens Business Fair Application
Interested in volunteering, Sponsorship, or Donating?
How to Support the Youth Engaged for Sucess
Childrens Business Fair
We’re always looking for amazing individuals and businesses to help make the Fair a success! Here’s how you can get involved:
Become a Volunteer:
We welcome all volunteers! If you’d like to help, please fill out the Contact Us form and include the word “Volunteer” in your message. One of our team members will reach out to you shortly.Become a Sponsor:
Interested in sponsoring the event? Visit our Sponsorship Page to explore the available packages and select the one that works best for you.Make a Donation:
Every donation helps us provide an incredible experience for young entrepreneurs. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation of Kidpreneurs! 😊
SPONSORSHIP Packages
At Youth Engaged for Success Children’s Business Fair, we believe that every child has the potential to change the world in a profound way. When given the opportunity to unleash their creativity, kids can make a real impact, and we’re here to help them do just that.
We invite you to be part of this inspiring journey by becoming a sponsor for our one-day fair. Your support will help us create an unforgettable experience for young entrepreneurs in our community.
Together, we can empower children to dream big, take action, and shape the future.
Ready to make a difference?
