9 Years of Real Kid Businesses. Now We're Going Worldwide.
It started as a local fair in Acton, MA. It grew into something we couldn't keep local anymore.
Our Story
9 Years. One Town. A Lot of Kids.
For nine years we ran the Acton Children's Business Fair in Acton, Massachusetts. We watched kids as young as six set up real booths, pitch to real strangers, and walk away with money they earned themselves. Real customers, real cash.
Every year it got bigger. Kids who came at 9 came back at 14 with full business plans. Parents told us it changed how their kids thought about money. Teachers said they used it as a lesson all semester.
Over nine years we gave out trophies to recognize every participant's effort, because showing up and running a real business deserved recognition, not just the top finishers. But a fair that runs once a year only gets kids thinking about business for one day. We wanted them thinking about it year-round. That's why we're launching BASK Pitch, so the entrepreneurial mindset doesn't end when the booths close.
We want every kid to think like an entrepreneur, not just on fair day, but every day. BASK Pitch is how we do that.
Our Mission
"Children are natural entrepreneurs. They see a world of possibility, not a world of problems."
— Richard Branson
We started with folding tables and kids selling cookies and candles in a parking lot in Acton, MA. Nine years later we have given out trophies, watched businesses turn into real income, and seen kids come back year after year because they caught the entrepreneurship bug. BASK exists to give every kid that same shot — not just the ones with the right school or the right zip code.
Why BASK
What Makes BASK Different
Real Stakes
We do not award ribbons or trophies to everyone. We award real cash to the best ideas. Kids know the difference and it changes how hard they work.
Every Kid Eligible
You do not need a teacher to nominate you. Any kid ages 12 to 17 can pitch online, or ages 8 to 17 can compete at the fair in person.
Visibility, Not Just Prizes
Every submission gets posted on our social media. Win or lose, your idea gets seen by thousands. That is its own kind of prize.
Our Values
What We
Stand For
Entrepreneurship is a skill built through real practice, not simulated in a classroom. Every choice we make comes back to three things.
Authenticity
Real businesses. Real customers. Real money. We don't simulate entrepreneurship. We practice it.
Courage
Standing in front of strangers and pitching your idea takes guts. We celebrate that regardless of the outcome.
Access
You don't need a school program or a teacher to nominate you. Any kid can enter. That's the whole point.
Get Involved
Submit a Pitch
Film a quick video, fill out the form, submit your idea. Ages 12 to 17. Any country.
Submit a Pitch →Register for the Fair
Apply for a booth at BASK Fair in Acton, MA. One day, real customers, real sales. Ages 8 to 17.
Register for the Fair →Become a Sponsor
Local businesses help make the prizes, the space, and the experience possible. Community sponsors start at $250.
Become a Sponsor →