On Saturday, August 24, 30 young entrepreneurs gathered for the 1st Annual Fremont Children’s Business Fair. Weekend shoppers at the Fremont Hub were pleasantly surprised to find a small village of tents and tables arrayed in rows along the entrance courtyard, each manned by pint-sized, local innovators ages 6-14, hawking their wares to attendees and the general public.
On display were products and services that could only come from the minds of youngsters—homemade cotton candy sold by Fluff ’n’ Puff, balloon sculptures by Creative Creations, and cute little charms by RubyOpal Crafts, to name a few. But don’t be fooled by these childish titles—these kids mean business.
The event challenged budding creators to come up with a product or service, develop a brand, build a marketing strategy, interact with customers, and handle setup, display and sales, all on their own. Of course, many proud parents were in attendance, but could only watch from the wings as their genius kids took center stage, processing orders through Venmo and PayPal with ease.
Said event organizer Dr. Najwa Javed, “Kids are always underestimated. They have great ideas and so this is a way to showcase them in a very accessible way. We’re so excited!” As a certified podiatrist running her own practice and founder of E’MAR Italy, a luxury footwear brand built with patent-pending medical technology, Javed knows first hand what it takes to become a successful business owner.
Javed’s husband, Fahad Rizqi, a software developer, acted as emcee for the fair. “This whole experience is a great way to boost their confidence,” he said. “It teaches them how to speak to people, how to market, how to sell, how to get their value proposition out there, and how to work with different types of people. This will help them so much later on in their career.”
In fact, it was their 14-year-old son, Aydin Rizqi, who came up with the idea of hosting a children’s business fair, having experienced a similar event in Dublin. He thought, Why not Fremont? Readers may remember Aydin from a previous TCV article. He is the author of ten books currently selling on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Of course, not to be outdone, younger sister Rayah, age 12, has created her own unique business selling custom perfumes under the brand name Petals & Potions. She won Best Young Entrepreneur at the event.
The Rizqi family, as talented as they are, could not have hosted such an incredible fair on their own. They are grateful to all of the volunteers and family friends who chipped in to help, and to the Fremont Hub property group Kimco Realty for providing the perfect space. Crucial to the success of the event was their partnership with Acton Academy, a national nonprofit that helps communities host their own children’s business fair by providing guidance with sponsorships, marketing material, tent and table placement, applicant criteria and prizes.
All participants received an Excellence in Business Award, handed out by Fremont Council Member Teresa Cox, who has served as a Trade Adviser for the United States Department of Commerce under the past three Presidents. Said Cox, “There’s a lot of things that we need to do as a community to support our youth, and fostering young entrepreneurs in a safe environment is one of them. Every student can shine if we work to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re highlighting the positives, and I couldn’t be more excited!”
A panel of judges evaluated each business and handed out some bonus prizes, including an Outstanding Leadership Certificate awarded to Shiven Balaji for his Chess Adventure Books, and an Excellence in Business Certificate awarded to Naiel and Punhal Chaudry for their business, La Jawab Treats. Local foodies may remember Naiel from The Food Network’s Kids Baking Championships, Season 11, which he won.
Ashar Rizqi, CEO of Bounti.ai, was one of the judges (yes, another Rizqi – Fahad’s brother), “What’s so incredibly powerful about events like this is that they create a sense of community where young entrepreneurs can learn to love their business, where they can learn from each other and improve. It doesn’t always have to be competitive. These kids are gaining valuable life skills, and I’m sure many will go on to become future job creators of America.”
The fair is also a way for those just starting out to test their products and gauge interest, a safe way to conduct market research. That’s what appealed to 9 year-old Kiran Vinayak, whose business, Kiki’s Magical World, is all about spreading positive messages. “I want to inspire young girls, to let them know that they can do anything.” Her journals and coloring books may soon come to nearby bookstores.
The event was sponsored by Banter Bookshop, Minutemen Press, Bounty.ai, The Fremont Podcast, Ohlone College and BASS Medical Group. Also in attendance were media representatives Farrukh Jilani and Aruba Kazmi from OPEN (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America) Silicon Valley, a non-profit dedicated to providing educational programs, career coaching, business mentoring and network opportunities for members in the Bay Area.
By all accounts, the first Fremont Children’s Business Fair was a resounding success, with over 50 applicants on the waiting list. The Rizqi Family is already thinking about doing it again next year, when Aydin will probably be finishing up his 20th book and directing a movie, and Rayah will be selling her perfumes on QVC.
For more information contact Dr. Najwa Javed: dr******@ho*****.com .
