KidBizCON 2026: Two-Day Youth Entrepreneurship Conference & Marketplace

Two-day youth entrepreneurship conference and marketplace hosted by Youth Entrepreneur Institute
About this Event

Hosted by Youth Entrepreneur Institute

Location:
1351 Alabama Ave SE
Washington, DC 20032

Dates:
Monday, August 3, 2026 | 4:00–7:00 PM
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 11:30 AM–4:30 PM

About KidBizCON 2026

KidBizCON 2026 is a two-day youth entrepreneurship experience designed to give young people a real platform to pitch, sell, learn, connect, and be celebrated by their community.

Hosted by Youth Entrepreneur Institute, KidBizCON brings together youth entrepreneurs, families, funders, community partners, educators, mentors, vendors, and supporters for two days of youth-led business, creativity, financial learning, marketplace engagement, advocacy, and celebration.

This year’s experience includes a youth pitch competition, youth marketplace, VIP social enterprise preview, hands-on workshops, partner activations, button economy marketplace credits, entrepreneurship bingo, public health advocacy activation, and closing awards celebration.

Event Flow

Day 1: Pitch Competition + Youth Marketplace
Monday, August 3, 2026 | 4:00–7:00 PM

Day 1 highlights youth entrepreneurs as they pitch their business ideas and showcase their products to judges, families, VIP guests, funders, partners, and community supporters.

The evening includes:

• Youth Marketplace
• Elementary/Middle School Pitch Division
• High School Pitch Division
• Community shopping and networking
• Closing remarks and invitation to Day 2

Pitch winners will not be announced on Day 1. Winners will be revealed during the Day 2 closing celebration.

Day 2: Workshops + Activations + Marketplace
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 11:30 AM–4:30 PM

Day 2 is an interactive youth entrepreneurship conference experience featuring workshops, partner activations, marketplace shopping, youth engagement activities, advocacy, and awards.

The day includes:

• Teen New Deal x KidBizCON Opening Party
• DJ/music and photo booth
• Button-earning activities
• Entrepreneurship bingo
• Youth Marketplace
• Workshop sessions
• Public Health Debate / Opioid Advocacy Activation
• Lunch and marketplace button redemption
• Partner activations
• Closing celebration and pitch awards

Students will be able to earn buttons through participation and engagement. Each button is worth $5 in youth marketplace credit and can be spent with participating youth vendors.

Day 1 Agenda

🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Youth Marketplace Opens

Info: Attendees have time to shop and meet student entrepreneurs before the formal program begins.

🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Elementary + Middle School Pitch Division

Info: Elementary and middle school youth entrepreneurs present their business ideas and products to judges and the audience.
Top Prize: $500

🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
High School Pitch Division

Info: High school youth entrepreneurs present their business ideas and products to judges and the audience.
Top Prize: $1,000

Day 2 Agenda

🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Arrival + Teen New Deal x KidBizCON Opening Party

Info: A high-energy arrival experience with DJ/music, photo booth, Teen New Deal trivia, button-earning activities, entrepreneurship bingo, youth marketplace soft open, workshop sign-up stations, snacks, and partner engagement stations.

12:30| Workshop Session 1

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Workshop Session 1

Info: Students attend their first 45-minute workshop. Tracks may include fashion and design, beauty and product creation, money and wealth building, brand protection and business basics, STEM and fabrication, and pitch and presence.

🕑: 01:15 PM
Public Health Debate / Opioid Advocacy Activation
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Lunch + Marketplace + Button Redemption

Info: Students and guests eat lunch, shop youth vendors, redeem buttons and visit partner activations.

🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:45 PM
Workshop Session 2

Info: Students attend their second 45-minute workshop.

🕑: 04:00 PM
Closing Celebration + Pitch Awards

Info: Closing Celebration + Pitch Awards