With help from her mom, aspiring entrepreneur Makenna Legge set out to help other kids who want to launch their own businesses. Together, they organized the Little Los Altos Young Entrepreneurs Fair that drew approximately 200 people to the Los Altos Community Center Nov. 30.
“I just hope they feel inspired to start their own business, so then they can, … try to look into it and make their own product,” Makenna said. “Because if they see that an 11-year-old girl can also do it, then I think they can also do it.”
The three-hour event featured 30 tables of items for sale, all created by local elementary students. The homemade products included ornaments, candles, jewelry and even slime. Makenna, a sixth grader at St. Nicholas Catholic School, sold sculpted paintings and soy wax candles.
“It was really fun just learning what it’s like to be an entrepreneur for a day, and just like learning how to deal with money and saying hi to people I knew,” Makenna said.
Many of the entrepreneurs’ items sold out, according to Makenna’s mom, Lauren Campi-Legge.
“We were worried if a lot of people wouldn’t be able to participate,” Campi-Legge said. “Luckily for us, there was a lot of interest, surpassing our goal.”
By having more student interest than anticipated, Campi-Legge said they had to cap participation at 30 tables due to space limitations.
All the entrepreneurs were responsible for setting up their tables, designing their marketing materials and creating signage for their space.
“A lot of parents reached out afterwards (saying) their kids learned a lot from experience,” Campi-Legge said. “(From) just learning how to manage their money and speaking with people, it was a great success.”
Los Altos residents Campi-Legge and Makenna said they were inspired to host the fair after attending one in Fremont in October, wanting to share the enjoyment for the Los Altos community, Campi-Legge said.
“(We) decided it’d be better for kids in Los Altos to experience (a fair) and get to know how it feels to be an entrepreneur,” Makenna said. “I know I loved it, so I know other kids who are from downtown Los Altos would also love it.”
While planning, Campi-Legge said she was impressed by her daughter’s initiative throughout the planning process.
“Makenna really is the one behind all the marketing,” Campi-Legge said. “She did all the flyers, the banners, the website, our Instagram, with no help from myself, so she really just kind of took full reign and really loved the charge of it all.”
In addition to creating the logo for the fair, Makenna made certificates for all the participants, Campi-Legge said.
“What I was most proud of with Makenna (was that) she did the majority of the work,” Campi-Legge said. “I just kind of would help when she (had) questions, but it’s important to let the kids learn in their own way.”
For parents who want to encourage their children to pursue entrepreneurship, Campi-Legge said it’s important to step back and allow their kids to experience the ups and downs.
Makenna offered some advice as well.
“If you have an idea, just do it,” she said. “Don’t wait to start working on your product, and never give up. There will be mistakes, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Campi-Legge and Makenna plan to host the second Little Los Altos Young Entrepreneurs Fair Nov. 30, 2025, with hopes to accommodate more participants.
For information on next fall’s fair, email Makenna at [email protected].
