Youth business fair in Naples gives kids a platform to shine

Young entrepreneurs in Naples are gearing up to showcase their talents at the Naples Youth Business Fair.

Hosted by the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, the event is set to highlight the next generation of business leaders.

The fair, held at Mercato in Naples on Saturday, offers a platform for students from kindergarten through 12th grade to present their unique products to the community.

These young entrepreneurs are eager to demonstrate their business skills and engage with the Naples community throughout the morning.

Part of the event’s goal is to provide these budding CEOs with valuable feedback to help them grow and succeed in the future.

The event was a lively display of young talent featuring custom chess boards, cutting boards, and dog leash designs.

“It’s beyond magical to watch the true passion. It’s all self-driven,” said Ryan Reader, father of 6-year-old chess entrepreneur Zayne Reader.

Zayne is passionate about chess and is determined to become the best chess player in the world.

The event featured 39 tables of young entrepreneurs, each with unique products.

Christina Park from the Naples Chamber of Commerce explained the importance of this event.

“The big thing is feeding back into and pouring into our young people as they’re preparing to become the future of our business community,” said Park.

Zayne expressed his ambition to sell his custom chess boards to the best player in the world, while his father, Ryan, shared his pride.

“It’s the greatest thing ever, and I’m just the most proud dad,” said Ryan.

All the young business leaders shared a common trait: support from their community.

“It’s just amazing to see all the kids, and just the future is bright, 100%, especially in Collier County,” said Ryan.

Keliah Hernandez, one of the young participants, shared her perspective on the event.

“Most people will say, ‘Oh, she’s an entrepreneur. She started a business.’ I just sell books because I like it, and it’s making people happy,” said Hernandez. “It really doesn’t make me a lot of money, like, I would not be able to survive on this. It’s, it’s just for fun.”

The event kicked off at 10 a.m. and was an exciting opportunity for these young minds to shine.

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