We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yudelka Salcedo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Yudelka, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
Before Little Tiny Fun, I participated as a vendor at various City of Fairburn Parks and Recreation events, selling children’s books I had written and customized kids’ clothes I had made under my brand, The Yubrand. At one particularly cold festival, I met the director of my daughter’s dance school, who later introduced me to the staff at Parks and Recreation. I started out volunteering my soft-play setup at their community events, and it quickly became a favorite with the board. Eventually, they hired me for future festivals. I’ll never forget the excitement of sending out my first invoice and receiving that first payment 30 days later. It was a special moment, knowing my work had truly taken off.
Yudelka, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Yudelka, and I’m the founder of Little Tiny Fun. I started this business with a simple goal: to create engaging, safe, and imaginative play environments for babies and toddlers. I’ve always had a passion for children’s entertainment, having previously written my own children’s books and designed customized kids’ clothes. Transitioning into soft play setups felt like a natural step because it allows me to directly create joyful, safe spaces for young children to explore and enjoy.
Little Tiny Fun specializes in soft-play rental services for events like birthday parties, family gatherings, festivals, and community events. Our play areas are designed specifically for babies and toddlers, offering age-appropriate play that promotes motor skills development while ensuring safety and fun. We also handle the setup and breakdown, so parents can relax and enjoy the event while knowing their little ones are in a secure environment.
What sets us apart is the level of care and attention we give to each play setup. We understand how important it is to provide a safe and fun experience, so we curate our spaces with high-quality, sanitized equipment that encourages active play and creativity. We’re also proud of our flexibility—whether it’s a small, intimate family event or a large community festival, we tailor each setup to meet the needs of our clients and their guests.
I’m most proud of how Little Tiny Fun has become a hit with both parents and children, especially at larger community events. It’s incredibly rewarding to see babies and toddlers engaging with the space we’ve created and to receive such positive feedback from families who trust us to deliver a memorable experience for their little ones.
The main thing I want people to know about Little Tiny Fun is that it’s more than just a business—it’s about creating joyful, safe environments for children and giving parents peace of mind. We’re here to make your event extra special by focusing on the tiniest guests, who are often overlooked. We take pride in being part of your celebration, and we strive to make each event unique, fun, and stress-free for the parents.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn with Little Tiny Fun was never to buy more inventory than needed before there’s a clear demand. Early in my entrepreneurial journey, when I was running my t-shirt business, The Yubrand, I made the mistake of purchasing a large amount of inventory upfront, thinking it would all sell. Unfortunately, I ended up with unsold stock collecting dust, which cost me $1,500. That experience taught me a valuable lesson in pacing growth and only investing in inventory when there’s a proven demand.
With Little Tiny Fun, I’ve approached things differently. Instead of over-investing early on, I focused on understanding the market and listening to what clients wanted. This allowed me to scale gradually and invest more strategically, ensuring that I’m providing value without unnecessary overhead. It’s been a crucial lesson in managing costs and maintaining flexibility as the business grows.”
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I started Little Tiny Fun, I knew I needed some initial capital to get the business off the ground. I applied for my first business Amex credit card, which gave me the flexibility to make the necessary purchases for equipment, marketing, and other startup costs. I also relied on personal funds to cover some of the expenses in the beginning. It was a bit of a leap of faith, but having that business credit card helped me manage cash flow and keep things running smoothly while the business grew. It was a combination of careful planning and a willingness to invest in my vision.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://littletinyfun.com
- Instagram: @littletinyfun
- Facebook: @littletinyfun
- Other: TikTok – @littletinyfun
Image Credits
Personal photo by Sheree Swann with Cultrcliq