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The Seventh Annual Tom Tom Founders Festival is a week-long celebration of innovators, visionaries, and artists who are shaping small cities. The Festival occurs at dozens of venues throughout downtown Charlottesville. 

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Monday, April 9
 

3:00pm EDT

5:00pm EDT

5:30pm EDT

6:00pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

 
Tuesday, April 10
 

5:00pm EDT

6:00pm EDT

6:30pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

 
Wednesday, April 11
 

9:00am EDT

12:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

4:30pm EDT

5:00pm EDT

6:00pm EDT

6:30pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

8:00pm EDT

 
Thursday, April 12
 

9:00am EDT

9:45am EDT

10:00am EDT

10:15am EDT

10:30am EDT

ICA and RVA: Creating a Cultural LandmarkNow Open Welcome GalleryMichael Orlove • Melody Barnes • Charlottesville Area Community Foundation • RVA MAG Master Class: Discover Your Positioning DNA and Dominate Your CompetitionNow Open Old Metropolitan HallHenry Hwong • StoryWare • Willowtree Partner Event: Affordable Housing in High Growth Small CitiesFull Water Street CenterLisa Sturtevant • Michelle Allen • William Huang • Rhoda Stauffer • Urban Land Virginia Institute Data and Trends for Ecosystem DevelopersNow Open Second Street GallerySean Carr, Ph.D. • Eva Doss • Melody Koh • Johnny Magdaleno • Christiana McFarland • Joe Whitchurch • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation • Capital One How Ready for Funding Are You?Full The Paramount Theater - Balcony LoungeRoss Baird • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Virginia is for Entrepreneurs • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Roundtable: Redefining Farm to TableFull Common House - Vinegar Hall NorthMarland Buckner • Bettina Ring • Greg Asbed • Dominic Barrett • Duron Chavis • Tom McDougall • Doug Pick • Sally Schwitters • Sam Speedie • Kristen Suokko • Tom Thompson • Ellen Moncure Wong • MB2 Solutions Case Study: Building a Talent Pipeline in Milwaukee, WIAlmost Full Guma GalleryMichael Hostad • Chio Cabrera • Ruth Harper • Joe Poeschl KEYNOTE: You've Got the PowerNow Open The Jefferson TheaterAtima Omara • Jenn Brown • Lennon Flowers • Steven Olikara Roundtable: Ageism in Public PolicyNow Open Common House - Vinegar Hall SouthMarta Keane • Ayn Welleford • Denise Bonds • Mozell Booker • Chip Boyles • Jonathan Davis • Heather Hill • Steve Nichols • Pamela Sutton-Wallace • Peter Thompson

11:00am EDT

11:05am EDT

11:20am EDT

11:30am EDT

11:40am EDT

12:00pm EDT

1:00pm EDT

1:05pm EDT

1:20pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

1:40pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

Partner Event: Financing Affordable HousingFull Water Street CenterMelissa Maddox Evans • Anthony Williams • Julie Anderson • Philip d'Oronzio • John Desmond • Susan Dewey • Mark Graham • Monica Hawkins • Heather Hill • Ned Howe • Sunshine Mathon • Anita Morrison • Audrey Oliver • Maurice Perry • Stacy Pethia • Linda Stanley • Aakash Thakkar • ACAC • Urban Land Virginia Institute Freelancing: A Survival Guide to the Future of WorkAlmost Full Welcome GalleryJohn Reinhold • Ace Callwood • Anna Payne-Fife • Jeff Tennery • Claire Wasserman • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation KEYNOTE: Fighting Inequality with FinanceNow Open The Jefferson TheaterGreg Fairchild • Ross Baird • Peter Jackson • Jerry Nemorin • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Sucking Up: A Brief Consideration of SycophancyNow Open Old Metropolitan HallDeborah Parker • Mark Parker • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Why It Pays to Startup in Small CitiesFull Second Street GalleryChris Harris • Kendall Morris • Will Morris • Mary Stargel • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation • Capital One Grow Different: AgTech and Urban FarmingNow Open Common House - Vinegar Hall NorthDuron Chavis • Jason Green • Christine Keller • April Philips • Jack Ross Bridging the Urban-Rural Economic DivideNow Open Guma GalleryChristiana McFarland Unleashing the Power of Public Prototyping: An Inside Look at Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors ChallengeNow Open The Paramount Theater - Balcony LoungeKatie Appel Duda • Maureen Devlin • Ryan Pierce • Jan Rader The Future of Patient CareAlmost Full Violet Crown - Theater 6Christopher Moore • Laura Barnes • Kimberly Deas • Miriam Friedel • Randall Moorman Roundtable: The Story of a PlaceFull Common House - Vinegar Hall SouthJessica Luck • Deborah Fallows • Roben Farzad • Miriam Gordon-Stewart • Enjoli Moon • Michael Orlove • Anne Helen Petersen • Ben Speggen • Brennan Gilmore • Nathan Moore • University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences • C-Ville Weekly

2:05pm EDT

2:45pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

3:25pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

News Article Classification for Improving Estimates of Arrest-Related Deaths in the USNow Open Violet Crown - Theater 5Peter Baumgartner Partner Event: Community Engagement in Affordable HousingFull Water Street CenterLiz Chapman • Mark Graham • Charlene Green • Heather Hill • Janette Kawachi • Karen Klick • Audrey Oliver • Annie Stup • Urban Land Virginia Institute Roundtable: Revitalizing Main StreetAlmost Full Common House - Vinegar Hall SouthWinona Dimeo-Edgar • Ric Cavender • Becky Ceperley • Juanita Hardy • Mona El Khafif • Johnny Magdaleno • Hana Passen • Melody Warnick Fueling the Next Wave: Food IncubatorsNow Open Common House - Vinegar Hall NorthMeagan McGinnes • Cullen Gilchrist • Andrew Ive • Brian Marks Teaching Skills That MatterNow Open Welcome GalleryKendall Morris • Evelyn Aissa • Jared Bigham • Michael Hostad The Death and Rebirth of Great American CitiesNow Open The Paramount Theater - Balcony LoungeAaron Renn • Anthony Williams The Future of the Community HospitalNow Open Violet Crown - Theater 6Amy Goldstein • Jonathan Davis • Tom Kleinhanzl • Mary Mannix • Pamela Sutton-Wallace KEYNOTE: Defending the Digital Space: Fake News, Hate Speech, and Big BrotherNow Open The Jefferson TheaterSiva Vaidhyanathan • Renee Diresta • Garrett Graff • Cathy O'Neil • University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences • C-Ville Weekly Tour: The Evolution of Industry at Woolen MillsAlmost Full Woolen MillsLee Catlin • Brian Roy • Albemarle County CIT Lab: An Empirical View of the Art and Science of Entrepreneurship and InvestmentFull Second Street GalleryCenter for Innovative Technology (CIT) • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Tour: The Surreal, Self-Driving FutureNow Open Pro Re Nata Farm BreweryLaura Bliss • Carlos Cardillo • T. Donna Chen • Paul Perrone • Phil Tinn • Albemarle County

3:55pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

4:20pm EDT

4:25pm EDT

4:30pm EDT

4:35pm EDT

4:40pm EDT

4:45pm EDT

4:50pm EDT

5:00pm EDT

6:00pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

8:00pm EDT

10:00pm EDT

 
Friday, April 13
 

8:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

10:00am EDT

10:30am EDT

Closed Session: A Systems Approach to the Opioids Crisis in Our RegionFull CitySpaceGail Maddox Taylor • F. Michael Ashby • Rosa Atkins • Kyle Austin • Lisa Beitz • Marny Bentley • Denise Bonds • Neta Davis • Kaki Dimock • Elizabeth Driscoll • David Driscoll, PhD, MPH • Thierry Dupuis • Joe Evans • William Fulkerson • Mary Davis Hamlin • Holly Hatcher • Jody Herndon • Matt Holland • Michelle Hottinger • Mary Jackson • Marta Keane • Rebecca Kendall • Martin Kumer • Albie LaFave • Gabrielle Marzani • Anna Mendez • Susan Morrow • Jennifer Oldham MD MPH • Cristine Nardi • Cyndi Richardson • Ronnie Roberts • Ann Mason Rumble • Katya Sracic • Nassima Ait Daoud Tiouririne • Dorothy Tompkins • Robert Tracci • Erin Tucker • Renae Vance • Tom VonHermert • Rebecca Wade • Emily Warren • Lori Wood • Region Ten Founding Stories - CREATIVITY: Building Outside the BoxNow Open The Paramount TheaterMark Brzezinski • Vincent Kadlubek • Willowtree • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Designing Products with PurposeFull Welcome GalleryPeter Jackson • Brandon Anderson • Kris Cody • Hannah Dehradunwala • Tina Hovsepian • Tim Scott • StoryWare • Willowtree Partner Event: Meeting the Need for Affordable DevelopmentAlmost Full Water Street CenterGregory Powe • Fred Harris • Ned Howe • Dan Rosensweig • Aakash Thakkar • Mel Thompson • Urban Land Virginia Institute Clean Capital: Financing the Transition to Renewable EnergyNow Open Violet Crown - Theater 5Yann Brandt • Yuri Horwitz • Greg Montgomery • leap • Abundant Power The Darkest Hour: Leading through Natural DisasterNow Open Violet Crown - Theater 4David Murray • Derrick Freeman • Andrea Luecke • Sun Tribe Solar A Better Startup Ecosystem for Student FoundersNow Open Old Metropolitan HallLaura Brogdon-Primavera • Hack Cville • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation • Eric Martin Master Class: Design the Future You LoveAlmost Full Common House - Vinegar Hall NorthUVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation • Marie Schacht The Founders Who Aren't: Inclusion in EntrepreneurshipNow Open Second Street GalleryCourtenay Siegfried • Chelsea Conrad • Shamaine Daniels • Knatokie Ford • desiree venn frederic • Brad Wolverton • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Case Study: Strategic Action for Economic Opportunity in Frederick, MDFull Common House - Vinegar Hall SouthWhitney Hahn • Elizabeth Cromwell • Michael O'Connor • Helen Propheter • Scott Ryser After August 12th: Freedom of Speech and Domestic TerrorNow Open The Paramount Theater - Balcony LoungeLandon Shroder • Alan Bradstock • Mary McCord • Abigail Spanberger • RVA MAG From Search to SuggestNow Open Violet Crown - Theater 3Garrett Graff • Joshua Anton • Allen Gannett • University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences • C-Ville Weekly Community Workshop: Design Thinking for the Greater GoodNow Open Guma GalleryRandy Salzman

10:45am EDT

11:00am EDT

12:00pm EDT

Founders Luncheon: Art, Fantasy, and Mystery: Meow WolfNow Open The BebederoVincent Kadlubek • WHURK • UVA Arts • Charlottesville Area Community Foundation Founders Luncheon: Brands in the Age of DistractionAlmost Full Downtown GrilleMargo Bulka • Z Bryant • Magnus Hierta • Darcey Lacy • Lindsey Norment • StoryWare • Willowtree • Sir Speedy Founders Luncheon: The Energy End GameAlmost Full Downtown GrilleDevin Welch • Jigar Shah • Charlottesville Renewable Energy Alliance • Sigora Solar • Sun Tribe Solar Founders Luncheon: Founding While FemaleNow Open Red Pump KitchenHeather Metcalf • Renee Diresta • Alice Handy • Shan-Lyn Ma • FastTrac • 1 Million Cups • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Founders Luncheon: Reasons to Stay - Cities for Young FoundersNow Open ZocaloDaniel Willson • Steve Huffman • Hack Cville • The City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development • Chamber Frederick • Eric Martin • Capital One Founders Luncheon: STEAM Ahead: Inclusive InnovationAlmost Full Brasserie SaisonNatalie Brzezinski • Knatokie Ford • Leland Melvin • Lynchburg Economic Development Authority • Virginia National Bank Community Luncheon: Honoring Black America in the Public RealmNow Open The Jefferson TheaterGayle Jessup White • Brent Leggs • Eto Otitigbe • Levar Stoney • Office for Diversity and Equity Founders Luncheon: Dopesick - Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted AmericaAlmost Full Bashir'sBeth Macy Founders Luncheon: Taking Back HealthcareNow Open Commonwalth RestaurantElisabeth Rosenthal • Natassia Rozario Founders Luncheon: An American StoryNow Open Hamilton'sJames Fallows • Amy Goldstein • Royer Caramanis & McDonough Partner Event: “How to Fix American Democracy: Part I" The Lawn at the University of Virginia (12-2 pm)Miller Center at UVA • University of Virginia

2:00pm EDT

Solving Design Problems with PrototypingAlmost Full Welcome GalleryKate Hofstra • Emily Flannery • Kristen Keiser • Todd Wickersty • StoryWare • Willowtree Life After CoalAlmost Full Violet Crown - Theater 4Heidi Binko • Dan Conant • Brandon Dennison • Adam Hastings • Nicole Steele • Sun Tribe Solar Master Class: The Creative CurveAlmost Full Common House - Vinegar Hall NorthAllen Gannett • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Get Smart: Beyond the Buzzwords on Open DataFull Common House - Vinegar Hall SouthLiz Farmer • Zac Bookman • David Doyle • Andrew Kleine • Clarence Wardell Sex in Public: Gender and Political OfficeNow Open The Paramount Theater - Balcony LoungeJennifer Wright • Jenn Brown • Atima Omara Collective Action for Public Health OutcomesNow Open Old Metropolitan HallElizabeth Beasley • Ryan Coonerty • Stephen Grubbs • Natassia Rozario The Future of JournalismAlmost Full Violet Crown - Theater 3Dahlia Lithwick • Jeff Carney • Steve Gibson • Brad Wolverton • The Daily Progress • University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences • C-Ville Weekly Founding Stories - VISION: From success to scaleNow Open The Paramount TheaterNatalie Brzezinski • Steve Huffman • Jigar Shah • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation • Eric Martin Partner Event: Affordable Housing DesignFull Water Street CenterMel Thompson • Gregory Powe • Kathleen Galvin • Andrew Gast-Bray • Laura Goldblatt • Ned Howe • Sunshine Mathon • Mike Osteen • Rush Otis • Brian Revere • Aakash Thakkar • Bruce Wardell • Urban Land Virginia Institute Master Class: The ABCs of Socially Responsible InvestingNow Open Second Street GalleryKathleen Neumann • UVA’s Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Community Workshop: Hydroponics: The Future of Food ProductionNow Open Babylon Micro Farms OfficeAlexander Olesen • Graham Smith • Babylon Micro Farms Partner Event: "How to Fix American Democracy: Part 2" Miller Center of Public AffairsMiller Center at UVA • University of Virginia Closed Session: Crafting a Regional Plan to Address to the Opioid CrisisFull CitySpaceRegion Ten • Denise Bonds • F. Michael Ashby • Rosa Atkins • Kyle Austin • Lisa Beitz • Marny Bentley • Denise Bonds • Neta Davis • Kaki Dimock • Elizabeth Driscoll • David Driscoll, PhD, MPH • Thierry Dupuis • Joe Evans • William Fulkerson • Mary Davis Hamlin • Holly Hatcher • Jody Herndon • Matt Holland • Michelle Hottinger • Mary Jackson • Marta Keane • Rebecca Kendall • Martin Kumer • Albie LaFave • Gabrielle Marzani • Anna Mendez • Susan Morrow • Jennifer Oldham MD MPH • Cristine Nardi • Cyndi Richardson • Ronnie Roberts • Ann Mason Rumble • Katya Sracic • Nassima Ait Daoud Tiouririne • Dorothy Tompkins • Robert Tracci • Erin Tucker • Renae Vance • Tom VonHermert • Rebecca Wade • Emily Warren • Lori Wood

3:00pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

5:00pm EDT

5:15pm EDT

6:25pm EDT

8:00pm EDT

9:30pm EDT

10:00pm EDT

 
Saturday, April 14
 

7:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

8:30am EDT

10:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:30am EDT

12:00pm EDT

12:30pm EDT

1:00pm EDT

1:40pm EDT

2:30pm EDT

2:50pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

5:10pm EDT

6:25pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

8:00pm EDT

9:15pm EDT

10:30pm EDT

10:45pm EDT

11:00pm EDT

 
Sunday, April 15
 

2:00pm EDT

3:10pm EDT

4:40pm EDT

6:15pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

 


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