Loading…
Friday April 18, 2025 8:00am - 8:15am EDT
Exploring how businesses start, grow, and flourish.

Everyone needs to have an entrepreneurial mindset. The Entrepreneurship theme delves into the entrepreneurial journey, offering tools, insights, and strategies for founders at every stage. With intention at its core, this theme emphasizes the importance of building purpose-driven businesses while navigating the inevitable challenges that come with entrepreneurship. We’ll tackle the founder’s dilemma—balancing vision with execution, scaling with sustainability, and passion with practicality. Sessions will explore the intricacies of funding—how to secure it, manage it, and use it to fuel long-term growth. But beyond merely surviving, this track is about thriving—teaching entrepreneurs and the entrepreneur in all of us not just how to stay afloat in competitive markets but how to build resilient, innovative ventures that scale and succeed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, Entrepreneurship equips you with the knowledge and networks to turn challenges into opportunities and drive your venture to new heights.

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Byrne

Kate Byrne

Tom Tom Foundation, Conference Chair, The Tulle Box, Co-Founder, WomenAdvancing, Podcast Host
Kate Byrne grows things; people, businesses, movements. Her career marries her love of media, the power of technology, financial literacy and the impact of heart in people and business as forces for good. The Stanford grad is a trusted voice and cross-sector translator, a gifted rainmaker... Read More →
avatar for Paul Beyer

Paul Beyer

Executive Director, Tom Tom Foundation
My professional interests and passions are around community building; with a specific focus on my hometown of Charlottesville, VA. I love the instigators, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and healers who are filled with civic purpose and desire to create communities of friendship... Read More →
avatar for Adeleke Omitowoju

Adeleke Omitowoju

Angel Investor
Adeleke Omitowoju is an investor, operator, and long-time champion of entrepreneurs with over 15 years of experience across venture capital, private equity, enterprise sales, and startup growth. He’s passionate about helping founders scale transformative businesses—from early... Read More →
avatar for Alex Zorychta

Alex Zorychta

Managing Partner, Not Yet Ventures
Alex Zorychta is Managing Partner of Not Yet Ventures, a Charlottesville-based venture capital firm pioneering the earliest stage of unicorn startup investing. He's coached 16 startups from pre-idea to YC/Techstars funding, and founded his own startup that was funded by Y Combinator... Read More →
avatar for Amanda Pollard

Amanda Pollard

Of Counsel, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Amanda Pollard advises technology and life sciences companies at all stages of growth. She also represents financial and strategic investors in equity investments in high-growth companies.Amanda’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law, including company formation, founder... Read More →
avatar for Berry Brunk

Berry Brunk

Founding Partner, Exit Right Advisers
Berry Brunk has more than 25 years of leadership experience - and six exits - with companies that have been at the forefront of transforming the delivery of healthcare in the Mr. Brunk has developed strong relationships with decision-makers in post-acute care, health systems, IDNs... Read More →
BG

Bo Grist

Director, Central Virginia, SBDC
Bo has been a co-founder or the first employee in 3 technology startups where he focused on implementing eCommerce technology for large retailers like Calvin Klein, Ethan Allen, Dickies, Tory Burch, 1800-PetMeds, Floor and Decor, and The WWE.  Last year, Bo resigned from a company... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Christine Mahoney

Dr. Christine Mahoney

Chief Innovation Officer, UVA Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Christine Mahoney is Chief Innovation Officer and Professor of Public Policy and Politics at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. She directs the Tadler Program in Impact Investing in Appalachia, the UVA Environmental Institute-funded... Read More →
avatar for David Deaton

David Deaton

Co-Founder, MindSalt, Inc
David Deaton, co-leader of MindSalt, has been leading transformation for organizations of all types, sizes, and industries for nearly three decades. He has extensive expertise in strategic planning, operational and financial analysis, market research, and effective execution. David... Read More →
avatar for David Skandera

David Skandera

Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. David Skandera is a researcher and Assistant Professor of Strategic Management in the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). His work focuses on the role of business in society, and specifically on developing theories and educating (current and future) business... Read More →
avatar for David Touve

David Touve

Managing Director, 434 Accelerator
David is the Managing Director of 434, an accelerator program supporting early-stage, technology-driven companies based in and around Charlottesville, Virginia. Most recently, he was the Senior Director of the Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business, an Assistant Professor... Read More →
avatar for Derrick Rowe

Derrick Rowe

Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Dr. Derrick Rowe is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on patent prosecution and counseling designed to help clients protect their intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally in the life... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Nel

Heidi Nel

Chief Operating Officer, New Theory Ventures
Heidi Nel is a strategist and operator whose experience spans entertainment, government affairs, and finance. She serves as Chief Operating Officer at New Theory Ventures, a family office and venture catalyst that invests in women and diverse entrepreneurs, enabling early-stage founders... Read More →
avatar for Jake Spradling

Jake Spradling

Co-Founder & CEO/CTO, CargoLabs Inc.
Full Stack software engineer building web-solutions for truckers.LinkedIn: Jake Spradling
avatar for Jonathan Aberman

Jonathan Aberman

Partner, Ruxton Ventures
Jonathan Aberman is Parter in Ruxton Ventures a seed stage venture capital firm that is currently growing as portfolio of more than 20 software startups, based throughout the world. He has worked previously in the investment banking industry and as a partner in major international... Read More →
avatar for Julie Pelrine

Julie Pelrine

Partner, CFGI
As a Partner at CFGI, a highly specialized financial consulting firm that is part of the Carlyle and CVC portfolio, I lead and oversee complex and strategic projects for clients across various industries and scenarios.My mission is to provide seamless and high-quality services to... Read More →
avatar for Lily Garcia-Walton

Lily Garcia-Walton

Chief People Officer, Silverchair
Lily drives the company’s people strategy, enabling the success of Silverchair’s exceptional professionals. She has more than two decades of experience leading technology, education, media, and professional services organizations through transformative change while preserving... Read More →
avatar for Larry Moulis

Larry Moulis

Fractional Chief Technical Officer & Product Officer, Roadmap Works
I help small companies build and secure their technology by helping them focus on improving the fit between their product-market plans and their development processes and capabilities. A crucial artifact is a reliable Product Roadmap.LinkedIn: Larry Moulis... Read More →
avatar for Lisa O'Mara

Lisa O'Mara

Director, Investor Relations, Locus
Lisa O'Mara is the Director of Investor Relations at Locus, a Virginia-based community development financial institution (CDFI). Here she leads a dedicated team in securing funds to advance Locus' mission of creating equitable access to capital through financing in affordable housing... Read More →
avatar for M James Faison

M James Faison

Partner, Faison Law Group
M. James Faison is the managing partner at Faison Law Group, a law firm that specializes in venture capital, emerging company, fund formation and M&A legal work. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law. James is the former founder of Milton's... Read More →
avatar for Marty Weiner

Marty Weiner

Former CTO Reddit, Founding Engineer Pinterest
Marty was a founding engineer at Pinterest and spent 4.5 exciting years building Pinterest from tiny to big. In 2015 he joined Reddit as its first CTO tasked with helping bring the company into working order. Much gray hair was created, but now Reddit has even IPO’d and is on the... Read More →
avatar for Omar Garriott

Omar Garriott

Executive Director, UVA Darden School of Business, Batten Institute
Omar Garriott is Executive Director of UVA Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology. Prior to Darden he built a career as a “Tech Intrapreneur for Good,” venture founder, and bestselling author. He has led product marketing teams and education... Read More →
avatar for Pauline Idogho

Pauline Idogho

Founder & CEO, Mocktail Club
Pauline Idogho is the Founder/CEO of Mocktail Club, a line of premium crafted ready-to-drink non-alcoholic cocktails inspired by her quest to  find sophisticated and better-for-you alternatives to alcohol. Prior to founding the company, Pauline had a 15-year career in investment... Read More →
avatar for Reagan Stillerman

Reagan Stillerman

Director of Operations, Kindness Café + Play
Reagan is a dedicated and passionate special educator with nearly two decades of experience working in grades K-12 across a wide variety of educational settings. As and Director of Operations at Kindness Cafe, a non-profit dedicated to employing adults with disabilities, Reagan has... Read More →
avatar for Robert Keaton

Robert Keaton

Founder & fCFO, BluePoint Consulting
Rob Keaton is a seasoned financial leader with over a decade of experience in providing fractional financial guidance to companies across Virginia and the United States. As a Certified QuickBooks Pro, he has honed his skills in managing financial operations for businesses across a... Read More →
avatar for Roberta Keller

Roberta Keller

Founder & CEO, Alexis Advisors
Roberta Keller is a thought-leader in building a wealth management social enterprise. Roberta founded Alexis Advisors in 2013 and was the first Certified B Corp financial services firm in the Central Virginia region. The firm offers women and working professionals fee-only financial... Read More →
avatar for Siddharth Dalal

Siddharth Dalal

Fractional CTO, Fraccel
Siddharth is fractional CTO for two early stage startups Novela - (https://novelaweddings.com) and Taste Supply (https://tastesupply.com). He is the cofounder of BrokerBotics (https://brokerbotics.com) with his teenage son.  He has led remote global teams for the last decade at various... Read More →
avatar for Teira Farley

Teira Farley

Director of Communications & Engagement, CIC
Teira serves the CIC team as its Director of Communications + Engagement. A dual, magna cum laude graduate of Florida A&M University, one of the nation’s most renowned public HBCUs, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration, with... Read More →
avatar for Tiffany Keaton

Tiffany Keaton

Founder & fCMO, Avinity Advisors
With nearly 30 years of marketing and communications experience spanning start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, Tiffany brings a proven "Swiss Army knife" skillset organizations she serves. With a diverse background she is well equipped to navigate roles in strategy, go-to-market planning... Read More →
avatar for Vivi Nellen

Vivi Nellen

Vice President, Premium Service Brands
Vivi oversees the awesome things Premium Service Brands does out in the world with a focus on the company’s philanthropic affiliate Kids-Lift. She helps get the corporate team in Cville involved in helping kids in the community as well as working with franchisees across the country... Read More →
avatar for Yael Grushka-Cockayne

Yael Grushka-Cockayne

Vice Dean & Professor of Business Administration, UVA Darden School of Business
Professor Yael Grushka-Cockayne's research and teaching activities focus on data science, artificial intelligence, forecasting, project management and behavioral decision-making. Her research is published in numerous academic and professional journals, and she is a regular speaker... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for 434 Accelerator

434 Accelerator

434 is a long-format accelerator program, providing select technology-driven, early-stage startups based in and around Charlottesville with at least nine months of program support, including: dedicated workspace, experienced founders-in-residence, monthly programming, a large network... Read More →
avatar for The Bradbury

The Bradbury

Located in the heart of Charlottesville, on the historic Downtown Mall, the Bradbury is a place of possibility, connection, and community.The Bradbury is more than an elegant, versatile, event space; The Bradbury is an all inclusive, one of a kind, boutique experience for any occasion... Read More →
avatar for UVA Innovates

UVA Innovates

The Entrepreneurship Initiative will coordinate and amplify entrepreneurship activities across UVA. 
avatar for Vault Virginia

Vault Virginia

Vault Virginia is a membership-based workspace and social club for creators, innovators and thought-leaders. Our carefully designed office, coworking, gallery, and event spaces inspire creativity, cultivate curiosity, and promote connection.
avatar for Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance them. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups... Read More →
Friday April 18, 2025 8:00am - 8:15am EDT
CODE Building

Attendees (8)


Log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link