Name: Technology Track
Start: 2025-04-17T08:00:00-0400
End: 2025-04-17T08:15:00-0400

Thursday April 17, 2025 8:00am - 8:15am EDT

Embrace evolution with technology…for good.

How can innovation continually evolve as a force for positive change? It’s not just about the latest tech trends—it’s about how we adapt, grow, and leverage technology to address society’s most pressing challenges, from climate action to social justice. As technology evolves, so must our thinking, pushing us to reimagine how tools like AI, blockchain, and renewable energy can be harnessed to create greater equity. What are the sectors providing the greatest diversity? Forward-thinking leaders, innovators, founders, and funders will gather to learn what's on the horizon and how to ensure that we are shaping a future where progress benefits everyone. And like last year, we'll be showcasing Founders from the area in our pitches and spotlights.

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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.

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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

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 →

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 →

Ali Rotatori

Strategy & Ecosystem Manager, Third Derivative (RMI)

Ali is the Strategy & Ecosystem Manager at Third Derivative, RMI's Climate Tech Accelerator. She focuses on scaling Third Derivative’s impact through developing partnerships and refining & operationalizing organizational strategy.Before joining Third Derivative, Ali spent over 6... Read More →

Andrew Glover

Co-Owner, Realta Systems LLC

Mr. Glover grew up in Massachusetts and moved to Virginia to attend university. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and remained in the Lynchburg, Virginia area. He has over six years of experience in the nuclear industry, successfully designing, testing... Read More →

Aram DiGennaro

Principal Consultant, Protentional

A lifelong learner and entrepreneur, Aram has started or managed businesses in software, agribusiness, manufacturing, construction, real estate, hospitality, and more. He holds a Bachelors in Psychology, a Masters of Divinity, and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management... Read More →

Braden Croy

Program Director, Dominion Energy Innovation Center

Braden Croy, Program Director of the DEIC, has 10+ years of experience supporting startup communities and building entrepreneurship programs for R1 universities and Fortune 500 companies. He has presented internationally on entrepreneurship ecosystem development and coached over 500... Read More →

Charlie Henneman

Program Director, CvilleBioHub

Charlie Henneman is Program Director at CvilleBioHub where he leads event planning and supports communications and fundraising. From 2004-2021 he was Head of Educational Events for CFA Institute, the largest global association of investment professionals, where his team created and... Read More →

Claire Maiers

Group VP, WillowTree

Claire Maiers, PhD serves as a Group VP in the Strategy Consulting practice at WillowTree. She began her career as a sociologist, studying the intersection of technology and culture. Her research at the University of Virginia explored the emergence of data science as an epistemological... Read More →

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 →

Emily Kilroy

Director of Economic Development, Albemarle County

Emily Kilroy has more than 15 years of public service experience working in local government. She currently serves as the Director of Economic Development for Albemarle County, VA, leading a team to create opportunities for job creation, redevelopment, and enhance our community’s... Read More →

Gilman Callsen

Founder & CEO, Rho Impact

Gilman Callsen is the Founder & CEO of Rho Impact. He has nearly 20 years of experience building and scaling technology companies and has been influential in integrating data science, software engineering, and cloud infrastructure to help organizations solve the world’s most complex... Read More →

Emily Smith

Founder & CEO, Side Nerd Apps

Emily Smith is the Founder & CEO of Side Nerd Apps, a tech company dedicated to simplifying data collection through intuitive, text message-based solutions. With a background in analytics and marketing technology, Emily spent six years consulting for Fortune 500 clients at Analytic... Read More →

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 →

Jeff Pompeo

President & CEO, Caretaker Medical: Wireless Patient Monitoring

Jeff Pompeo is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and board/advisor with over 25 years of experience leading technology startups throughout the full life-cycle of inception & funding, product launch, and exit. He is currently CEO at Caretaker Medical, an innovative MedTech company... Read More →

Jennifer Siciliano

Chief External Affairs Officer, UVA Health

Jennifer Siciliano currently serves as Chief External Affairs Officer for UVA Health where she oversees all aspects of UVA Health's relationships with external stakeholders for the health system. Jennifer was instrumental in creating and executing the legislative strategy that led... Read More →

Jorge Gutierrez Luthe

CEO, Better Storytelling at Work

Jorge is a strategic leader, expert communicator, and engineer by training, with experience across more than six countries. With over 15 years of experience at Google and in finance, he has developed a storytelling and public speaking methodology that transcends cultural boundaries.Passionate... Read More →

Julia Mossbridge

Founder and Board Chair, TILT: The Institute for Love and Time

Dr. Mossbridge is an American cognitive neuroscientist, author and educator who has worked mainstreaming parapsychological research, notably precognition and presentiment effects, and also studies artificial intelligence, consciousness, and how unconditional love can support wellbeing... Read More →

Leland Remias

CEO, VroomBrick

Leland Remias is the founder of VroomBrick, a real estate technology platform built to simplify and modernize the home buying and selling experience, starting with military families. As a former Naval Officer and third-generation service member, Leland experienced the challenges of... Read More →

Maritza Johnson

Principal, Good Research

Maritza Johnson is an expert on human-centered security and privacy with industry, teaching, and research experience, she is currently a principal at Good Research. In prior roles, Maritza was the founding director of the Center for Digital Civil Society at the University of San Diego... Read More →

Otavio Freire

CEO, Caju AI

Otavio Freire is a Brazilian-born American entrepreneur and inventor specializing in AI-driven platforms and enterprise innovation. He is the Founder and CEO of Caju AI, a pioneering technology startup redefining communication through its AI Communication Platform. With a global presence... Read More →

Philip Potter

Executive Director, National Security Data & Policy Institute, UVA

Dr. Philip Potter is the founding director of the National Security Data and Policy Institute (NSDPI), the University of Virginia’s sixth university-level institute. A professor of politics and the founding director of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy’s... Read More →

Price Thomas

Executive Director, City of Promise

Price A. Thomas is the Executive Director of City of Promise, leading the nonprofit since May 2023. Born and raised in Charlottesville, he brings extensive experience as a communications expert and campaign strategist in addition to his deep knowledge of the Charlottesville community... Read More →

Rebecca Ivins

Western Division Manager, Hourigan Group

Rebecca's experience in construction and real estate development spans nearly two decades, working on both the owner and construction manager side. Rebecca’s passion is construction, economic development, civic engagement, and growing business communities. Rebecca strives to forge... Read More →

Rick Hamilton

Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer, Focused Ultrasound Foundation

Rick Hamilton is a recognized thought leader in innovation and patent strategy, with 1,063 issued U.S. patents to his name. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has helped foster inventive cultures at leading organizations including IBM and UnitedHealth Group. Now serving... Read More →

Rider Foley

Associate Professor, UVA Department of Engineering and Society

Rider Foley’s research explores the intersection of innovation and sustainability. His past project have sought to understand how emerging technologies can be designed to meet the needs of users, and how those designs navigate the political, legal, and social constructs that constrain... Read More →

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 →

Sarad Davenport

Founder, DSID/Vinegar Hill Magazine

Sarad Davenport is a seasoned human-centered designer and social innovator dedicated to creating positive change. With expertise in community development and cross-sector partnerships, he has led initiatives like the Charlottesville Promise Neighborhood and contributed to national... Read More →

Silvia Blemker

Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder, Springbok Analytics

Silvia Salinas Blemker, PhD is the Chief Scientific Officer and a co-founder of Springbok Analytics. She is fascinated by skeletal muscle biomechanics and physiology and is well-known in the field for developing novel computational and experimental approaches to study muscle, with... Read More →

Stephen Yanchuk

Developer & Founder, VA Inventor's Organization [STEALTH]

Stephen believes that innovation thrives when creativity meets strategy, and is passionate about helping others navigate the journey from inspiration to invention. Whether through education, outreach, or hands-on workshops, his goal is to empower others to embrace intellectual property... Read More →

Sponsors

757 Collab

Albemarle County Economic Development

CAV Angels

Charlottesville Business Innovation Council

Citrine Angels

Code Building

CODEBase

Common House

Cville Bio Hub

CVILLE REA

Dominion Energy Innovation Center

The Dominion Energy Innovation Center supports high-tech entrepreneurs and small business owners who are driving the innovations needed to achieve a net-zero carbon economy.Energy is the lifeblood of modern society. From home to office to play, the opportunities to effectuate an equitable... Read More →

Cost Ticketed

Attendees (8)

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