Tom Tom Festival 2025

The 12th Annual Crowdfunded Pitch Night showcases 10 aspiring entrepreneurs to the Charlottesville community, who will vote with their dollars. Flash pitches will share the contestant's vision with the community and inspire the crowd to action! The evening will conclude with a round of crowd voting -- YOU get to be involved! -- in support of the idea the crowd feels is most likely to be successful. The pool of money goes to the winner. This event connects culturally diverse and innovative members of the Charlottesville community to showcase Charlottesville as a hub for unity and opportunity.

Each finalist has the opportunity to raise funds both before and during the pitch night. ALL donations intended for a startup or project will go to that startup! Before the pitch night, there will be a donation portal open to contribute toward a project, and at the pitch night, the audience can purchase votes to support the projects that most inspire them. ALL monies intended for a startup will go to that startup.

In addition to the crowdfunded support, the Community Investment Collaborate (CIC) is sponsoring a grand prize winner to receive a max $5,000. A winner will be selected by a panel of judges. Additional prizes and support services from CIC and other local business owners may also be awarded.

This event is free to attend and open to the public! 

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If you plan to attend only free events at Tom Tom and would still like to build your schedule here on Sched, please go to Eventbrite and select the free ticket labeled “Create Your Personal Schedule”. Once you complete the ticketing process, you’ll receive an email from Sched prompting you to create an account and then build your schedule. 

The University of Virginia Entrepreneurship Cup, also known as the E-Cup, is an annual competition that seeks to enrich the area’s entrepreneurial community by encouraging new ventures with the potential to address unmet needs, solve social and economic problems, and do so in an interdisciplinary way.

The E-Cup is open to all UVA undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The E-Cup consists of three different stages: Concept, Discovery and Launch! Each stage will have its own competition with varying judging criteria.

The Launch Competition is the third and final stage of the UVA Entrepreneurship Cup, and its goal is to showcase and provide seed capital to the most compelling UVA student startups. Upwards of $50,000 in total prize and in-kind resources will be awarded. Join us to pick the Audience Choice!

Here also is a History of ECUP Finalists and Winners, many of them awarded at Tom Tom Festival.

Space for this event is limited. EVOLVE Conference Badge Holders are able to attend, otherwise separate registration with the UVA ECup Team is required for entry. 

ZERO ON ZERO (ZOZ) is one of Charlottesville’s first non-alcoholic dance parties, celebrating the mindful drinking and sober-curious movement. Named after the Central Place fountain, ZOZ welcomes both those who have stopped drinking and those exploring their relationship with alcohol.

On Thursday, April 17, from 5:00–7:30 PM, DJ Dutchie will spin a house lounge set from Corner Juice’s patio, while Fitzroy, Petit Pois, and Zocalo serve craft mocktails. Anahata Sabat, a leader in non-alcoholic mixology, will showcase premium wines, spirits, bitters, and tinctures that elevate the experience.

ZOZ launches a larger non-alcohol-focused program at Tom Tom Festival, including mocktail bars at the VIP Innovation Mixer and Block Party and a trailblazer session at EVOLVE Conference featuring innovators in the non-alcoholic beverage space.

Step out, grab a cocktail, and mingle with the movers and shakers shaping Charlottesville’s innovation scene. This isn’t just another networking event—it’s an evening where industries collide, ideas spark, and the founders and funders who are fueling it all come together for some seriously impactful conversations. Whether you’re in tech, social good, or somewhere in between, you’ll find a space to connect, collaborate, and maybe even get that funding lead you’ve been waiting for.

Forget the awkward elevator pitch—this is your chance to casually swap stories, ideas, and business cards over a drink (or two). Join us for an evening of high-energy networking, where the only thing more exciting than the connections you’ll make is the conversation you’ll have. You never know who you’ll meet, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be someone worth knowing.

This event is 21+ and features a cash bar.

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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.

DANCE SERIES | CARNIVALE
21+

Carnivale - A Latin, Salsa, Bachata, Reggteton  Dance Party

Let’s take the Block Party energy onto the dance floor for a night of Latin soul that brings all the dance communities of Charlottesville together.

Bright colors and Latin moves.

Come dressed in your CARNIVALE best because it’s time for an all-out celebration.

Salsa, Bachata, Zouk, and Kizomba, Brazilian, Samba, and Funk.

Come with a partner or dance solo!

Come join us for an unforgettable night of Latin dance at the Tom Tom festival! As we continue our hosting of the Latin dance stage on Saturday for the Carnival Party! We're are excited to bring you some amazing performances that will leave you inspired and falling in love with Latin dance.


Full Schedule Here:
9:00pm Social Dancing
10:00pm Performance: Capoeira
10:10pm Performance: UVA Salsa Club
10:20pm Performance: Mambo Bones
10:30pm Performance: Kara Leona
10:30 pm-1 am DJ ZACARRI and Foreign Playerz

Note: This is a ticketed event. To create your event schedule here on Sched you must first purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. Click here to purchase your tickets.

DANCE SERIES | PROM PROM

Let’s close out an unforgettable Tom Tom Festival week with a throwback Prom!
The beats are big, the vibes are electric, and everyone is the main character.
Whether you loved prom, or missed it—this is your night to shine.
No dates required—just good energy.

In partnership with FUN Cville, we’ll be heading to Common House for a multi-level dance party with throwback jams and good vibes. DJs. So get your dancing shoes, and a fun outfit, and grab your friends!

Schedule:
Holding down the first floor with Hip Hop Throwbacks and Good Time Jams - DJ Double U and DJ Reggie Wattz
Bringing the House music with a flair of Pop that brings you back - XII Galaxies 9pm - 11pm and Fancy K 11pm - 1am

Ages 21+

Note: This is a ticketed event. To create your event schedule here on Sched you must first purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. Click here to purchase your tickets.