11th ANNUAL CROWDFUNDED PITCH NIGHT | CIC + TOM TOM

240 West Main Street,Charlottesville VA 22902

20 April, 2023

Description

Make a Difference in Our Community and Support Local Entrepreneurs! The Tom Tom Festival and the Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) are proud to host the 11th Annual Crowdfunded Pitch Night. This competition features ten local entrepreneurs pitching to a live audience filled with voters who will pledge funds to their favorite concepts. Click on RESERVE A SPOT to make a donation to one or more of our finalists!2023 FinalistsThese visionaries will have only three minutes to share their ideas or business concepts. This year, all funds raised by a startup will go directly to the startup, regardless of the crowd favorite. A grand prize winner will be selected by a panel of judges and awarded a max of $5,000, sponsored by CIC, at the end of the competition. Corey Hoffman (Neon Culture Brewing): a black-owned craft beer brewery hoping to become the first of its kind in the Charlottesville area Daniel Ginsberg (Utrain Inc.): an all-in-one basketball training software solution Dominique Cocuzza (NuAge): a mobile app designed to help women 35+ age better by supporting them in adopting targeted lifestyle habits that optimize aging Eboni Feggans (Allure round-the-clock): a vending machine that allows users to access timeless beauty products Janasha Bradford (Mahogany and Friends): a mission-based brand that bridges the gap in financial literacy and entrepreneurship available to children while empowering and inspiring them to follow their dreams Josh Pritchett (Veo Careers): an employment platform that connects formerly incarcerated career seekers and those with criminal records to background-friendly employers across the US Merci Best (STEAMKITX): an education company that provides novel, hand-crafted science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and art (STEAM) kits to solve the lack of affordable, research-based, and fun learning tools for kids ages 5 through 12 Scott Tiernan (POP Plastic): a creative reuse center that refabricates locally-collected, post-consumer plastic into furniture, home goods, and accessories Wendy Winkler (The Rusty Iris Art Bus): a school bus transformed into a double-decker, mobile sculpture, art exhibit and venue, built for the purpose of inviting others to create within it Yolonda Coles Jones (The RESTORE Project): a mindfulness-based initiative to empower BIPOC residents of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to bring more calm, rest and quality attention into their everyday lives so that they can last, love well and live wisely For more information on the Crowdfunded Pitch Night, the finalists, event hosts, or other events taking place during the Tom Tom Festival, please visit www.tomtomfoundation.org/crowdfunded-pitch or https://cicville.org. Crowdfunded Pitch Nights have been acknowledged for their contributions to the local entrepreneur market for not only the cash prizes awarded to the winners, but also for yielding non-tangible benefits such as partnerships, business development, and exposure for all participants. For many, the event has served as a community builder and launching pad for growth. ABOUT THE TOM TOM FOUNDATION The Tom Tom Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates entrepreneurship, culture, and innovation in small cities. Tom Tom’s signature event is a weeklong Festival that takes place in Charlottesville, VA, each April. This cross discipline, multi-venue experience transforms the historic downtown and empowers entrepreneurs, innovators, and civic leaders who are defining the future. ABOUT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COLLABORATIVE Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) with a mission to strengthen the community and contribute to economic development by fueling the success of under-resourced entrepreneurs through education, mentoring, financing, and networking. In 2022, CIC celebrated its 10-year anniversary. To date, its 16-week entrepreneur workshop has over 500 graduates and more than 175 entrepreneurs have acquired over $2.5 million through CIC’s microloan program. Learn more about CIC at https://cicville.org. SPONSORS The Tom Tom Festival is presented with the generous support of C-VILLE Weekly, R.L. Beyer Custom Homes, The City of Charlottesville and Office of Economic Development, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Friends of Charlottesville, and Ludwig Kuttner.