Calling Entrepreneurs: Your Big Idea Deserves a Big Stage Compete for $5,000 and Local Resources to Launch or Grow

For Immediate Release


Teira E. Farley
Chief Operating Officer, CIC
teira@cicville.org
(434) 227-5657
 

Charlottesville, VA (February 17, 2026) — The Tom Tom Festival and Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) invite you to witness innovation in action at the 13th Annual Crowdfunded Pitch Night, taking place Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 7pm at the Irving Theater in The CODE Building. Ten of Charlottesville's boldest entrepreneurs will take the stage before a live audience, each armed with just three minutes to spark imagination and inspire investment. During this high-energy showcase, audience members become active participants, pledging direct support to the ventures that capture their hearts while entrepreneurs compete for an additional $5,000 grand prize sponsored by CIC.  

All funds raised by a startup will go directly to the startup, regardless of the crowd favorite, and all contestants compete for the $5,000 grand prize.  Applications are open on the Tom Tom website: https://www.tomtomfoundation.org/crowdfunded-pitch and will close on February 27, 2026. Applicants will supply a business or project name, a narrative description of their product or service, and the impact they hope to make in the local community.  

In the past, the Crowdfunded Pitch Night has attracted a packed crowd and yielded substantial opportunities for entrepreneurs through prizes, recognition, networking, and business development. Former participants and winners rave about their experiences and credit the event as a noteworthy moment along their entrepreneurial journey.

“Tom Tom’s Crowdfunded Pitch Night brought together so many amazing people. Taking part in this event showed how much Charlottesville truly cares about its local startup community, as the entire crowd welcomed all of the groups presenting with open arms,” says Bennett Slosman, founder of Angel Detection Solutions and Winner of the Crowdfunded Prize (2024).

The anticipation surrounding the competition continues to grow year by year. "We are thrilled to once again host the Crowdfunded Pitch Night! This event has become a cherished highlight for the CIC team, our clients, and the broader community, showcasing entrepreneurship in a dynamic and meaningful way," said Stephen Davis, President, CIC. "The courage it takes to launch a business, to stand before a crowd and share your vision, that's what we celebrate through this partnership with the Tom Tom Festival."

Participants in the Crowdfunded Pitch Night are ultimately vying for exposure and assistance to build or grow their businesses.  Pitch preparation sessions will be made available to the finalists in advance of the event by CIC.  Entrepreneurs will use social media and varied forms of marketing to invite family and friends to attend and vote on their behalf.  Cash prizes, mentoring, and other tools will be awarded to the most convincing pitches on the night of April 22, 2026.

Applications are open through February 27, 2026.  Finalists will be announced by March 23, 2026.  To apply or gain additional information, please visit https://www.tomtomfoundation.org/crowdfunded-pitch or https://cicville.org.
 

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-disciplinary, multi-venue experience transforms the historic downtown and empowers entrepreneurs, innovators, and civic leaders who are defining the future. The 2026 Festival theme, COURAGE, explores the choices we make to take risks, bridge divides, and shape a shared future together. Learn more at https://www.tomtomfoundation.org.
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. Based in Charlottesville and serving Central and Southern Virginia, its 16-week Entrepreneur Workshop has over 650 graduates, and more than 250 entrepreneurs have acquired over $6.5 million through CIC’s microloan program. Learn more about CIC at https://cicville.org.
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.