The 2015 Tom Tom Founders Festival concluded Sunday after a week of music, art and innovation. This year’s fourth annual festival was the most successful to date, hosting 30 events in nearly 60 locations April 13-19. A total of 26,230 people attended, a 58 percent increase from last year despite the rainy forecast. James Cunningham, the production coordinator of the festival, called the turnout “spectacular.”
The festival celebrates the birthday of the University’s founding father Thomas Jefferson. Sean Carr, executive director of the Batten Institute at the Darden School and an early festival supporter, said it serves to empower current and future founders and forward thinkers.
“It is an incredibly exciting time to be here at the University and in Charlottesville as we think about what it’s entrepreneurial future might look like,” Carr said.
The festival is not-for-profit and relies on generous sponsors to be successful. The festival’s founding partners include the New Belgium Brewing Company, The Batten Institute at the Darden School, Storyware and Virginia is for Lovers.
The Festival hosts a variety of competitions and offers unique exposure as well as capital for organizations that win events. The Tom Tom Founders Festival is quickly becoming a Charlottesville tradition since it’s premier in 2012. Cunningham said familiar crowds are returning year after year to enjoy the festivities and popularity is growing exponentially.
“The festival has established itself at this point,” Cunningham said. “People know what it is and are familiar with it.”
Numerous competitions took place over the course of the week. A songwriter competition offered $1,000 in prize money as well as recording time and practice space at a local studio.
Other competitions included “Crowdfunded Pitch Night,” “Iron Chef,” “Super Demo” and the “Downtown Banner Competition.” Another competition, “Innovator of the Year,” was presented by the University’s Licensing and Ventures Group and awarded $10,000 in grant money to Dr. Benton Calhoun of PsiKick and Dr. James Smith of MadiDrops. Carolyn Zelikow, assistant director of the festival, said the festival’s events create opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
“We want to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs and people with dreams,” Zelikow said. “The event helps give these people access to public awareness and capital and other things that can help their stride.”
Zelikow said the competitions and events benefit not only those participating, but the community as a whole.
“[This event] is something that helps the Charlottesville community grow by leveraging fiscal resources,” Zelikow said. “And intellectually, all of the topics [that are] a part of Tom Tom are really fun — learning about new artists and bands, technology, etc. It is so multidisciplinary, and what unites them all is our question of, ‘How can we empower people?’”
One of the highlights of the week was the Founders Summit, which was held at the Paramount Theater. At this year’s Founders Summit event, every seat was filled. Nationally recognized speakers such as the founders of reddit, Gizmodo, The Container Store and the Maker Faire came to talk about creativity and entrepreneurship. Other popular events included the Friday Night Block Party, which attracted a 5,579 person crowd, and a picnic in Lee Park with 6,538 in attendance. Daniel Willson, innovation coordinator of the festival, said the festival plays an important role in connecting the University and Charlottesville communities.
“I believe in how it connects Charlottesville to the U.Va. community. Nothing brings the two sides of Charlottesville together in the same way or on the same scale,” Wilson said.
Although the event has just wrapped up, the Charlottesville community is looking forward to next year’s event.
“I’m sure there will definitely be changes,” Zelikow said. “Most of the problems encountered were visible and very minor. Some of the events could be consolidated.”
While high attendance is an achievement, the festival coordinators are currently working on better crowd management in the future.
“Honestly one thing [that] was surprising to us was high attendance across the board,” Zelikow said. “Next year we are working on being better prepared for that.”
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