Friday, April 18
8am - 5pm
Exploring how businesses start, grow, and flourish.
Everyone needs to have an entrepreneurial mindset. The Entrepreneurship theme delves into the entrepreneurial journey, offering tools, insights, and strategies for founders at every stage. With intention at its core, this theme emphasizes the importance of building purpose-driven businesses while navigating the inevitable challenges that come with entrepreneurship. We’ll tackle the founder’s dilemma—balancing vision with execution, scaling with sustainability, and passion with practicality. Sessions will explore the intricacies of funding—how to secure it, manage it, and use it to fuel long-term growth. But beyond merely surviving, this track is about thriving—teaching entrepreneurs and the entrepreneur in all of us not just how to stay afloat in competitive markets but how to build resilient, innovative ventures that scale and succeed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, Entrepreneurship equips you with the knowledge and networks to turn challenges into opportunities and drive your venture to new heights.
Agenda Overview:
Wednesday: 7:00 PM - Crowdfunded Pitch Night
Friday:
8:00 AM - Registration*
9:00 AM - Welcome & Keynote Session
10:00 AM - Sessions 2—4
11:15 AM - Sessions 5—7
12:15 PM - Lunch Break
1:00 PM - Sessions 8—9
2:15 PM - Sessions 10—12
3:30 PM - Session 13
5:00 PM to 10:00 PM - Downtown Mall Block Party
*Complimentary tea bar. Coffee available for purchase at Mudhouse in Code Building lobby.
Conference venues on the historic pedestrian Mall include the CODE Building, Common House, and Vault Virginia.
Sessions & Speakers Announced March 2025
Spotlights:
Finance
Fractional Leadership
AI and Technology
Purpose & Triple Bottom Line
Startup Showcases
Competitions
And MORE...
Badges:
Check out the full EVOLVE Conference experience!
All Conference Tracks have a Scholarship Option available for attendees in need of financial assistance.
Showcase your innovative and inspiring startup! Lightning talk sessions will dive into the promise of new technologies, and the transformational possibilities they represent. Join us! If you are part of a company that is 5 years old or less, and that embraces novel business concepts in a variety of fields and industries, please fill out the application below. Following each session, there will be time for mixing and networking with angel and institutional investors.
Raise a glass to celebrate Charlottesville’s most innovative companies and organizations.
Tom Tom’s annual Innovation Mixer is the place to be. This multi-lounge extravaganza highlights the most innovative ideas and people in the region at the CODE Building.
Set in the midst of the EVOLVE Conference and thousands of leaders, the mixer assembles a diverse range of innovators -- from biotech, energy, data, defense, social impact, wellness, and technology --- and the funders who are fueling their growth.
The Entrepreneurship for All theme wouldn’t be complete without standout community competitions like UVA’s ECUP and the 12th Annual Crowd Funded Pitch Night.
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