Reflecting on Success: Tom Tom Fest 2024

Reflecting on Success: Tom Tom Fest 2024 in Charlottesville, Virginia
3.5 min read

As the curtains close on another exhilarating chapter of Tom Tom Fest in Charlottesville, Virginia, it's time to reflect on the whirlwind of innovation, connection, and inspiration that unfolded over the past few days. For me and countless others, this year's festival proved to be an extraordinary journey of personal growth, professional networking, and community engagement.

Personal Growth Through Networking

Tom Tom Fest provided an unparalleled opportunity for me to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for forward-thinking innovation. From engaging conversations with seasoned investors to insightful discussions with visionary entrepreneurs, the festival was a treasure trove of inspiration and learning. Whether brainstorming ideas over lunch or exchanging business cards at a networking event, I left Tom Tom Fest feeling energized and empowered to pursue new avenues of engagement with the movers and shakers of the Virginia innovation scene.

Fostering Connections with Forward Thinkers

Beyond personal growth, Tom Tom Fest played a pivotal role in highlighting the connections between the community and the university. As a nexus of innovation and creativity, the festival served as a platform for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to come together and explore ways to drive positive change, as well as show that the university is actively engaged in balancing their own needs and growth with the towns. From panel discussions on the future of technology to hands-on workshops on sustainable urban development, Tom Tom Fest sparked meaningful dialogue and collaboration that will continue to reverberate long after the street has been cleaned from the ‘New Orleans style” block party that followed over the weekend.

Celebrating Collaboration and Engagement

At its core, Tom Tom Fest is a celebration of collaboration and engagement – a testament to the power of community to spark change and drive innovation. From the bustling streets of downtown Charlottesville to the hallowed halls of the university campus, the festival brought people together from all walks of life to celebrate creativity, diversity, and the boundless potential of human ingenuity. Whether attending a live music performance, exploring an interactive art installation, or participating in a community service project, attendees experienced firsthand the transformative impact of coming together to pursue a common vision.

Looking Ahead

As I bid farewell to Tom Tom Fest and carry the lessons learned and connections made forward into the future, I am filled with a sense of optimism and excitement for what lies ahead. Armed with new ideas, new relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose, I am confident that the spirit of innovation and collaboration ignited at the festival will continue to inspire positive change in our community and beyond.

Tom Tom Fest 2024 was not just a festival; it was a catalyst for personal and collective growth, a celebration of creativity and connection, and a beacon of hope for a brighter, more innovative future. As we look ahead to the next chapter, let us carry forward the spirit of Tom Tom Fest – a spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and boundless possibility. Hope to see you there next year.

So what IS Real Estate Impact Investing?

Hello hello dear blogosphere, it's Jon here and I'm back to talk to you about impact investing, more specifically, real estate impact investing.

Real estate impact investing is all about investing in properties or projects that have a positive impact on the environment and communities. We're talking affordable housing, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable development projects. But there are some extra sustainability benefits when it comes to developing on brownfield sites and neighborhood revitalization.

In case “brownfield sites” means nothing to you… Brownfield sites are properties that have been previously developed, and often abandoned or underutilized, leaving behind environmental hazards. Developing on these sites not only helps to clean up and revitalize neighborhoods, but it also helps to preserve green spaces and prevent urban sprawl. By investing in properties and developments in these types of areas, it can help to create jobs, provide low-income families with access to safe and affordable homes, increase property values, and improve the overall quality of life for residents. It also helps to prevent urban decay and preserve historic buildings and neighborhoods.

One of the things I love about real estate impact investing is that it allows you to have a direct impact on the communities and environments in which you're investing. And real estate investments can also be pretty stable. Why? Because they typically have a longer time horizon than other types of investments, which can help to mitigate risk and provide consistent returns over time. Plus, because real estate investments are often backed by tangible assets, they can provide a level of security that other types of investments may not offer.

But, like with anything, there are also some challenges to consider. One of the biggest is that real estate investments can be pretty costly to get into, especially for individual investors. And the real estate market can be highly cyclical, so the value of your investments can fluctuate greatly depending on economic conditions.

I started Soma Reality Investments LLC because real estate impact investing is a pretty cool way to use your money to make a positive impact on the world while also potentially making a return on your investment. We filter through potential projects for ones that meet the requirements of our mission, only working with reputable developers that show a commitment not only to environmental sustainability but to the people who make the project happen, and those who live in the community. We are working to make it easier for more people to invest in the sorts of projects that make communities more human.

Thanks for reading and I hope to have some news about opening up the fund in the near future to a wider pool of investors!

Solar Industry and Questions of Sustainability

So I've been a big supporter of renewable energy for a while now, as my last post a few months back pointed to our own experience in the first year adopting solar. But I had a few people reach out to me to point to potential issues in the space and have questions about the sustainability of it all, so I thought I’d do a really basic breakdown of growth trends and ways the industry is getting better every day.

In 2020 alone, the global solar power capacity reached 589 GW, and it's projected to reach 1,230 GW by 2026. It's amazing to see how far solar technology has come in recent years, and it's clear that it's going to play a big role in our transition to a more sustainable energy system.

But, as with anything, there are always going to be concerns and challenges. For example, the production of solar panels requires a significant amount of energy and materials, and some of the chemicals and materials used in the manufacturing process can be harmful to the environment. However, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the energy payback time (EPBT) for a solar panel is typically around 1-2 years, which means that after that period, the solar panel will have generated more energy than was required to produce it. Additionally, the disposal of solar panels at the end of their lifetime can also be problematic. To address this, recycling technologies are being developed to recycle the materials, and the recycling rate of solar panels is expected to reach 30% by 2030.

The benefits of solar energy far outweigh any potential downsides currently mapped. Not only does it help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but it also saves us money on our electricity bills. According to the International Energy Agency, the average cost of solar energy has dropped by 85% since 2010, making it more cost-competitive with traditional sources of energy. It's a win-win for both our wallets and the planet.

As always, whether or not solar makes sense for you as an individual is something that is highly specific to your individual situation. But just looking at the big, industry-level picture here, the momentum (along with regulatory/policy help) is trending toward making solar, and renewables in general an affordable and more sustainable way to meet our increasing energy demands.