East Carolina University

Pirate Entrepreneurship Fund - East Carolina University

Source: https://business.ecu.edu/news/2026/04/09/entrepreneurship-fund-investment-alumni/ Captured: 2026-04-09 Pirate Entrepreneurship Fund (PEF) Key details: Launched in 2022 by a group of ECU supporters Goal: Help entrepreneurs succeed and be innovative Invested roughly $3 million into nine ECU-affiliated businesses (as of April 2026) Focuses on Pirate-founded businesses President and CEO: Mark Wdowik Recent investment: Turner Home Team ($300K, Justin Turner '21, COB finance grad) Turner Home Team: real estate platform for off-market homes Other portfolio companies not named in article

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East Carolina University

Gene T. Aman Pirate Challenge - East Carolina University

Source: https://business.ecu.edu/msoe/apc/ Captured: 2026-06-26 Gene T. Aman Pirate Challenge (APC) Key details: ECU's signature business pitch competition Renamed in 2024 after $3.2 million gift from Helen Aman and family Open to student-led teams across ECU Over $900,000 awarded in cash and prizes since 2018 Richest pitch competition in North Carolina 2026 APC features more than $200,000 in cash and prizes Three-round format: Round 1 (Oct, campus mall), Round 2 (Feb, student center), Round 3 (April, Murphy Center) 2026 final round (April 15): $240,000+ in cash and in-kind services David Mayo, director of the Aman Pirate Challenge Multiple coaching rounds (10 teams semifinalists, 6 advance to finals) Classes offered for APC registrants: Persistence and Resilience, Creating the Best Pitch Video, Create an Elevator Pitch $3.2M endowment from Aman family generates ~$160K annually for program Miller School total capital raised eclipsed $20M (including Aman gift) Winners: Campus Cribs (2025, $20K), Limulus (2024, $15K); also featured Blue Economy Pitch Competition ($5K)

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East Carolina University

East Carolina Angels - East Carolina University

Source: https://business.ecu.edu/msoe/eir/ (Entrepreneur in Residence page referencing East Carolina Angels) Captured: 2026-06-26 East Carolina Angels (ECA) Key details: Angel investor network; newest in NC Modeled after networks at NC State, Duke University, UNC-CH Brings together investors interested in early-stage investments Focuses on leveraging expertise, skillsets, and networks for business maturation, growth, and successful exits President and CEO: Mark Wdowik (also EIR for Miller School of Entrepreneurship) Mark Wdowik also formerly Executive Director for Innovation and New Ventures at ECU Related: ECU Venture Fund (for-profit venture fund, in process as of 2019 per RISE29 resources page)

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East Carolina University

I-Corps@ECU - East Carolina University

Source: https://icorps.ecu.edu/about/ Captured: 2026-06-26 I-Corps@ECU Key details: Funded by NSF grant Uses Lean Launchpad Method (Business Model Canvas) Open to faculty, staff, students, postdocs, and friends of ECU STEM teams may apply for $5,000 for customer discovery, prototyping, proof-of-concept Covers: customer segments, value proposition, distribution channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partners, cost structure Team mentorship from Office of Licensing & Commercialization, College of Business, Miller School of Entrepreneurship, SBTDC Innovation Design Lab available for 3D modeling Contact: innovation@ecu.edu

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East Carolina University

Innovation Academy - East Carolina University

Source: https://rede.ecu.edu/innovation/innovation-academy/ Captured: 2026-06-26 Innovation Academy — Licensing & Commercialization Key details: Structured program for early-stage innovators to turn ideas into market-ready products/services 5 sessions (bi-monthly): Problem/Solution/Need/Market/Competition → MVPs/Customer Storyboard → Funding/Costs/Revenue/R&D → Risk Mitigation → Pitch Event Sessions 1-4 virtual (Teams), Session 5 in-person Program benefits: up to $5,000 in support of market & customer discovery activities Participants build comprehensive business slide deck Fall 2026 cohort registration closes Sept 11 Contact: Carlyle Rogers, PhD, Director, Licensing & Commercialization Email: rogersar@ecu.edu | Phone: 252-737-1648

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East Carolina University

Isley Innovation Hub - East Carolina University

Source: https://isley.ecu.edu/about-us/ Captured: 2026-06-26 Isley Innovation Hub Key details: Established 2017 via $2 million gift from Van and Jennifer Isley of Raleigh Premier place on campus for entrepreneurship and innovation Located at 160 Wright Building Houses the Miller School of Entrepreneurship Offers space to gather, create, validate, and ignite entrepreneurial ideas Wornom Makerspace (part of the hub) Links to: Crisp Small Business Resource Center, RISE29, Digital Market, Innovation Design Lab, I-Corps@ECU, Center for Innovation in Technology and Engineering Welcomed its 50,000th visitor (10-year celebration, 2025)

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East Carolina University

Office of Licensing & Commercialization - East Carolina University

Source: https://rede.ecu.edu/innovation/ Captured: 2026-06-26 Office of Licensing & Commercialization (L&C) Key details: Assists faculty in translating ideas into market-ready products/services Areas: Inspiration (available technologies, startup companies, inventor profiles), Ideation (Idea submission, workshops, Innovation Academy, Foundations of Innovation, internships), Commercialization (catalyst program/grant writing, mentorship, IP protection, partnerships, competitions), Licensing (licensing process, income distribution, digital content licensing, biological reagent licensing), Research Support (agreement review, contract negotiation) Innovation Academy program provides up to $5,000 for market/customer discovery Foundations of Innovation: self-paced video/module training Competitions: Blue Economy Pitch Program ($5K), Patient Safety Challenge ($7.5K), etc. Contact: innovation@ecu.edu Director: Carlyle Rogers, PhD (rogersar@ecu.edu, 252-737-1648)

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East Carolina University

Miller School of Entrepreneurship - East Carolina University

Source: https://business.ecu.edu/msoe/ Captured: 2026-06-26 Miller School of Entrepreneurship — College of Business — East Carolina University Key details: First named school of entrepreneurship in North Carolina (established 2015) Made possible by $5 million gift from J. Fielding Miller (CAPTRUST chairman/CEO) and wife Kim Grice Miller Ranked #29 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs by Entrepreneur and Princeton Review (2026) Located in Isley Innovation Hub, 160 Wright Building Phone: 252.737.6763 | Email: msoe@ecu.edu Director: Dr. Joshua Aaron (as of 2026 news) BS in Entrepreneurship degree (120 hours, competitive admission) Entrepreneurship Certificate program Crisp Small Business Resource Center Entrepreneur-in-Residence program Affiliate faculty members Student Organization (CEO — Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization) Partnerships Signature program: Gene T. Aman Pirate Challenge Home of the Isley Innovation Hub

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East Carolina University

RISE29 - East Carolina University

Source: https://rise29.ecu.edu/ Captured: 2026-06-26 RISE29 Key details: ECU's student entrepreneurship program for rural entrepreneurs Goal: Transform eastern North Carolina through microenterprises, job development, existing business support ECU pledged to create the most student-led startups of any university in NC Connects small business ideas with regional community need Fueled by big data analytics and matchmaking software PAID student consulting internship: $3,000 stipend, 15 weeks, 20 hrs/week Partners with Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, and Pitt counties $1M Golden LEAF Foundation grant (awarded Feb 2019, 3-year) Supported by ECU's philanthropic microenterprise fund Resources: Horizon Living Learning Community, E-Passport Program Student teams develop microenterprises, business continuity plans, commercialize new technology Contact: rise29@ecu.edu

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