Leaders in Entreprenuership
East Carolina University’s mission is to fuel entrepreneurship and innovation across eastern North Carolina. We’ve made a promise to create the most student-led startups in the state, generate more faculty-led research projects than any other university, and utilize our extensive resources to provide paid internships that lead to your dream job. Through projects like our economic Growth Collaboratory, we’re using big data to drive economic prosperity in the region. Discover all the opportunities ECU has to offer, prepare for your future career, and nurture your entrepreneurial spirit as a Pirate!
Home to the state’s
only named school
of entrepreneurship
More than
$70,000
awarded through
Pirate Entrepreneurship
Challenge
RISE29
connects
entrepreneurs to successful
business opportunities
Award-winning
faculty provide
entrepreneurship
mentoring
Entrepreneurship Opportunities
Innovation LLC
A unique residential experience is offered to ECU entrepreneurs through the university’s Innovation Living Learning Community. The program brings together students from all backgrounds and disciplines, allowing them to explore opportunities to develop creative, innovative and entrepreneurial responses to community issues. Students are housed together for four years at ECU’s premiere dorm – Gateway East – and take courses together as a cohort from freshman to senior year. Develop your entrepreneurial skills with a driven community!
Innovative Programs
ECU offers dedicated programs aimed at developing innovation on campus and beyond. We’re leading the way in microenterprise development with our RISE29 program, bringing skilled and motivated student entrepreneurs to eastern North Carolina communities to foster economic growth. Our I-Corps@ECU program, funded by the NSF, leads teams through customer discovery and business model development, while our developing App Exchange program helps inventors license and commercialize their work. No matter your goals, we have the perfect program for you!
Miller School of Entrepreneurship
ECU’s Miller School of Entrepreneurship is the only named school of its kind in North Carolina, providing a unique learning experiences for the state’s future business leaders and innovators. The school serves as a regional hub for preparing students to take an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set into their communities. The school is also the home to ECU’s Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge – the university’s premiere business pitch competition. Begin building your future business with the Miller School!
Faculty and Facilities
ECU’s award-winning faculty are leaders in the field of business, engineering, community engaged research, and entrepreneurship. Our faculty help you develop your skills through mentored projects and capstone courses that provide hands-on, real-world learning experiences. Our facilities – including ECU’s Innovation and Design Lab, Advanced Manufacturing Lab, and other collision spaces – provide opportunities for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to collaborate and develop new ideas.
