Aman Challenge showcases ECU student entrepreneurs

Aman Challenge showcases ECU student entrepreneurs

The entrepreneurial spirit filled the air on the East Carolina University Mall on Oct. 7 as 85 student teams representing 47 majors participated in the first round of the ninth annual Aman Pirate Challenge.

The Aman Pirate Challenge is ECU's premier pitch competition and the largest of its kind in the UNC System. It's open to any ECU student to participate. This year, it will award $250,000 in cash and in-kind services when the challenge winner is announced in April. Over $1 million in prizes have been awarded since its inception in 2018.

• CarriOn is a roadkill cleanup service that composts and recycles roadkill to minimize landfill contributions and waste through a reporting app like Google Maps or Waze.
• CinaGlow is a production company that offers affordable video and photo services to students, local businesses and artists.
• Clinic Wire, an AI voice agent website for clinics to automate doctor's office and insurance calls while ensuring federal privacy law compliance.
• Cut and Braid is a community-driven booking platform that connects clients with trusted hairstylists and braiders.
• Dubai Delights, a luxurious Dubai chocolate business, is bringing new flavors to a popular trend.
• Huddle Wealth, a financial services company for student-athletes to ensure they have the proper tools to succeed in the era of name, image and likeness (NIL).
• Lawntronics is an AI robotic lawn care company.
• MingleMaps is a dating app that can connect individuals in real time at public locations.
• Nautical Adventures offers boat and jet ski rentals along with wakeboarding and water ski lessons and apparel.
• Pro Soft Wash, an exterior home and driveway cleaning service.
• Simple Greek, an all-in-one app for Greek life organizations and clubs.
• Summit Bridge Growth, a hybrid between a marketing agency and a private equity firm.
• Surge Suit, a nylon wetsuit that doesn't drip and stays dry on the inside.
• TWC Parts sells aftermarket parts for jet skis.

Carrying on the Competition

Taylor Greene, a junior art major with an animation emphasis, returned to the competition for the second straight year with CarriOn. The idea for CarriOn came from an unlikely source.

"I was looking into leather sources for bookbinding projects, and after realizing how much it costs to get quality leather, I couldn't stop thinking about how much money was being wasted whenever I saw a deer on the side of the road," she said. "A deer with an intact hide can be anywhere from $150 to $200 worth of leather."

Greene reached the second round in last year's competition and returned this year with a greater sense of confidence in her pitch and her idea.

"I learned to be more confident, for one," she said. "This is a pretty out-of-the-box idea, and I was super nervous last year about pitching it because I think it gives people the heebie-jeebies. I learned that people are interested; it is a good idea that has some applicability. I connected with a ton of people who could help CarriOn go further, including individuals at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rabies biologists and a few professors at Western Carolina University. It's been a huge learning opportunity for me."

Staying Afloat

At first glance, a table covered with assorted engine parts from a 1994 jet ski may have seemed out of place at an entrepreneurship competition. But those parts power Lawrence Sharpe's business, TWC Parts, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket parts seller for older jet skis.

"We disassemble jet skis, make sure the parts are working and then sell the parts online for customers who need to keep their skis in working condition," he said. "I got involved in this because I have a passion for anything motorized. If it runs on gasoline, I probably can fix it."

Sharpe, a senior entrepreneurship major from Charlotte, started the business about a month ago and has quickly built it online.

"As of now, people find me on Facebook. I'm in certain Facebook group chats with an audience that is primarily looking for these parts," he said. "I'm also getting customers on eBay through my page, TWC Parts. They search the SKU number for the part they need, such as an impeller. They search by that number and that part comes up. They look for parts based off photos, description and if it is in good working condition. I believe I'm marketing better than others by making sure the photos are clear with competitive prices."

Warm and Dry in the Water

Senior entrepreneurship majors Colleen Fleming of Chicago and Julie Pequigney of Greensboro advanced to the second round with Surge Suit.

"One thought I often have is how awful it is to take off a wetsuit," Pequigney said. "I figured that people would like to be able to remove it easily, and because there's so much water in eastern North Carolina, we would get some customers and that they'd enjoy and wear it. Honestly, I'd rather freeze than put on a wetsuit and rip off that neoprene."

Fleming, whose family recently relocated to Morehead City, quickly developed a dislike for the traditional wetsuit.

"When my family moved down here, I was really excited to be able to spend more time doing water activities since it's not a thing in the Midwest," she said. "I found out how much I hate wearing wetsuits. I want to do these activities more, but I feel disgusting wearing them and I feel like it's molding in my car."

The duo developed the idea about a month ago and created a child-sized prototype to display for the first round of the competition.

"We were talking about the idea in class and decided to try it for the Aman Challenge," Pequigney said. "I bought different types of fabric online and I cut and hot glued it together in my bedroom so we'd have a visual for potential voters."

ECU's proximity to the beach and other bodies of water along with the help of peers give Fletcher and Pequigney ample opportunity to test their product.

"We have a lot of friends who go surfing and waterskiing all the time who are able to help us test things," Pequigney said. "It's a fun group of people."

For the second round of the competition, the semifinalists will have five minutes to pitch their business ideas to a group of expert judges. After a question-and-answer session, six finalists will move on to the final round. Mayo outlined a key task that the advancing teams will need to work on prior to the second round on Feb. 4 in the Main Campus Student Center.

"Moving forward, students will need to refine their value proposition and take tangible steps to launch and grow their businesses," he said.

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