Aman Pirate Challenge – CFAC

 

🎉 Enter the Challenge!

Calling All CFAC Pirates for the Gene T. Aman Pirate Challenge

East Carolina University’s College of Fine Arts and Communication, in collaboration with the College of Business, invites 20 CFAC student teams to pitch their most innovative and creative ideas in the inaugural:

🏴‍☠️ Aman Pirate Challenge + CFAC Round

📅 Tuesday, October 7, 2025
🕙 10:00 AM – CFAC Round
🕛 12:00 PM – ECU Aman Pirate Challenge (Round 1)

🔗 Registration is NOW OPEN!
👉 https://business.ecu.edu/msoe/apc/

Because the order of registration determines table assignments for the main challenge, it is essential that students register promptly.

💡 What is the Aman Pirate Challenge?

The Aman Pirate Challenge (APC) is ECU’s premier entrepreneurship pitch competition—and the largest of its kind in the UNC System. Launched in 2018, the APC has featured student-led teams from over 50 academic programs across ECU.

This year, $200,000 in cash and in-kind services will be awarded, making APC the richest student pitch competition in North Carolina.

For this round, the student pitch will focus on an initial project concept—no need for a fully developed proposal—and will be delivered as a 3-minute presentation to a panel of judges listed at the bottom of this page.

To help teams prepare, CFAC will host workshops in September for all registered participants.

💰 CFAC Challenge Awards & Incentives

Thanks to the generosity of the APC Organizing Team, all CFAC teams will present in both the CFAC and ECU Round 1 competitions, gaining valuable feedback and exposure, and prizes!

  • 🥇 1st Place – $500 (automatically advances to ECU Round 2 in Spring 2026)

  • 🥈 2nd Place – $300

  • 🥉 3rd Place – $200

  • 🎁 Participation Incentives – $100/team × 17 teams

🎤 Meet the Judges

We’re thrilled to have such a fantastic panel of judges and are deeply grateful for their time and expertise in guiding our student innovators:

  • Lisa Cordileone – Actor, Writer, Producer / Owner, Creative Vision Collective

  • Whitney Fincannon – Associate Director, G&S Integrated Marketing Communications Group

  • Brian Cordileone – Entrepreneur / Managing Partner, Craft Public House

  • Matthew Scully – Entrepreneur / Owner, The Scullery

📞 Questions?

Contact: Seo Eo
📧 eos@ecu.edu | 📱 252-328-6281