Investment fund supports Pirate alumni and affiliates

Published Apr 09, 2026 by
Filed under: Miller School of Entrepreneurship News
A promotional graphic with a purple background showing the “Turner Home Team” logo at the top. Large text reads “Secures Seed Funding,” with a subtitle “Led by Pirate Entrepreneurship Fund.” On the left is a smiling young man in a blazer and white shirt. The background includes a faint map of the United States and a “Sold” real estate sign, suggesting a real estate business announcement.
COB alumnus Justin Turner’s business is the latest recipient of a Pirate Entrepreneurship Fund investment.

The investment opportunities keep growing for ECU alumni and affiliated entrepreneurs. The Pirate Entrepreneurship Fund has invested in its ninth company, this time with Turner Home Team.

“This investment is validation by the PEF in our team and our ability to reshape how off-market homes are bought and sold,” said Justin Turner ’21, a finance graduate from the COB and founder of Turner Home Team. “PEF is very selective, and their support confirms we’re building a platform that’s not just working, but scalable. Partnering with an ECU-affiliated fund also gives us confidence we’re aligned with investors who have our long-term best interests in mind.”

THT was founded by Turner in 2022. He is both a licensed general contractor and a licensed real estate broker. Turner said THT specializes in acquiring properties that are in need of repairs, are inherited, or have financial or logistical challenges. They then return those homes to the market as quality and reliable housing. Turner added that his company is different than others because he combines construction, valuation, artificial intelligence and transactional expertise into one platform.

Turner said the $300,000 investment from the PEF will allow THT to serve more customers it otherwise wouldn’t have been able to reach, and it provides the resources to expand what’s already working.

“For sellers, that means faster responses, more dependable closings and a straightforward way to sell off-market without the uncertainty, repairs or delays that come with the traditional process,” Turner said.

“The Pirate Entrepreneurship Fund saw great promise in a young, well-educated, highly intelligent and motivated business leader in the Greenville Community,” said Mark Wdowik, president and CEO for PEF. “Justin Turner saw inefficiencies within the regional residential real estate marketplace and quickly built a growing business to become the leader in the industry. PEF seeks to invest in Pirate-founded businesses like Turner Home Team that are poised for tremendous business growth and success. We are proud to back Justin and his team!” 

The PEF was launched in 2022 by a group of ECU supporters. The goal of the fund is to help entrepreneurs succeed and to be innovative. So far, the PEF has invested roughly $3 million into nine ECU-affiliated businesses.

“One of my favorite phrases is ‘Pirates supporting Pirates,’ and this is yet another example of the Pirate network in action,” said Dr. Mike Harris, dean of ECU’s College of Business and the W. Howard Rooks Distinguished Professor. “Congratulations to Justin and his team, as their hard work continues to show results, and congratulations to those invested in the PEF as their vision has become reality.”

Learn more about the PEF’s investment on THT’s website.