Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

We are a dedicated institute for student entrepreneurs across campus and beyond. We aim to maximize your success by fostering your entrepreneurial mindset, promote inter-disciplinary collaboration and provide support for the creation and development of your new ventures. Jumpstart your ideas and get involved today!

Tune in for excitement!

Passion. Potential. Pitches. Don't miss any of the 2025 New Venture Challenge excitement.

Tune in Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for great ideas and fierce competition. Then, join the judges, mentors, spectators and teams as they see who is going home with thousands of dollars in venture financing. The awards broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. and one team will walk away as the overall best venture.

2025 NVC Competition Live Stream

2025 NVC Awards Live Stream

Start your entrepreneurial journey

Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration is the home of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and the first Department of Entrepreneurship in the state of Michigan. We are a student-centric hub where experiential, curricular, and external entrepreneurial opportunities intersect.

Our mission is to maximize student success by fostering a campus-wide entrepreneurial mindset that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of new ventures.

We aim to create innovative programming, boost cross-campus and ecosystem collaboration and provide a comprehensive mentoring program.

Our institute provides extracurricular opportunities and is open to all undergraduate and graduate CMU students.

Student opportunities

Meet experienced alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and other business and political leaders.
Learn practical skills, innovative thinking, and connect with mentors and entrepreneurial resources.
Attend skill-building workshops and compete in pitch competitions and Hackathons.
Take part in special scholarship programs and travel experiences.
Pitch your venture at our signature New Venture Challenge event and compete for up to $20,000 in cash awards.

Find your path

Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.

A student standing with a faculty member holding big winning checks from the New Venture Challenge 2024.

Start up

Build up your venture idea.

Learn more

A student smiling and standing in front of his venture display at the 2024 New Venture Challenge.

Family business

Explore the Alternative Entrepreneurial Pathways category at NVC.

Learn more

A close-up of the Prusa i3 MK3 printer in the entrepreneurship makerspace, the IDEA Den in Grawn Hall 166.

Product and prototype design

Create and patent your ideas.

Learn more

Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

Learn more

College of Medicine announces first endowed chair

Oct 28, 2021, 13:48 by Sanjna Jassi

The CMU College of Medicine has announced its first endowed chair. The Schotanus Family Chair of Pediatrics is held by Dr. Kathleen Meert.
Full story
Patton to assume interim leadership role in Provost’s Office

Oct 28, 2021, 13:44 by User Not Found

Geography faculty member brings administrative experience to position.
Full story
CMU, UTF reach tentative agreement

Oct 28, 2021, 13:44 by Sanjay Gupta

CMU and the Union of Teaching Faculty, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, have reached a tentative agreement on a two-year extension of their collective bargaining agreement.
Full story
CMU pediatricians lead the way in COVID-19 research for children

Oct 28, 2021, 13:42 by Sanjna Jassi

Pediatrics professors in Central Michigan University's College of Medicine received funding to research a method to fundamentally change the diagnosis and management of severe COVID-19 related illness in children using saliva samples.
Full story
CMU alumna named university’s next chief diversity officer

Oct 28, 2021, 13:41 by Sanjna Jassi

Shawna Patterson-Stephens is named Central Michigan University’s next vice president and chief diversity officer.
Full story
Passion for oboe reed making

Oct 28, 2021, 13:30 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU School of Music faculty member Lindabeth Binkley shares her passion for reed making through a special Instagram account.
Full story
CMU named a global leader in ‘process mining’ for business solutions

Oct 28, 2021, 13:21 by User Not Found

Central Michigan University has been certified a Celonis Academic Center of Excellence — one of only four in the nation and 14 worldwide. CMU shares this honor with elite schools such as the London School of Economics, Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, and RWTH Aachen University-Germany.
Full story
Writing coaches win with words

Oct 28, 2021, 13:05 by Sanjay Gupta

Each semester, Central Michigan University sends 75-100 writing coaches into mid-Michigan elementary schools to work with teachers and students.
Full story
In memoriam: Jeff Thomas

Oct 28, 2021, 11:56 by User Not Found

Jeff Thomas, chair and professor in Central Michigan University’s Entrepreneurship Department, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 12, after a battle with cancer. He was 52.
Full story
Learning from a pandemic

Oct 28, 2021, 09:32 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University’s first course about the COVID-19 pandemic has already wrapped up, and more are on the way.
Full story
Course’s final project focuses on pandemic

Oct 28, 2021, 09:28 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU faculty member Diane Krider has created a final project for her crisis communications students related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full story
Changing minds about palliative care

Oct 28, 2021, 09:26 by Sanjna Jassi

Psychology faculty member Jim Gerhart is working to create an online training community for doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers to increase understanding, acceptance and
Full story
President Davies announces organizational changes

Oct 28, 2021, 09:23 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University President Bob Davies announces organizational changes coming in the 2019-2020 academic year.
Full story
Sharing secrets of the allies

Oct 28, 2021, 09:14 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU’s online ally program helps online students navigate technology and find success. Here are five insider tips.
Full story
Innovating and leading through a global pandemic

Oct 28, 2021, 09:11 by Sanjna Jassi

In the last year, CMU Chippewas have faced one of the biggest obstacles of the last 100 year: COVID-19. The year has pushed us to find new ways to lead and lift each other up.
Full story
Torch run is golden opportunity

Oct 28, 2021, 09:09 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU Police Sgt. Riley Olson travels to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to help carry the ceremonial flame for the Special Olympics World Games.
Full story
Alum honored for work in family studies

Oct 28, 2021, 09:07 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU alum Anna L. Olsavsky is the 2020 recipient of the National Council on Family Relations’ NCFR Student Award.
Full story
Historian celebrates a legacy of diversity

Oct 28, 2021, 09:06 by Sanjna Jassi

History faculty member Jay Martin finds common ground between the legacy of African American pioneers in mid-Michigan and CMU’s culture.
Full story
7 ways CMU supports international connections

Oct 28, 2021, 09:03 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University’s Office of Global Engagement is dedicated to making international topics a part of campus culture.
Full story
October awards and highlights

Oct 28, 2021, 08:55 by Sanjna Jassi

Here’s a roundup of accolades for CMU faculty and students reported in the month of October.
Full story