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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.
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.
Alum’s nearly 10 million gift is among largest in CMU history
by
Sanjna Jassi
CMU alum Robert M. Richmond leaves nearly $10 million of his estate to his alma mater to help support students.
In 1995, Central Michigan University alum Robert M. Richmond knew he was going to remember CMU in his estate plans, but he provided little detail. Late last year, Richmond, who graduated from CMU in 1966, passed away after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
He left nearly $10 million of his estate to his alma mater to help support CMU students.
"This gift is the culmination of Mr. Richmond's life and work, and his generosity is an inspiring example of how the CMU community takes care of each other" CMU President Bob Davies said. "He's trusting CMU to make the world a better place through education and innovation."
The largest cash donation from a single donor, and one of the largest contributions in CMU's history, Richmond's gift will create the President's Fund for University Excellence endowment to support:
- Undergraduate scholarships to be administered in conjunction with Multicultural Advancement and Lloyd M. Cofer Scholarships, which will help students persevere to graduation.
- Staff and program initiatives to assist underserved populations through Multicultural Academic Student Services.
- Creation of a "Finish Up Chips!" scholarship program to assist students who are within 25 credits of graduation and at risk of dropping out for financial reasons.
- Scholarships for adult learners completing their degrees online or at one of CMU's many satellite locations.
- Student service needs as they occur.
- New lifelong learning programs, including certificates and badges.
"These funds come at a time when it's more important than ever to help students financially on their path to a degree," Davies said. "Mr. Richmond's influence will continue at CMU for generations to come."
After graduating from CMU with a degree in business administration, Richmond trained with IBM and helped businesses set up their computer systems. He met his late wife, Lois, in Belding, Michigan, and they created B&L Plastics and later B&L Development. The couple enjoyed traveling and eventually retired to Rio Verde, Arizona.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
