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.

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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.

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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.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

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Alumni Spotlight: Lester Booker, Jr.

by Jason Fielder

Lester is an award-winning marketing and communications leader. He is the first-ever Vice President, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Communications at Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

He is a passionate advocate to expand access and opportunities for underserved communities. He helps iconic brands successfully engage and support underrepresented groups through authentic communications and innovative community-focused campaigns.

Lester has 15 years of experience within both public and private sectors. Prior to joining Citizens Financial Group, Inc., he held positions with General Motors, the Ford Motor Company Fund via Campbell Marketing and Communications, Palace Sports and Entertainment with the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Shock.

He also has been recognized for his career and community accomplishments including recently being inducted into the 2022 Michigan Chronicle Men of Excellence Class; 2021 News/Talk 760 WJR and the Detroit Economic Club’s Class of Rising Stars; 2018 Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 Award; 2015 CMU 10 Within 10 Recognition; and the 2010 Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment Employee of the Year.

A distinguished Central Michigan University alumnus, Booker continues to support his alma mater as an Alumni Association board member and serves as a member of the Chippewa Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the Detroit Advisory Task Force, the Black Alumni Chapter, and the Emerging Leaders Council.

In January 2020, he also established the Lester Booker Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The annual $5,000 scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student committed to uplifting underrepresented communities.

A Detroit native, Booker earned two degrees from CMU: a Master of Science in Administration (with a sport concentration), and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in broadcast and cinematic arts.