Back to Main Menu

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.

      Alumnus is leader and advocate for slow and beginning runners

      by Jason Fielder

      Central Michigan University alumnus Martinus Evans ('09) is the Founder and CEO of "Slow AF Run Club," a 25-thousand-plus member online community for slow runners and walkers at the back of the pack.

      The group was founded to empower every person to become a runner in the body they have right now. Evans' personal journey began over a decade ago, when his doctor called him fat and told him he needed to start walking to “lose weight or die.”

      Faced with the shame and stigma many people in larger bodies face, Evans made the choice to stand up for himself. He left the doctor’s office vowing to not only start walking regularly, but also to finish a marathon, so he bought running shoes that same day.

      Over ten years later, Evans has been an adidas spokesperson, a model on the cover of Runner’s World, and a Boston Marathon finisher. He has finished over 100 races including 8 marathons, all while changing the perception of what a runner is supposed to look like, and inspiring many people along the way.

      Last week, Evans' book, Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run, was released by Avery Publishing, and quickly became the #1 best seller in the Track and Field Sports category on Amazon.com.

      Events

      VIEW ALL EVENTS
      VIEW ALL EVENTS

       

      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team