Start up
Build up your venture idea.
Learn more
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.
Candidates for associate dean of health professions visit campus
by
Sanjay Gupta
Candidates for the health professions associate dean position will attend open forums on CMU’s campus.
Two candidates for associate dean of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions will visit Central Michigan University's campus over the next few weeks:
- Gregory Zimmerman, currently department head of clinical laboratory, respiratory care and health administration programs at Ferris State University. His previous roles include positions with Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Michigan; Metaldyne Corp. in Plymouth, Michigan; and General Motors Co. in Warren, Michigan.
- Vincent Mumford, currently a member of faculty in physical education and sport and an Advancement Fellow at CMU. He also was a Presidential Administrative Fellow at CMU and held roles in academic affairs at River Valley Community College in Claremont, New Hampshire, and at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.
Each candidate will meet with members of the search committee and participate in an open forum during his visit.
Zimmerman's open forum is from 2-2:50 p.m. Friday, May 31, and Mumford's open forum will be 10-10:50 a.m. Tuesday, June 25. Both will be held in the Health Professions Building's Global Telepresence room 2255.
Concha Allen, director of community engagement and faculty member in the marketing and hospitality services administration department, is chair of the search committee. Other members are:
- Carrie Appold, staff, dean's office, College of Health Professions.
- Dan Ballou, faculty, physical education and sport.
- Jeff Betts, chair, School of Health Sciences.
- Leslie Hildebrandt, faculty, human environmental studies.
- Jeff Inungu, faculty, School of Health Sciences.
- Barbara Jackson, faculty, communication sciences and disorders.
- John Lopes, faculty, physician assistant program.
- Stephanie Richards, faculty, communication sciences and disorders.
- Naveen Sharma, faculty, School of Health Sciences.
- Kristen Skiver, human resources consultant.
- Ksenia Ustinova, faculty, School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences.
- Emily Webster, faculty, School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences.
- Dimitrios Zikos, faculty, School of Health Sciences.
The new hire will fill the position currently held by interim Associate Dean Denise Webster.
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.
