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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.

      Celebrate 75 Years of Finch Fieldhouse

      by Claire Doty

      Central Michigan University will be honoring 75 years of Finch Fieldhouse at the 75th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 22, from 11 AM – 2 PM. Everyone from current students, to alumni, and everyone in between are encouraged to stop by for a day of history, memories, and fired-up fun.

      This free, public event will feature a life-size timeline of the Fieldhouse over the years, souvenirs from the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration (RPL) department, a historic interpretive trail, swag giveaways, a photo booth, and more!

      "We are so excited to have people come ‘home’ to CMU and Finch, and to celebrate 75 years of this iconic building in the middle of campus!” says RPL Chairperson, Tim Otteman. “The memories that have been created in this building are incredible and we can't wait to show you its history on Saturday."

      Finch Fieldhouse was built in 1950 and was first constructed as an intercollegiate athletics facility, home to sports such as basketball, wrestling, track and field, and volleyball. It was named in 1962 after the first Dean of the College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Over the years it has transformed into a multipurpose space for a variety of events such concerts, graduation ceremonies, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Powwow, graduation, and homecoming. Notable music acts include Louis Armstrong, Stevie Wonder, the Beach Boys, Bob Seger, and Aerosmith.

      Today, the building now serves as home for the RPL department as well as the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and acts as a multipurpose space for CMU and the local community. The building holds a climbing wall, high and low ropes course, a bouldering wall, and a multisensory room.

      Those interested in attending are encouraged to register here by Thursday, March 20, 2025.

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      Questions?

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