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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.
CMU athletic training research a winner
by
Sanjna Jassi
CMU athletic training senior wins original research category of national competition.
A senior from Dansville, Michigan, has become the fourth Central Michigan University athletic training major to be chosen a winner in the NATA Foundation Athletic Training Student Writing Contest.
Ethan Launstein won the original research category for his paper "American Football Uniforms Cause Failures on the Heat Tolerance Test."
His research applied a heat tolerance test to people not wearing football pads one day and measured their heart rates and temperature and compared that against the same test given to people with pads on another day.
Data showed that on the pads day, heart rates and body temperatures rose quicker and higher than on non-pad days.
The takeaway for coaches is to acclimate players gradually to wearing pads in hot weather to develop tolerance while keeping watch for signs of heat intolerance.
"This kind of research has the potential to save lives," Launstein said.
Launstein emphasized that the test shouldn't be the sole tool to disqualify players from participating or in making return-to-play decisions.
The research was conducted under the guidance of his mentor, Kevin Miller, athletic training faculty member in School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences in The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions.
While the $500 award comes in handy, Launstein said, he is more excited for the attention it brings to the program.
"A lot of good athletic training research goes on behind the scenes," he said. "I enjoy being able to give back to the program, bring it more awareness."
"I had opportunities in my classes to develop the skills I need to do research. It's not everywhere you get research opportunities and get to work with such published professors."
René Shingles, director of the athletic training program, said: "The hard work of Ethan and the program's other winners demonstrates a commitment to excellence, seeking out research opportunities and engaging with faculty mentors."
"Their awards are national recognition of excellence in undergraduate research at Central Michigan University."
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.
