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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 Celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week

      by Jessica Meyers

      The Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship will host several informational and interactive events November 14-20 to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week at CMU.

      Global Entrepreneurship Week is a worldwide initiative to promote, celebrate and empower new entrepreneurs. The event gives those who have started their own businesses the opportunity to share insights and mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.

      Events during the week provide students and community members the opportunity to network with local business leaders, receive feedback on entrepreneurship skills, develop new partnerships, and exchange new ideas.

       “All students are encouraged to attend the events. We are delighted to have the opportunity to highlight current students working on their ventures and expose students to the world of entrepreneurship through our community partners and local business leaders,” said Program and Event Manager for the IBIE, Kaye Reimers.

      The events during the week include a “Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum” – open to students, faculty, staff, and community members, a 3D print scavenger hunt, and New Venture Challenge Bootcamp where students can build relationships with mentors and workshop their venture ideas.

      Events

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      VIEW ALL EVENTS

       

      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team