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.

2025 NVC Competition Live Stream

2025 NVC Awards Live Stream

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.

A student standing with a faculty member holding big winning checks from the New Venture Challenge 2024.

Start up

Build up your venture idea.

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A student smiling and standing in front of his venture display at the 2024 New Venture Challenge.

Family business

Explore the Alternative Entrepreneurial Pathways category at NVC.

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A close-up of the Prusa i3 MK3 printer in the entrepreneurship makerspace, the IDEA Den in Grawn Hall 166.

Product and prototype design

Create and patent your ideas.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

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CMU DECA chapter redefines excellence

by Kurt Baringer

The CMU DECA chapter is back in full force after rebuilding during the 2022-2023 school year. The team has recruited new members, all fully immersed in the organization and putting in effort to succeed. DECA is led by President Ashley Brown, a second-year student majoring in Biochemistry. The team recently attended the DECA Michigan Career Development Conference in Kalamazoo where 14 out of 16 CMU DECA students were finalists. Only the top 10 percent of participants qualify as finalists and are eligible to participate in the DECA International Career Development Conference this coming April in Austin, Texas.

At MCDC, Ashley Brown was named president and Kefir Klee was named vice president of Michigan Collegiate DECA for the 2024-2025 year.

“It’s amazing to watch all the DECA members emerge as young professionals and represent Central Michigan University and The College of Business Administration,” said DECA Advisor Shelly Bartosek.

Students who qualify for ICDC include Emily Throop, Savannah Wright, Emma Bell, Morgan Shropshire, Madeline Moose, Emma Schultz, Laura Magrane, Ashlyn Campbell, Megan Mikula, Melanie Moose, Ashley Brown, Kefir Klee, and Brady Falardeau.