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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 English Education Alums Shine at ‘30 under 30’ Program

      by Sarah Buckley

      Central Michigan University English Education alums made up seven of the thirty teachers honored through the Michigan Reading Association's inaugural “30 Under 30” campaign.

      Every March, Michigan educators convene at the Michigan Reading Association (MRA) Conference to network and discuss new educational strategies and gain fresh perspectives on teaching.

      The brainchild of Andy Schoenborn, president-elect of MRA and an English teacher at Pioneer High School in Clare, the “30 under 30” program was designed to celebrate innovation and vision in the field of literacy by recognizing 30 young teachers every year.

      The CMU English Education alums honored are Ashton Wirgau (Mount Pleasant Middle School), Tyler Judd (Houghton Lake High School), Nicole Johnson (Big Rapids Middle School), Jason Westra-Hall (Grand Ledge High School), Angel Ky (East Lansing Schools), Brendan Murphy (Alma High School), and Josephine Sepanski (Mount Pleasant High School).

      CMU faculty members Carlin Borsheim-Black, Amy Ford, and Troy Hicks joined our alums to celebrate their accomplishments.

      Congratulations to all of our fired up CMU alum teachers making a powerful difference in the lives of Michigan’s young readers and learners.

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      Questions?

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