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 gets an “A” for scholarship transparency

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Central Michigan University was among approximately 100 national colleges and universities to receive an “A” grade for scholarship transparency from college planning organization College Aid Pro.

“These rankings reflect CMU’s commitment to making financial aid easier for students and their families to understand as they plan for their degree journey,” said Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president for student recruitment and retention.

According to College Aid Pro’s website, the CAP Report Card – Merit Scholarship Transparency Rankings examined 643 colleges and universities nationwide, selecting institutions based on factors including quality of education, popularity and reputation.

The report ranked the selected institutions based on how transparently they communicate with students about merit-based aid, which includes all scholarships not granted based on financial need. The grading rubric considered how readily and clearly information is shared; how easily students can find specific scholarship dollar amounts and eligibility requirements; and how consistently the university makes the awards in alignment with stated criteria.

CMU’s website includes a page about its Maroon and Gold merit scholarships that clearly outlines how awards are granted and in what amounts, DeHaemers said. The site also includes guidance for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, information about need-based aid, links to other available scholarships and more.

CMU was among only 17% of ranked institutions to receive an “A” grade. According to College Aid Pro’s website, “The Merit Scholarship Transparency Report Card gives credit to the schools that do not ‘hide the ball’ and are straightforward with their potential applicants, allowing them to make well-informed decisions.”

DeHaemers said CMU strives to provide students and their families with clear, easy-to-understand information throughout the application and enrollment process.

“A student’s decision to enroll at a college or university is a decision to invest in their future,” DeHaemers said. “We want to ensure students and their families are equipped with the information they need to make the best possible choice — and we hope they will choose CMU.”