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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Central Michigan University and Michigan Municipal League Extend Educational Partnership

by Jaime Griffis

Central Michigan University (CMU) and the Michigan Municipal League (the League) have announced the extension of their educational partnership, providing significant benefits to more than 10,000 individuals across Michigan. The collaboration, in effect since May 2018 and set to continue until November 6, 2028, is a testament to the commitment of both institutions to empower the development of League members and their families.

"We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the Michigan Municipal League," said Casie Hansel, Regional Director of Business and Community Engagement at CMU. "This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering educational opportunities for individuals and communities across the state. We are proud to support the professional growth of League members and their families."

League members, along with their spouses and dependents and current League employees, their spouses and dependents, will be eligible for a 15% tuition discount on various programs offered by CMU Online. This inclusive approach, covering not only employees but also League members and their families, sets this partnership apart. With the League boasting a membership exceeding 500 full-service cities, villages and urban townships throughout Michigan, the impact of this collaboration is expected to be substantial.

"Our partnership with Central Michigan University showcases our shared passion for providing educational resources and encouraging lifelong learning," said Kelly Warren, Director of Equity & Member Engagement at the League. "We are proud to support institutions like CMU that facilitate learning opportunities within our state and are grateful for the role they play in creating thriving communities. The benefits that our employees, members and their families can take advantage of through this partnership are immeasurable." To take advantage of this exclusive offer, eligible individuals can apply through apply.cmich.edu. It's worth noting that while the discount applies to a wide range of programs, certain exclusions apply. For questions or additional information, interested parties can reach out to onlineprograms@cmich.edu or to Mandy Reed, Director of Human Resources at the League, by emailing mreed@mml.org or calling 734.669.6361.

To learn more visit: Online.cmich.edu/MML