A student standing and speaking in front of a large crowd in French Auditorium.

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.

Learn more

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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The U.S. State Department has named Central Michigan University a top 20 institution in the U.S. in the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.

The Gilman Program, which is celebrating its 20th year, provides scholarships to U.S. undergraduate students with limited financial means to pursue study and internships abroad. The top 20 rankings recognize the institutions that have produced the largest number of Gilman Scholars over the past two decades.

"It's about providing access to all students," said Dianne De Salvo, Director of Study Abroad at CMU. "Our goal is to provide opportunities for every student, regardless of their financial situation."

CMU Study Abroad is preparing to resume programs in spring 2022 with a controlled and limited restart, following CDC and national guidance. Students can learn more about the programs, scholarships, and the process to apply by scheduling an appointment or attending a Study Abroad 101 session.

"One of the perceived barriers to study abroad is the price, but there are ways to make it affordable, including grants like these," said De Salvo. "Our staff is here to help and advise on every part of a student's study abroad experience, including the finances."

Gilman scholarships award up to $5,000, and there are opportunities for additional aid for students studying certain languages while abroad through the Critical Need Language Award program.

Since the Gilman program began in 2001, 80 CMU students have received Gilman awards— placing CMU 18th for medium institutions of undergraduate enrollment. CMU also is one of only two Michigan institutions to earn a place in the rankings.

Source: Logan Pellegrom