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.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

Learn more

CMU priorities and initiatives on trustees’ agenda this week

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Summer graduates and financial audit report also on the agenda.

Central Michigan University President Bob Davies will lead a discussion on the 2021-2022 university priorities and initiatives with the Board of Trustees when it meets virtually Thursday starting at 10 a.m.

Davies' annual report also will include a review of progress for the 2020-2021 priorities and initiatives.

Trustees also will consider approval of nearly 750 summer graduates and several capital projects, and will hear a presentation from Plante Moran, the university's external audit firm, regarding CMU's 2020-2021 financial statements.

The formal session will be available via livestream to the university community and the general public via this link.

In addition, the following committee meetings can be accessed virtually Wednesday via this link. Along with reviewing several items that will be on the formal agenda, agenda highlights include:

Academic and Student Affairs – 2-3 p.m. — Trustees will receive a brief Academic Senate report from Chair Katrina Piatek-Jimenez and an update on student enrollment and success from Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president for recruitment and retention. In addition, Provost Mary C. Schutten will provide an update on innovation grants and discuss fall preparations.
Finance and Facilities – 3:15-4:15 p.m. — Discussion items include a presentation by Scott Harsh of NEPC Investment Consultants, a recap of summer construction projects, and brief updates on the budget, the master plan and debt refinancing.
Trustees-Student Liaison – 4:30-6 p.m. — Student Government Association President Kate King and Vice President Dylan Baker, Program Board President Skyler Conran, and Residence Housing Association Director Addison Hoekstra will update trustees on fall semester efforts. The committee also will hear a presentation by registered student organization Empowered Latino Union.

Agendas for the September meetings and a schedule of committee meetings are available on the Board of Trustees' website.

In accordance with the Board of Trustees bylaws, public comment will be allowed for Thursday's formal session by submitting a request online. Comments may be provided in advance to be read at the meeting or arrangements made to deliver them in person for this meeting.