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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 recognized for support of United Way during annual celebration
by
Logan Pellegrom
Central Michigan University and two retired CMU employees were among honorees at the annual United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties Live United Awards and Campaign Celebration.
CMU received a Campaign Excellence Award for its fundraising efforts during the annual United Way Community Campaign. CMU’s contribution included all giving from the university, such as elective employee workplace payroll deductions, and special event gifts raised by Greek Week activities and the Gus Macker class 50/50 raffle.
CMU was one of 10 recipients of the Campaign Excellence Award and had the largest fundraising campaign in the community.
Retired CMU faculty member Richard Fleming and Diane Fleming, a retired CMU administrative professional, were honored with the 2022 Quality of Life Award.
Richard and Diane are active volunteers with the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, and have been involved with the organization since 2010 and 2015, respectively. They often can be found working in the kitchen, serving food, interacting with guests and even representing the soup kitchen out in the community.
This year’s event also included the second presentation of The Good Prize, an award established by CMU College of Health Professions faculty member Vincent Mumford. The award honors everyday individuals who do good things in service of others. This year’s recipient, Scott Nemeth, was awarded a $1,000 cash gift and a commissioned work of art.
The CMU United Way Steering Committee leads the university’s efforts for the organization on campus. Committee members include:
- Sean Goffnett, faculty member in the Department of Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration.
- Vincent Mumford, faculty member in the Department of Physical Education and Sport.
- Kathy Irwin, dean of University Libraries.
- Jeffery Angera, faculty member in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
- Jennifer Beck Nottingham, director of Recreation Programs and Student Activities.
- Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation and Student Engagement.
In total, including CMU’s contribution, $1,365,711 was donated to the 2021-2022 United Way Community Campaign.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
