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 student chosen for highly selective study abroad experience

by Kevin Essebaggers

The Council on International Educational Exchange awarded Central Michigan University undergraduate student Sarah Cavallaro with the highly competitive Leading Change in Latin America student fellowship. Only 100 student leaders in the U.S. are chosen for the program each semester.

Cavallaro will study in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the fall 2025 semester. While in the fully funded study abroad program, she will be immersed in Latin culture, history and language. She also will serve as an ambassador for CIEE, sharing her experiences with the world on social media to inspire others to consider studying abroad.

“I have always been very creative, and I am looking forward to filming parts of my life, and sharing them throughout each week,” Cavallaro said. “As a dancer, I am planning on taking tango lessons there and cannot wait to share my journey of learning a new style of dance, traveling, academics, and life in Buenos Aires.”

Marko Schubert, assistant director of CMU’s Office of Study Abroad said Cavallaro is an ideal fellowship participant, having already studied abroad three times.

“The CIEE fellowship will allow Sarah to immerse herself in Argentinian culture, study the local history and language, and be a part of a group of young professionals who aim to foster meaningful relationships between the US and the host country,” Schubert said.

Study abroad programs like CIEE's are an example of the immersive experiences CMU wants nearly all students to gain before graduation. It is a goal under priority one of the university’s 2023-2028 strategic plan.

Cavallaro said being chosen for the prestigious fellowship will enhance her experience as a CMU student.

“I feel so honored and grateful that I get this opportunity. This feels like the first step towards a life I have dreamed of living since childhood, and I cannot wait to embark on this journey!”