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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CMU student named ’22-23 Newman Civic Fellow

by Logan Pellegrom

CMU junior, Christa Paull, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow for 2022-2023

Christa Paull, a third year student at Central Michigan University, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow for 2022-23.

The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. Fellows are nominated by their university president or chancellor based on their potential for public leadership; fellowships are awarded to those who have prioritized service and community and plan to continue to do so in their careers.

Paull is pursuing a degree in social work and has been heavily involved in the Alternative Breaks program through CMU’s Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center.

Symantha Dattilo, assistant director to the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, said Paull has prioritized service throughout her college career.

“She is such a great student leader,” said Dattillo. “She is passionate about giving back and actively seeks service opportunities, even outside of her college involvements.”

Paull said she is excited for the opportunities the fellowship provides.

“This fellowship is with students across the country who are like minded, but all have different experiences than my own,” she said. “I am so excited to connect with others who are passionate about making changes not only on campus but in our world.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship selected 173 student civic leaders to the 2022-2023 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, an advocate for civic engagement in higher education and one of the founders of Campus Compact.