Entrepreneurship Institute Workshops and Events
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship events are free to all Central Michigan University students. Pre-registering is encouraged but not required.
Workshops and competitions
Learn. Grow. Innovate.
We are here to help you become a successful entrepreneur! Attend our free workshops, events, and competitions and learn how to build a business plan, gain to new skills and friends and launch your dream!
All workshops hosted by the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship are free for all Central Michigan University students.
Whether you want to pitch a venture at the New Venture Challenge competition, or you are just beginning your journey into entrepreneurship - the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship is here to help!
Registering for events is recommended but not required. Individual rules and guidelines apply for each competition.
NVC Focus Workshop: Ideation
Thursday, January 18
Workshop | Grawn Hall 150G | 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Do you need a winning idea for NVC? Learn how to develop (ideate) a winning idea by leveraging innovation and design-thinking.
Intent to compete form
Thursday, January 22 - March 8
Are you planning on participating in the New Venture Challenge? All teams must fill out the intent to compete form to register for the event. This form is to sign up for the New Venture Challenge only.
NVC 106: Ready, Set, Compete!
Thursday, January 25
Workshop | Grawn 150G | 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Are you new to the New Venture Challenge? Are you an experienced NVC veteran? This session will meet you where you are in your NVC journey and provide you with insights and tools to prepare you for a successful NVC pitch! Topics include, event categories, event rubric, submission requirements, networking, creating an effective NVC Gallery display and more!
NVC Spring Mentor Meetup I: Learn from the Experts!
Friday, January 26
Workshop | Grawn Hall Classroom 150G | 1:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Change your Perspective: Look at your new venture idea through a design-thinking lens.
Learn from the Experts: Students will work with and receive valuable insights and feedback from successful alumni entrepreneurs, business leaders, NVC veterans, and other experts.
Graphic Design: Need help developing a winning logo for your new venture? CMU Graphic Design is here to help!
NVC Focus Workshop: Testing your Idea
Thursday, February 1
Workshop | Grawn Hall 150G | 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
How strong is your venture idea? Share your idea and receive valuable feedback form other students and faculty members.
NVC Focus Workshop: Financials
Thursday, February 8
Workshop | Grawn Hall 150G | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Leave an expert in preparing and presenting your venture financials at NVC! Areas of focus: preparing a 3-year financial projection and presenting a visually impactful budget in your pitch.
NVC 107: Developing the Business Side of your New Venture using AI
Thursday, February 15
Workshop | Grawn Hall 150G| 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Learn how to develop your business through AI tools and build a winning business model!
NVC Focus Workshop: Market Opportunity
Thursday, February 22
Workshop | Grawn Hall Classroom 150G| 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
How do you determine the size of the market opportunity for your new venture? Attend this workshop to learn how to determine market opportunity, and how to present market opportunity visually in your PowerPoint presentation.
NVC Spring Mentor Meetup II: Taking your New Venture to the next level!
Friday, February 23
Workshop | Grawn Hall Classroom 150G| 1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Building a Winning Pitch: Learn value tips and tricks to build a winning 10-minute pitch or elevator pitch!
Learn from the Experts: Students will work closely with mentors, alumni, and experts with the goal of taking your new venture to the Next Level!
Website Development Tips: No need to stress over website development. Our IBIE student team will share value tips and tricks to help you build a winning website!
NVC 108: Bringing it all Together for a Winning Pitch
Tuesday, March 12
Workshop | Grawn Hall Classroom 150G| 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Learn how to create a winning pitch deck and marketing one-pager. You will learn vital presentation tips to help you craft a polished and exciting pitch presentation.
NVC Pitch Practice: Prelims Prep
Thursday, March 14
Workshop | Grawn Hall Classroom 150G|5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Be prepared for the NVC virtual preliminaries. Practice your pitch and gain important feedback from peers and faculty.
NVC Qualifying Rounds
Friday, March 22
New Venture Challenge | Grawn Hall | 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The NVC Qualifying round is a 2-minute pitch of your venture in front of IBIE faculty and staff for review. You do not need to have all your preliminary submission materials prepared by the qualifying round. Michigan Tech University and online-only student teams will submit a recording to: nvc@cmich.edu. On-campus teams must sign up for a timeslot between 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Teams must participate in the qualifying round to participate in the NVC preliminary round. All NVC teams must submit their venture entry by Monday, March 25 by 11:59 PM.
NVC Pitch Practice
Tuesday, March 26
Grawn Hall 150G | 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Whether you’re competing in the elevator pitch category or the full presentation category, practice your pitch for vital feedback from faculty and mentors.
New Venture Challenge: Preliminary Round
Tuesday, April 2
Grawn Hall | 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The NVC Preliminary Round will be in-person for all full presentation teams April 2 from 2:00pm-6:00pm.
NVC Finalist Team Practice Run
Tuesday, April 2
Workshop | Location and time to be announced
NVC Finalist Venture Teams will visit French Auditorium and practice their pitches.
Mandatory NVC Participant Meeting
Thursday, April 18
Meeting | Grawn Hall Classroom 150G | 5 - 6:00 p.m.
Teams participating in the NVC Finals event on Friday, April 19 will be required to attend this informational meeting. Pizza and drinks will be provided.
New Venture Challenge Finals, Gallery, Showcase and Awards Gala
Friday, April 19
Competition | Education and Health Services Building and Bioscience Building | 2:00 - 9:00 p.m.
New Venture Challenge: Finals for the Elevator Pitch and 10-minute Presentation, Student Gallery, Campus-wide Showcase, and Awards Gala.
Mentoring and assistance
Professor John Gustincic
Book an appointment.
Get personalized help with your entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurship faculty member Professor Gustincic will be available by appointment.
Entrepreneur-in-Residence: Casey Croad
Book an appointment
Founder and owner of Ignite Donuts and past NVC winner Casey Croad can be reached by individual appointment.
Graphic Design Assistance: Building Your Business Brand
IBIE and the College of Arts and Media have teamed up to provide graphic design student support through the Design Bureau class led by Professor Clark Most. Design Bureau students will be able to assist you in building your business image and brand which includes but is not limited to: logos, color palette, website visualization, PowerPoint slides, banners, animations, kiosks, and general branding. This is a great opportunity to build a professional brand for your business. Wow the judges at the New Venture Challenge competition with your polished business brand, contact us today to get connected!
