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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Honors Program leader steps down, interim named

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David Patton, Central Michigan University’s interim senior vice provost for academic affairs, today announced that Nicole Sparling Barco will step down from her role as director of the CMU Honors Program.

Sparling Barco was appointed to the position by former Provost Mary Schutten in July 2020 following the departure of former director Phame Camarena.

Beginning August 16, she will return to her faculty position, teaching and conducting research in the Department of English Language and Literature.

“I am grateful for Dr. Barco’s leadership and dedication to the Honors Program,” Patton said. “Her efforts to lead the honors program through the challenges of the pandemic and to raise awareness around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion within the Honors Program have been greatly appreciated. I hope we will be able to continue to build on the work she has completed.”

The search for CMU’s next Honors Program director will begin later this year. Patton said he will meet with members of the Honors Council this fall to review the position job description, select a search committee and determine search parameters.

Patton has appointed Patricia Williamson to serve as interim director of the Honors Program for the next year while the search for a permanent director is underway.

Williamson has served as a faculty member in the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts since 1999. Patton said she has long history of service to the Honors Program as both an instructor and a member of the Honors Council. Williamson received the “Honors Faculty of the Year” award in 2018.

“I am very grateful that Dr. Williamson has agreed to serve as the interim director for the upcoming year. Her knowledge of, and dedication to the success of the Honors Program will be a great asset as we search for a new director.” Patton said.