Back to Main Menu

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.

      In Memoriam: José-Luis Maúrtua

      by User Not Found

      Jose-Luis Maurtua

      Central Michigan University School of Music faculty member José-Luis Maúrtua passed away in Mount Pleasant, Michigan on May 7, 2022. He was 57.

      Maúrtua joined CMU in 1999 and served as director of orchestral studies and professor of composition.

      “Dr. Maúrtua possessed that rare and critical requisite combination for being an outstanding pedagogue and colleague: graciousness and the pursuit of excellence,” said Eric Tucker, chair and faculty member in the School of Music. “His kind spirit and affability will remain treasures within the School of Music for years to come.”

      A native of Peru, Maúrtua was an accomplished composer whose works have been performed around the globe in countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Czech Republic, Italy, England, China, Colombia, Costa Rica and Spain.

      Maúrtua was a passionate educator and provided opportunities for students and colleagues to perform with orchestras in Mexico and Peru. He also was regularly involved with youth orchestras throughout Michigan.

      Maúrtua is survived by his wife Ana Maria Mejía, his mother and father, sister, and extended family, friends and colleagues. Services will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, May 11, with a visitation at 2 p.m. followed by a service at 3 p.m. 

                José-Luis Maúrtua conducts an orchestra.     Jose-Luis Maurtua stands alongside an orchestra.

      Events

      VIEW ALL EVENTS
      VIEW ALL EVENTS

       

      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team