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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MAC honors chemistry and biochemistry faculty member

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Ben Swarts, a faculty member in the chemistry and biochemistry department, was recently named the recipient of the Mid-American Conference’s Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success. The award honors Swarts’ commitment to supporting and developing students inside and outside the classroom.

Through the award, the MAC recognizes the teaching accomplishments of one faculty member at each of its 12 schools. Swarts was named the MAC’s top faculty member of the year.

An open-door approach

Swarts has a simple philosophy when it comes to students.

“I’m a door’s open kind of guy,” he said.

That open door lets students know Swarts is available to discuss the student’s research. Together, they talk about where the research is leading the student, and how that fits into their academic and professional journey.

Those kinds of conversations continue throughout the student’s remaining time at CMU.

“It’s kind of the two things side by side,” Swarts said.

He keeps in touch with many of them after graduation and takes pride in watching them find success, Swarts said.

Recognition for remarkable mentoring

"This award is a tremendous honor. It is truly a reflection of the wonderful students at Central Michigan University and other MAC Institutions,” Swarts said in the MAC’s press release. "I am excited to continue working with our students in the classroom and research lab and supporting our great alumni.”

Swarts received the award in part for mentoring students in the national McNair Scholars and American Chemical Society SEED programs. He also developed and currently runs a STEM education program and research training for students at community colleges in central and northern Michigan.

“Dr. Swarts’ commitment to student success is remarkably broad. From the classroom to his research laboratory to outreach activities for community college students, Ben creates intentional programs and supportive environments that help students learn and grow,” said David Ford, dean of the College of Science and Engineering at CMU.

Swarts also researches innovative ways to address tuberculosis, the world’s leading cause of death by an infectious organism. The research has engaged more than 60 students of all levels over the last decade.