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 faculty member for student success

by Sanjna Jassi

The Mid-American Conference has honored CMU faculty member Holly Hoffman as one of its first ever Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success recipients.

The Mid-American Conference has honored Central Michigan University faculty member Holly Hoffman as one of its first-ever Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success recipients.

mug-2017H-057-001----Holly-Hoffman--HEV — Holly Hoffman

Hoffman, a faculty member in Human Development and Family Studies, received the award for her work to support and develop students inside and outside of the classroom.

"I am honored to be employed by a university that recognizes and supports a strong commitment to student success," Hoffman said in her award nomination letter. "Serving and learning alongside students is of utmost importance."

Hoffman's involvement with students has included co-leading a Study Abroad trip to teach in orphanages in Oaxaca, Mexico; leading a class to volunteer with Special Olympics Michigan; attending students' sporting events and concerts; and ringing the " Honors Gong" to celebrate completion of seniors' capstone projects. She was instrumental in creating CMU's Brazelton Touchpoints for parents and Future Educators Learning Community programs.

She also has served as a faculty advisor for student organizations including Parents Attending Central, Future Child Advocates and Connections that Count.

The 12-institution MAC athletics conference said in a news release that it created the annual award to celebrate its commitment to a holistic student experience and the creation of an environment that supports success in school and life.

Hoffman "clearly exemplifies the commitment to student success, support for inclusion, and appreciation for the MAC core values that are at the heart of this award," the announcement said.