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.

Learn more

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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President Davies announces decision to step down

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After nearly six years of service and leadership, Central Michigan University President Robert O. Davies has announced his plans to step down on December 31, 2024. In his letter to the university community, Davies said he hoped to provide the CMU Board of Trustees time to search for CMU’s next president.

“The work we have done together fills me with pride, and we have a great deal of work remaining ahead of us,” Davies said. “I look forward to our continued partnership over the next 11 months. Please be assured that I will remain an active, engaged and enthusiastic proponent of this work in my final year as president.”

Davies said he is stepping down for personal and professional reasons. Todd Regis, Chair of the CMU Board of Trustees, said the Board had accepted Davies’ resignation.

“The Board thanks Dr. Davies for nearly six years of service to CMU and for his willingness to continue leading this institution this year. He is committed to executing the new strategic plan approved by the Board of Trustees,” Regis said.

During Davies’ tenure, CMU achieved numerous milestones.

“Since my arrival at CMU in the fall of 2018, I have often marveled at the magnitude of passion, encouragement and support that you have offered to our university community. With your support, our university has achieved remarkable things,” Davies wrote.

The university’s recent achievements include:

A new milestone in grant funding - $26.3M for fiscal year 2021-22, and a second year of grantsmanship over $20M in 2022-23.
Securing one of the largest philanthropic gifts in university history: $10M to support multiple student success initiatives, as well as record-breaking fundraising during CMU’s Anniversary day-of-giving and #GivingTuesday campaigns.
After more than a decade of declining enrollments, the first year-over-year increases in new student enrollment. This includes increases in new first-year, transfer and international students, as well as growth in CMU’s online programs.
Multiple CMU programs included in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, including inclusion in Best Graduate Schools, Best Colleges and Best Online Programs.
Expansion of in-demand health professions programs, including a new four-year nursing program and strengthening CMU’s College of Medicine.

Throughout his tenure, Davies has been recognized for his commitment to student success.

“I am so proud of the roles we each have played to ensure every Central Michigan University student had the opportunity to feel welcome, seen and supported, and successful within our community,” Davies wrote. “More than anything, I feel proud of their achievements, their successes, and the impact they continue to have wherever they go.”

Regis said the Board of Trustees would soon begin the process to search for CMU’s 16th president by forming a search advisory committee and hiring a recognized search firm to assist in a comprehensive national search.

“In the spirit of Shared Governance, the Board of Trustees will ensure that the search process includes opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, community members and partners to participate,” Regis said.

Board Chair Regis will communicate plans for the search as they develop.