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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Professor receives award to study Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore visitation

by Kara Owens

Robert Dvorak, Ph.D., from the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration, received an award from the National Park Service and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Michigan State University. The award is a collaboration between Dvorak and Elizabeth Perry, Ph.D., at Michigan State University.

Dvorak’s study will examine visitor use and characteristics on the Platte and Crystal Rivers, and the North Manitou Island. Dvorak also wants to “investigate visitor use patterns that have emerged following federal wilderness designation, rapidly increasing annual visitation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.” Dvorak previously studied Sleeping Bear Dunes in 2012-2013, however, there are many more issues to uncover and reexplore now.

The study is expected to provide updated information on patterns, motivations, and preferences. The team will also explore potential planning effects such as river use, management, and wilderness character monitoring.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a 71,199-acre area in the National Parks system. The purpose of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is “to preserve outstanding natural features […] in their natural setting and protect them from developments and uses that would destroy the scenic beauty and natural character of the area.” The dunes also strive to inspire, educate, and entertain the public.