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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.
Study Abroad preparing to allow international travel this spring
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The program has received university approval allowing students to once again participate in study abroad programs beginning in the Spring 2022 semester.
Central Michigan University's Study Abroad program has received university approval allowing students to once again participate in study abroad programs beginning in the Spring 2022 semester. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has been limited to virtual internship opportunities since the spring of 2020.
The program will follow what is being called a "controlled restart." In years past, approximately 750 students participated in Study Abroad each year, taking advantage of opportunities for over 150 programs in more than 50 countries. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all Study Abroad students who travel internationally.
"We've been waiting a year and a half to do this and are so excited for our students," said Dianne De Salvo, CMU's director of Study Abroad. "We're carefully monitoring conditions abroad and are working with students on contingency plans should we need to change course before next spring."
Virtual internships will continue to be offered for students who are unable to travel internationally.
The Study Abroad program will continue to share updates regarding the restart on the Office of Global Engagement's website.
Apply for a free passport to study abroad
Students interested in studying abroad during their degree program can apply for a free passport thanks to a grant from the Institute of International Education.
The grant is intended to reach students who are traditionally underrepresented on their campuses while contributing to the university's mission and strategic efforts to expand diversity, equity, access, and inclusion to study abroad. Eligibility is limited to first-year students who are eligible for Pell Grants to ensure that students have ample time remaining in their college career to map out a study abroad plan. Participants also must be full-time, degree-seeking students.
Complete details on the passport grant, eligibility requirements, and application process can be found on the Office of Global Engagement's website.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
