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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.

      The week in photos: July 31-Aug. 6

      by User Not Found

      Some of the top photos from Central Michigan University events and activities during the week of July 31-Aug. 6, as captured by University Communications.

      Three women and a small child dressed in Detroit Tigers gear and wearing CMU baseball hats smile at the camera.
      Comerica Park in Detroit hosted the 19th annual Central Michigan University Night on Friday, Aug. 4 during the Detroit Tigers game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
      Three young children wearing CMU shirts and temporary face tattoos smile and cheer from the stands at Comerica Park.
      Ticket sales from the game raised more than $4,100 for the CMU Alumni Gold Scholarship fund.
      Jake Sabol stands on a pitchers mound wearing a CMU jersey and throwing a baseball towards home plate where Zach McKinstry squats waiting to catch the pitch.
      New CMU baseball coach Jake Sabol threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former CMU baseball player and current Detroit Tiger Zach McKinstry.
      Jake Sabol and Zach McKinstry stand together on a baseball pitchers mound smiling at the camera while McKinstry holds up a white CMU baseball jersey with his last name and
      Jake Sabol (left) and Zach McKinstry (right) pose for a photo on the mound at Comerica Park following the ceremonial first pitch.
      Cheerleaders dressed in maroon and gold CMU outfits and orange and navy blue Detroit Tigers colors stand on top of a baseball dugout and engage the crowd.
      Members of the CMU cheer team were on hand to help fire up the crowd.
      A bright sun shines down on a large brick building with large windows and doors. A green tree stands tall near the entrance.
      The sun shines down over Grawn Hall on a hot afternoon in early August.
      Three maroon banners with the words
      "Fire Up Chips!" banners hang from street lamps between CMU's campus and downtown Mt. Pleasant.

       

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      Questions?

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