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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.

      In honor of Central Michigan University's 132nd birthday, we're looking back at some historic and iconic images from years past.

      A black and white photo from 1959 shows six men standing around a table as Michigan's Governor Gerhard Williams signs a paper declaring CMU as a university.
      CMU’s fifth President, Dr. Charles L. Anspach, receives a pen from Governor Gerhard Williams. That pen was used to officially declare Central Michigan College’s status as a four-year university (1959).
      An undated black and white photo shows three CMU students standing next to the Central Michigan College seal.
      Three students stand beside the Central Michigan College Seal. The Seal was designed by Flint sophomore, Pete Keszler, and was approved by the Michigan State Board of Education in the spring of 1954. (unknown)
      A low-profile view of the CMU seal in Warriner Mall with the sun peering through a tree with maroon colored leaves.
      Today, the Seal stands as a landmark location on campus, a prime destination for professional photos and selfies. Inscribed below the center are the latin words, “sapientia, virtus, amicitia” – wisdom, character and friendship. (2016)
      Central State Normal School’s football team poses for a group photo in a sepia tone colored photo from 1908.
      Central State Normal School’s football team poses for a group photo in 1905.
      The CMU football team runs onto the field in a large group with a sign reading Central Michigan Athletics in the background.
      CMU’s football team takes the field in their home opener against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (2024). CMU’s division 1 football program has been home to football greats, including Dan LeFevour, Ray Bentley, Cullen Jenkins and Joe Staley.
      An undated black and white photo shows a group of CMU students sitting in the lounge area of the Keeler Union building – known today as the Bovee University Center.
      A group of CMU students sit in the lounge area of the Keeler Union building – known today as the Bovee University Center. (unknown)
      Members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe pound a ceremonial drum, commemorating the unveiling of a mural honoring their history in the Bovee University Center.
      Members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe pound a ceremonial drum inside the Bovee University Center commemorating the unveiling of a mural honoring their history (2022). The steel artwork of the state of Michigan can still be seen in the lounge area today.
      A black and white photo from 1987 shows rolls of toilet paper streaming down onto a basketball court.
      Students and fans participate in the toilet paper toss at a men’s basketball game against rival school Western Michigan University (1987). The tradition began during the 1982-83 season, with fans tossing toilet paper onto the court following CMU’s first basket of the game. The fad usually resulted in a technical foul against CMU, and as a result, the tradition has been halted and brought back several times by the athletic department.
      Toilet paper streams down onto a basketball court as President Davies stands on the court during a pre-game ceremony.
      CMU’s 15th President, Bob Davies, celebrates with players on the court for the 40th anniversary of the toilet paper toss in McGuirk Arena (2023). Today, the toilet paper toss remains a beloved tradition by CMU students and fans – and is far less disruptive now that it occurs outside of game time.
      An undated black and white photo shows Alumni members of CMU’s Marching Chippewas performing a halftime show during homecoming festivities.
      Alumni members of CMU’s Marching Chippewas perform a halftime show during homecoming festivities on Alumni Field. (unknown)
      As the CMU alumnus stands holding a clarinet alongside members of the CMU marching band while on the turf at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
      Today, 102 years after their founding, members of the Marching Chips still return to campus to perform alongside their friends at homecoming (2021).

       

      Source: Aaron Mills

      Media Contact: Aaron Mills

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