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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: Nov. 19-25

      by User Not Found

      A look back at some of the best photos from events and locations across Central Michigan University's campus, the Mt. Pleasant community and beyond, captured by University Communications from Nov. 19-25.

      Three students watch as a Baja race car with a CMU logo on its side door races through the snow.
      Engineering students from CMU’s Baja SAE Team hit the snow to test the all-terrain vehicle they built.
      A Baja race car with a CMU logo on its side door races through the snow.
      An engineering student drives through the snow in the CMU Baja SAE Team's all-terrain vehicle.
      Three information systems students work together on a small machine while a faculty member watches their progress.
      Information systems students collaborate with faculty in optimizing business processes, making it more in sync with SAP technology.
      Three students arrange mannequins in a display window.
      Fashion Merchandising and Design students prepare holiday window displays inside Wightman Hall.
      Three students stand around a mannequin, dressing it in clothing.
      Fashion Merchandising and Design students prepare a mannequin for display.
      A large group of people wearing CMU clothing, cheer from the grandstands at America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
      Fired-up CMU supporters cheer from the grandstands during America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit.
      A black pickup truck pulls the CMU parade float as marchers in yellow graduation gowns and hats walk alongside.
      The CMU parade float makes its way through downtown Detroit during America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White on Thursday, Nov. 24.

      For more parade photos, check out our photo gallery on Facebook.

       

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      Questions?

      Contact the team