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A student standing and speaking in front of a large crowd in French Auditorium.

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.

      Some of the top photos from Central Michigan University events and activities during the week of Sept. 11-17 as captured by University Communications.

      Inside a large common area with natural light, CMU students speak with potential employers during a STEM job and internship fair.
      Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math students attend the STEM career fair to explore internship and job opportunities in their fields.
      A CMU student shakes hands with an employer during a STEM job and internship fair.
      A student attending the STEM career fair builds their network by talking to an industry professional.
      Two students stand at a table browsing plants for purchase.
      Students browse the Central Sustainability Farmer’s Market. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday until October 20 in Lot 33N.
      More than a dozen students walk on a sidewalk towards downtown Mt. Pleasant.
      Central Michigan University Honors students walk through campus on their way to Downtown Mount Pleasant.
      Dozens of students huddle around a woman with a megaphone telling them the history of Mt. Pleasant.
      Honors students meet downtown to learn about the history of Central Michigan University and Mount Pleasant.
      A beautiful blue sky and white clouds reflects on a small blue pond with a water fountain at the Fabiano Botanical Garden.
      The Fabiano Botanical Garden photographed on a sunny, September afternoon.
      Large white clouds float high above the Charles V. Park Library as blue skies and green trees
      The leaves are beginning to change colors in front of the Charles V. Park Library.

      Source: Aaron Mills

      Media Contact: Aaron Mills

      Events

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      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team