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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: Spring Commencement 2025

      by Aaron Mills

      Select photos from Central Michigan University Spring Commencement 2025 as captured by University Communications.

      For more photos and write-ups of the commencement ceremonies, read the "CMU celebrates Spring 2025 graduates" and "CMU's College of Medicine celebrates commencement for the Class of 2025" news stories.

      A group of graduates inside McGuirk Arena.
      A view from the front during the 5 p.m. ceremonies for the College of the Arts and Media and College of Science and Engineering.
      A group of people wearing graduation gowns
      A CMU College of Medicine graduate receives her hood.
      Graduates look to the stands trying to find familiar faces.
      A group of people in a stadium.
      Family and friends filled McGuirk Arena to support the graduating class.
      A man standing at a podium with a microphone
      Alumnus Matt Franklin, who spent 20 years as a television journalist, addresses graduates.
      A group of people in graduation gowns and caps
      Dr. George Kikano and President Neil MacKinnon pose for a photo with a graduate.
      A group of people in graduation gowns take a selfie.
      President MacKinnon takes a selfie on stage with a graduate.
      A woman in a graduation gown
      The smile of joy and accomplishment.

      Events

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      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team