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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.

      Watch for the CMU float in America’s Thanksgiving Parade

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      For the second year in a row, Central Michigan University will be a focal point in America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White.

      The parade, which takes place Thursday, Nov. 24 in Detroit, features a CMU parade float highlighting the university’s “We Do” brand and students, faculty, staff and alumni marching alongside.

      The parade, which has been held annually for nearly 100 years, is the second largest in the U.S. and has twice been named the best holiday parade in America in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

      The parade route passes CMU’s Detroit Office, located at 777 Woodward Ave. Event details can be found on The Parade Company’s website.

      Those hoping to watch the parade from the comfort of home can do so on the following Michigan TV stations on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 9 a.m.

      • Alpena: WBKB
      • Detroit: WDIV
      • Flint/Saginaw: WNEM
      • Grand Rapids: WOOD/WOTV
      • Lansing: WLNS
      • Marquette: WBUP
      • Traverse City/Cadillac: WGTU/WPBN

      The parade is nationally syndicated and will broadcast in more than 185 television markets across the country this holiday season. A complete list of stations airing the parade is available on The Parade Company’s website.

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      Questions?

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