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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!
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.
New Venture Challenge 103: Know your customer and financials
| Details: | Do you have great ideas but struggle with understanding business terms and financials? Attend New Venture Challenge 103 and become a business pro! NVC 103 topics:
Learn what this means and more at NVC 103! This short workshop will cover the basics of revenue, costs and customer segmentation. Students with a financial and business background are welcome to attend for a separate in-depth overview of finances and customer and market research. |
| Date: | - |
| Time: | - |
| Location: |
150 E. Bellows St. Grawn Hall Classroom 150G Mt. Pleasant, MI |
| Sponsor: | Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship |
| Contact: | Kaye Reimers nvc@cmich.edu 989-774-3920 |
| Register for this event | |
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Flexible cleats, chip dispensers and a healthcare nonprofit were a few of the 40 ventures pitched at the New Venture Challenge on Friday, April 19 at Central Michigan University. Fifty judges awarded over $100,000 in total cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
The Stephen Wakeling and Erin Gendron Entrepreneurship Scholars went on a trip of a lifetime to the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. Students had the chance to meet industry leaders, entrepreneurs and notable speakers.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
