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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.

      5 tips for balancing work, school and life

      by User Not Found
      As a busy working adult, you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate. You're no stranger to juggling important responsibilities like children, family, friends, a home and a career. As you return to school to advance your professional path, your balancing act may become more complex.
      As a busy working adult, you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate. You're no stranger to juggling important responsibilities like children, family, friends, a home and a career. As you return to school to advance your professional path, your balancing act may become more complex. 

      Pursuing a degree when you already have so much going on can seem daunting and, at times, impossible. Don't second guess yourself. You can do this.

      With the right plan and support system, you can work, care for your family, successfully complete your studies and advance in your profession. Keep reading to discover five student success tips to help you balance it all out:

      Identify your why. In a motivating video talk, comedian Michael Jr. states that "When you know your 'why,' then your 'what' has more impact because you're working toward your purpose."1

      Committing yourself to earning a degree is no easy feat, and when it gets stressful and overwhelming – from long days at the office, mounting due dates and family obligations – your goals and your why will put everything in perspective and motivate you to keep going.

      Establish a new routine that offers flexibility.
      Your new academic endeavor calls for a new groove to be set. To make certain no commitments or to-dos fall through the cracks, and to ensure you have ample time to complete your studies each week, it's vital to plan your schedule on a daily or weekly basis. The key to a successful routine is to remain flexible and realistic in your planning efforts.

      • Try not to cram too much into an hour, day or week.
      • Make room in your day for family, household chores and personal time.
      • Be prepared to shift gears when unexpected obstacles arise.
      Focus on one task at a time.
      You're a master of multitasking. However, tackling multiple assignments and tasks at once can slow down your productivity. Intentionally direct your attention and only work on one task at a time. You'll be amazed at how much you get done.

      Lean on your support system.
      This path is not meant to be traveled alone. When you share your goals and your why with family, close friends and managers, everyone in your network will understand what you're trying to accomplish and be better equipped to support and motivate you along the way.

      Connect with your professors.
      Your professors are valuable assets to your education, and they want to see you succeed. For them to offer their utmost support and guidance, you need to reach out and communicate with them.

      If you have questions, need help with class material or experience difficulties meeting a deadline, be sure to get in touch with your professors right away. Many professors become mentors and are great references as you grow in your career.

      Pursuing higher education will affect your life and career in astounding ways.

      At Central Michigan University, we are inspired every day by our students who have decided to advance their careers and earn a degree.

      See how you can make it all work while still advancing your career through CMU Online.

      Resources:
      1 Hoff, Naphtali. Huffington Post. "Know Your Why." Accessed June 1, 2017. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naphtali-hoff/know-your-why_b_9512688.html. 

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