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.

2025 NVC Competition Live Stream

2025 NVC Awards Live Stream

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.

A student standing with a faculty member holding big winning checks from the New Venture Challenge 2024.

Start up

Build up your venture idea.

Learn more

A student smiling and standing in front of his venture display at the 2024 New Venture Challenge.

Family business

Explore the Alternative Entrepreneurial Pathways category at NVC.

Learn more

A close-up of the Prusa i3 MK3 printer in the entrepreneurship makerspace, the IDEA Den in Grawn Hall 166.

Product and prototype design

Create and patent your ideas.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

Learn more

CMU announces vaccine incentive program for students

Oct 22, 2021, 18:18 by Sanjna Jassi

In an effort to increase the number of students receiving COVID-19 vaccines, Central Michigan University today launched a vaccine incentive program with prizes including four scholarships equivalent to a full year of tuition and hundreds of gift cards.
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Internationally renowned researcher bolsters CMU’s cutting-edge pediatric care

Oct 22, 2021, 18:16 by Sanjna Jassi

The Central Michigan University College of Medicine and The Children’s Foundation and University Pediatricians Clinical Research Institute (CRI) have hired a new endowed chair to lead pediatric health efforts in Michigan.
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Real health care challenges meet real solutions

Oct 22, 2021, 18:15 by Sanjna Jassi

Students learn about local and global health disparities and develop solutions to address them through creative thinking and technology.
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WCMU wins three Michigan Emmy Awards for ‘Destination Michigan’

Oct 22, 2021, 18:14 by Sanjna Jassi

WCMU Public Media’s flagship television magazine show, “Destination Michigan,” was awarded three Michigan Emmys by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter.
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Professor honored for service efforts

Oct 22, 2021, 18:09 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University professor Emma Powell was recognized for her unwavering support for volunteer efforts in the Mount Pleasant area by receiving the Rising Star Community Impact Award from the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Going solo on summer physical fitness

Oct 22, 2021, 06:20 by Sanjay Gupta

CMU Athletic Training faculty member gives advice on staying fit without group instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Leading the pack in wolf management

Oct 21, 2021, 22:00 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University faculty member and student conduct scientific research into nonlethal ways to manage wolf populations near farms that raise livestock.
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Grant aims to improve health care for patients with disabilities

Oct 21, 2021, 21:59 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University has been awarded a $130,000 Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation grant to help increase education and training for health care students with a focus on patients with disabilities.
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CMU awarded $1.7M grant for COVID-19 wastewater monitoring

Oct 21, 2021, 21:58 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University has received funding of more than $1.7 million from the state of Michigan for COVID-19 wastewater research.
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Board of Trustees agenda includes tuition rates, budget

Oct 21, 2021, 21:56 by Sanjna Jassi

The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees will meet virtually June 23 and 24, 2021.
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Flint water crisis impacting COVID-19 vaccine rates

Oct 21, 2021, 21:53 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University researcher finds that the Flint water crisis is impacting COVID-19 vaccine rates.
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CMU remains affordable, competitive with modest tuition increase

Oct 21, 2021, 21:48 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University maintained its commitment to keeping higher education as affordable as possible for students and families as the Board of Trustees approved a modest increase in 2021-22 tuition rates.
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New drone lab takes flight at CMU

Oct 21, 2021, 21:47 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University launches Michigan’s only multidisciplinary Drone Lab.
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CMU Study Abroad program garners national recognition

Oct 21, 2021, 21:45 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University's study abroad program has received the 2020 Institute of International Education’s Seal of Excellence.
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CMU, Supervisory/Technical Association reach agreement

Oct 21, 2021, 21:44 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University and the CMU Supervisory/Technical Association/MEA-NEA, which represents 97 first-line supervisors and technicians at the Mount Pleasant campus, have reached agreement on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement.
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Trustees to meet on June 23-24

Oct 21, 2021, 21:43 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University’s Board of Trustees will have committee meetings and its formal session Wednesday, June 23, and Thursday, June 24.
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President Davies named to serve on NCAA governance body

Oct 21, 2021, 21:41 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan President Bob Davies has been selected to serve as the Mid-American Conference representative on the NCAA Division 1 Presidential Forum.
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CMU’s new branding, admissions kit earn international recognition

Oct 21, 2021, 21:39 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University's University Communications received two international awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
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CMU alum named next Griffin Endowed Chair

Oct 21, 2021, 21:37 by Sanjna Jassi

Andrea LaFontaine, executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, has been named Central Michigan University’s next Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government.
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CMU student groups continue to give back virtually

Oct 21, 2021, 21:36 by Sanjna Jassi

The College of Business Administration’s sixth annual Battle of the Registered Student Organizations, hosted by the Central Marketing Society, raised $1,500 for the Isabella County Restoration House.
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