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.

Learn more

Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

Learn more

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Students in CMU College of Medicine and its Saginaw residency program learn how to balance stress.
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College of Medicine focuses on critical need

Oct 9, 2021, 19:20 by Sanjna Jassi

From the pandemic to racial injustice to natural disasters, public health — a crucial mission of CMU’s College of Medicine — is in a spotlight.
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College of Medicine launches new affiliation

Oct 9, 2021, 19:17 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University College of Medicine expands footprint to southwest Michigan in affiliation with Spectrum Health Lakeland
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CMU’s Yelamarthi named College Science Teacher of the Year

Oct 9, 2021, 19:15 by Sanjna Jassi

Kumar Yelamarthi’s creative approach to teaching and learning led to his selection as the Michigan Science Teachers Association’s College Science Teacher of the Year.
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NAACP honors CMU student

Oct 9, 2021, 19:12 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU student Australyah Coleman is the NAACP’s first Youth Activist Award honoree. She received the award Feb. 21 at the NAACP Image Awards.
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Awards power students’ efforts

Oct 9, 2021, 17:07 by Sanjna Jassi

Each year, Central Michigan University students are recognized for academic excellence at the national and international levels.
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Apparel association honors student

Oct 5, 2021, 14:20 by Sanjay Gupta

CMU student Megan Daniels won second place in an American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists competition.
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‘Best face forward’ on the web

Oct 5, 2021, 13:44 by Sanjay Gupta

Lisa Wendland is joining CMU in the new role of director of digital strategy, where she will lead the ongoing redesign of Central’s web presence.
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Alum makes $500,000 gift to College of Business Administration

Oct 5, 2021, 10:48 by User Not Found

Bob Oros, a 1990 graduate of Central Michigan University, has provided a generous gift of $500,000 to develop a new fund, the Bob Oros Multi-Asset Investment Fund.
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Bringing distance learning closer

Oct 4, 2021, 20:54 by Sanjay Gupta

CMU professor of English and education Troy Hicks is helping educators meet the challenges of remote teaching and learning.
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CMU’s social media moments

Oct 4, 2021, 20:13 by Sanjna Jassi

It was an engaging year on CMU social media, as people interacted with posts about internships, events and more.
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‘Our past is prologue. Our focus is forward.’

Oct 4, 2021, 20:01 by Sanjna Jassi

In his first State of the University address, President Davies outlines five strategic pathways to guide CMU into 2030.
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CMU efforts win international recognition

Oct 4, 2021, 19:58 by Sanjna Jassi

CMU’s University Communications and Advancement offices have won international recognition in the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.
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CMU students study world languages through national award

Oct 4, 2021, 19:55 by Sanjna Jassi

Three Central Michigan University students were awarded this year's Critical Language Scholarship, a U.S. State Department program to increase the number of Americans studying and communicating in critical foreign languages.
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A convincing victory for CMU

Oct 4, 2021, 19:54 by Sanjna Jassi

Two members of Central Michigan University's debate team shared the 2021 Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament championship when they met in the final elimination round of the virtual event March 21.
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Honoring outstanding teaching and service

Oct 4, 2021, 19:49 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University is honoring eight faculty members who set the leadership standard by prioritizing student success, providing rich knowledge-based experiences and nurturing strong connections inside the classroom.
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Biology student wins prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Oct 4, 2021, 19:47 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University's Chloe Pesture's passion for learning, experimenting and sharpening her lab skills has earned her the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
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Political science student receives Humanity in Action Fellowship

Oct 4, 2021, 19:43 by Sanjna Jassi

Rising CMU junior Lauren Hill received a Humanity in Action Fellowship. She is one of only 22 recipients from the United States.
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President names interim associate vice president for Student Affairs

Oct 4, 2021, 19:42 by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University President Bob Davies named Shaun Holtgreive interim associate vice president for Student Affairs, effective July 7.
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MAC honors Fashion Merchandising and Design faculty member

Oct 4, 2021, 19:39 by Sanjna Jassi

The Mid-American Conference named Michael Mamp, CMU Fashion Merchandising and Design faculty member, a recipient of its annual Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success.
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