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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.

      Adventures in education at CMU

      by Sanjay Gupta
      Rising summer temperatures were no obstacle to educational adventures for CMU students, faculty, staff and friends.

      At Central Michigan University, the warm summer months are filled with activity both on and off campus.

      Students this summer expanded their professional skills through career exploration and internships. Many traveled the country to serve others or hopped a plane to experience new cultures and languages. Still others stayed on campus to mentor and guide young adults through their first experiences at college.

      Whether on campus, on the job or across the ocean, CMU students were busy serving and learning. Here's just a sample of what they accomplished.

      CMU students, faculty and staff celebrate with athletes from Special Olympics Michigan.

      Celebrating partnerships

      CMU helped Special Olympics Michigan celebrate its 50th anniversary as campus hosted the annual summer games. Nearly 3,000 athletes from all of Michigan's 83 counties attended and competed in venues throughout campus.

      Hundreds of CMU faculty, staff, students and volunteers helped to plan the event and activities; provide food, shelter and services; and even assist with health screenings and treatment of minor injuries.

      Exploring great careers

      What's the best way to test-drive a career and build a great résumé? A summer internship with a great organization.

      Whether they worked at some of Michigan's top companies or traveled to the nation's capital, CMU students seized the summer to develop professional skills and gain valuable experience.

      Students wear their CMU colors all over the world as they traveled for study abroad.

      Off-site adventures

      The summer months are the perfect time for a road trip — or an overseas adventure.

      For CMU students interested in fashion, there's no better place to learn the industry than New York. A group of 16 students took a weeklong trip to the nation's fashion capital to meet with alumni and tour major fashion brands.

      Hundreds of CMU students, faculty and staff packed up for study abroad and volunteer opportunities.

      Follow the adventures of several students as they experienced new cultures in countries near and far or put their time and talent to work helping others on Alternative Breaks

      CMU's team placed second in the world at the International ERPsim Competition.

      Big wins for business

      After months of intensive preparation, a team of five CMU students placed second in the world at the International ERPsim Competition. CMU was the only U.S. team to make it into the final round.

      Just across the hall in Grawn, the winners of CMU's New Venture Competition were getting extra help launching their businesses. Students and alumni from Elemental, Inc. and Drone the News met weekly with entrepreneurs and mentors for advice and encouragement.

      Hundreds of children and teens attend summer camps at CMU.

      Camped out on campus

      Did some of the faces on campus this summer look a little younger than usual? Hundreds of middle and high school students visited for one of the many camps hosted by CMU.

      Native American students and teens from Detroit got a taste of life as college students, living in the residence halls, eating in campus restaurants and enjoying the pool at the Student Activity Center. Middle schoolers had a chance to explore the magic of science at a STEM camp, and future health care providers had a chance to test their skills at CampMED.

      Events

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      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team