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.

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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.

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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.

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Central Michigan University expands presence in northern Michigan with ribbon cutting and open house event

by Jaime Griffis

In a recent event, Central Michigan University celebrated their expanded presence in Traverse City with a ribbon cutting and open house at Traverse Connect where they now have a suite. The gathering drew business leaders, educators, and healthcare administrators from across Northern Michigan. The event aimed to foster new relationships and strengthen existing ones between CMU and the local community.

Located in downtown Traverse City, this new office marks CMU's second location in the area. It is designed to serve as a hub for engaging with business, industry, and rural health and wellness entities in the region.

"This expansion underscores CMU's commitment to Northern Michigan," said Dr. Kaleb Patrick, interim vice president for Innovation and Online at CMU. "We are excited to collaborate closely with Traverse Connect and other local partners to innovate and meet the research, professional and educational needs of the community."

The event featured networking opportunities and discussions about future collaborations between CMU and local stakeholders, connections with CMU faculty, staff, and administrators and to explore potential partnerships.

"We see this new space as a catalyst for growth and development in Northern Michigan," added Dr. Patrick. "By working together with our community partners, we aim to help the community grow and thrive through impactful research and educational programs that benefit both students and the local economy."

CMU's presence in Traverse City is expected to enhance access to higher education and professional development opportunities for residents across the region. The university remains committed to supporting economic growth and innovation through strategic partnerships and educational initiatives.