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 Extends Griffin Endowed Chair Appointment

by Sarah Buckley

Central Michigan University has appointed Andrea LaFontaine to serve an additional year as the Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government.

The endowment funds the salary and associated costs of a U.S. and Michigan government expert who serves as a faculty member in CMU's School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service. The Griffin Endowed Chair leads the university's efforts to stimulate the political conscience of students and scholars and to help prepare principled political leaders to serve Michigan in the future.

“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to continue fostering intellectual curiosity and critical thinking among Griffin students,” said LaFontaine. “I have witnessed firsthand how this course empowers students with the ability to influence Michigan policy and politics. I could not think of a better time than the present to continue on this journey, and I look forward to an additional year of sharing the passion for Michigan’s politics and its legislative process.”

LaFontaine is the seventh person to hold the Griffin Endowed Chair position. She began her term in 2021.

Established in 2000 through private donations, the Griffin Endowment honors the service of esteemed CMU graduates the Honorable Robert P. Griffin (1923-2015) and Marjorie Anderson Griffin (1922-2017).

LaFontaine earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from CMU in 2009 and a Master of Public Administration degree from CMU in 2011. She previously served three consecutive terms in the state House of Representatives from 2010-2016 and served as the executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.